Linux Mint Forums

If you replace the USB network adapter that is being used for network connectivity
on a Linux Mint desktop computer do you need to manually remove the listing (configuration)
of the old adapter before a new/replacement adapter will be properly recognized and configured ?

Thanks.

most likely yes. i say this cause i noticed that when doing a aptik backup under mounts it shows a usb key that hasn't been connected for weeks. once a usb device is remove the drives should go bye bye and no reference of the device found on the system TILL it's connected again.

MrGrimm wrote: ⤴Fri Jan 04, 2019 3:20 pm most likely yes. i say this cause i noticed that when doing a aptik backup under mounts it shows a usb key that hasn't been connected for weeks. once a usb device is remove the drives should go bye bye and no reference of the device found on the system TILL it's connected again.

The reason I am asking about this is that the person that is having a USB network adapter problem
is telling me (however, I don't at this point if they know what they are talking about) that the USB network
adapter that they are trying to use is the same BRAND and MODEL as the one that got broken by having
the computer hutch door slammed on it (hmmmmm, since I said that, I am wondering if there is a possibility
that they have damaged the USB port). It would seem to me that "IF" it is the very same brand and model
that it should work with no setup/configuration changes.

Thanks.

other than what i mentioned above this is prob best lest for others.

What I've noticed with WiFi devices is that Two different devices of the same BRAND and MODEL are not necessarily the same device. You must also make sure that they are the same version. Often different versions use different chips and one may be compatible with Linux while the other is not.

puddleglum wrote: ⤴Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:26 pm What I've noticed with WiFi devices is that Two different devices of the same BRAND and MODEL are not necessarily the same device. You must also make sure that they are the same version. Often different versions use different chips and one may be compatible with Linux while the other is not.

Thanks for the info, I will keep that in mind, when I look at it tomorrow.

wpshooter wrote: ⤴Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:10 pm

puddleglum wrote: ⤴Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:26 pm What I've noticed with WiFi devices is that Two different devices of the same BRAND and MODEL are not necessarily the same device. You must also make sure that they are the same version. Often different versions use different chips and one may be compatible with Linux while the other is not.

Thanks for the info, I will keep that in mind, when I look at it tomorrow.

The newer adapter would NOT allow a connection !!!

TP link support is telling me that there is a difference in the drivers (perhaps they actually mean
the chips) on the new version of their USB network adapter which explains why it will not work
with a Linux Mint 19 installation while the older version of the TP Link WILL work with Linux Mint 19
installation, however this seems almost like the reverse of what should be true to me, because normal logic would
make me think that their older network adapter might NOT work with Linux Mint 19 while their newer
version of their network adapter would be MORE likely (not less) to work with a Linux Mint 19
installation.

Not necessarily. The reason they typically come out with a new version is because they got a better deal from a competitor of the chip manufacturer they had been using. There is cut-throat competition in this market and no brand can afford to be locked into one vendor. Different chips require different drivers and some are more Linux friendly than others.

On the other hand, the same chips are used in different brands of wifi adapters and in Linux they can use the same drivers. That is why you need to find out what chip your adapter is using and see if there is a Linux driver for that chip.
To do that type the following in a terminal:
or and look for the info under Network. Once you have the chip name and model number you can search the forums to see if it's compatible with Linux and how to install the driver.

If you have any more questions regarding this you may get more responses posting them in a thread under Networking instead of Hardware. There are a lot of adapter/driver questions in there.