[Mint 21.1 Xfce] USB WiFi Adaptor TP Link TL-WN823N V2/V3

[SilverC3ll]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and new to Linux. Thank you everyone for the great effort of brining open source software unto the market.
As the forum dictates, I have searched for relevant topics that might have already answered my question, but did not find one (though some came close). The USB WiFi Adaptor TP Link TL-WN823N is said to run out of the box on Linux, but for me it doesn't work. I have downloaded the TL-WN823N(EU)_V3_160315 Linux driver from TP-Link's website here: https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/download/tl-wn823n/

Reading the installation manual, it says:

...make sure the parameters in “makefile.c” is suitable for your
compile environment of your Linux system.

Then elaborates:

ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC), y)
EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_LITTLE_ENDIAN
SUBARCH := $(shell uname -m | sed -e s/i.86/i386/)
ARCH ?= $(SUBARCH)
CROSS_COMPILE ?=
KVER := $(shell uname -r)
KSRC := /lib/modules/$(KVER)/build
MODDESTDIR := /lib/modules/$(KVER)/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/
INSTALL_PREFIX :=
endif
Explanation:
· KSRC is used to specify the kernel source path for driver compilation.
· CROSS_COMPILE is used to specify the toolchain.
· ARCH is used to specify the target platform's CPU architectures such as arm, mips,
i386 and so on.

TP-Link is asking its customers to configure C-programming code. Though C programming must be very interesting, it is only obvious the average computer user cannot just open C-code and alter the code to suit the system-specific hardware configuration. That requires a lot of expertise. Is there an easier way for me to use my WiFi adaptor? Is there a more accessible driver? Or would my Xfce version of Mint not be as supported as other versions of Mint, such as Cinnamon? I.e., would installing Mint Cinnamon solve the issue? Alternatively, is there another USB WiFi adaptor you would recommend, guaranteed to run out of the box on Linux Mint Xfce? (I do prefer Xfce as it is very lite).

Thank you for your patience, kindness, and expertise,

SilverC3ll

[sleeper12]

With the adapter plugged in, post what this terminal command shows:

Code: Select all

lsusb

[SilverC3ll]

*** Sorry: Accidental double post. ***

[SilverC3ll]

With the adapter plugged in, post what this terminal command shows:

Code: Select all

lsusb

Hello Sleeper12,

Thank you for your quick response.
lsusb gives the followings results:

realmwalker@SilverC3ll:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 17ef:480c Lenovo Integrated Webcam
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 2357:0109 TP-Link TL-WN823N v2/v3 [Realtek RTL8192EU]
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0781:5581 SanDisk Corp. Ultra
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 093a:2510 Pixart Imaging, Inc. Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0765:5001 X-Rite, Inc. Huey PRO Colorimeter
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 17ef:1008 Lenovo Hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0781:5567 SanDisk Corp. Cruzer Blade
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 08ff:2810 AuthenTec, Inc. AES2810
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

Thank you,

SilverC3ll

[sleeper12]

Try #2 here: https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... k.html#ID2

[SilverC3ll]

Try #2 here: https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... k.html#ID2

Dear Sleeper12,

Thank you for your response!
The reference states I need to use apt-get, but this requires an already-working Internet connection.
Could I somehow get the drivers, and place them on a USB stick?

Kindly,

SilverC3ll

[sleeper12]

You might get a temporary connection like this:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... ernet.html

[JeremyB]

If it doesn't work, try a different USB port as it should use the rtl8xxxu driver from the kernel, you might want to check rfkill list in terminal to see if it is blocked

[SilverC3ll]

You might get a temporary connection like this:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... ernet.html

Thank you; at least the tethering connection works. Quite an elegant solution.
Following the steps of your former link on installing the drivers, the command given in step f lsmod | grep 8192eu returns no results whatsoever. This step is supposed the check if whether or not the driver is installed correctly. I just get a new, empty terminal line.

If it doesn't work, try a different USB port as it should use the rtl8xxxu driver from the kernel, you might want to check rfkill list in terminal to see if it is blocked

I get this:

0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes
1: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: yes

Plugging the WiFi adaptor into a new port avails to nothing, alas.

Kindly,

SilverC3ll

[JeremyB]

What response from terminal for

Code: Select all

modprobe -c | grep 0109 | grep 2357; uname -r

[sleeper12]

The wifi is hard blocked. Look for a small switch on the side/front or an Fn & F key to turn it on.

[SilverC3ll]

What response from terminal for

Code: Select all

modprobe -c | grep 0109 | grep 2357; uname -r

Dear Jeremy,

This is the response I get for the terminal command you have provided:

Code: Select all

alias usb:v2357p0109d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFFin* rtl8xxxu
5.15.0-58-generic

Please note that besides the USB WiFi adaptor, one other USB was connected at the time this command was run (in Windows designated as G; might have been the same in Linux [haven't paid attention]).

The wifi is hard blocked. Look for a small switch on the side/front or an Fn & F key to turn it on.

Dear Sleeper12,

Thank you for your persisting patience . I run a Lenovo laptop, system model 2758MZG. No switch was found, alas. As to an fn-key, my F2 key holds a lock symbol and thought this might potentially be the relevant key. Holding fn and then pressing the f2 key did however not unblock the wifi adaptor.
What is the purpose of hard block? Is it a security feature?

Thank you,

SilverC3ll

[JeremyB]

Removing the internal wifi should clear the hard block