This repo is was started with the code from the Realtek USB driver RTL8852BU_WiFi_linux_v1.19.3-45-g7583a804a.20230505. The current code improves on the Realtek code by reworking the debug output to avoid spamming the logs. In the current settings, messages from RTW_ERR(), RTW_WARNING(), and RTW_WARNING() will be output.

If you want more output, increase the value of CONFIG_RTW_LOG_LEVEL in Makefile. This parameter should probably be one that can be set at module load time, but that is a matter for another time.

The driver supports rtl8832bu/rtl8852bu chipsets.

This driver currently handles the following devices:

ASUS USB-AX55 with USB ID 0b05:1a62
Realtek Demo Board with USB ID 0bda:8832
Realtek Demo Board with USB ID 0bda:883a
Realtek Demo Board with USB ID 0bda:8852
Realtek Demo Board with USB ID 0bda:885a
Realtek Demo Board with USB ID 0bda:a85b

The device probably comes with a configuration that appears to be a USB disk, which contains a Windows driver. If a 'lsusb' command shows the ID 0bda:1a2b, then this disk is mounted. The way to avoid this is to edit either file /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules, or /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules, whichever is on your system, and add the following lines:

Wifi Dongle with Windows driver

ATTR{idVendor}=="0bda", ATTR{idProduct}=="1a2b", RUN+="usb_modeswitch '/%k'"

Installation instruction

Requirements

You will need to install "make", "gcc", "kernel headers", "kernel build essentials", and "git".

For Ubuntu: You can install them with the following command

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install make gcc linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential git

For Fedora: You can install them with the following command

sudo dnf install kernel-headers kernel-devel
sudo dnf group install "C Development Tools and Libraries"

For openSUSE: Install necessary headers with

sudo zypper install make gcc kernel-devel kernel-default-devel git libopenssl-devel

For Arch: After installing the necessary kernel headers and base-devel,

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/rtw89-dkms-git.git
cd rtw89-dkms-git
makepkg -sri

If any of the packages above are not found check if your distro installs them like that.

Installation

When a USB device is plugged in, or detected at boot, this rule causes the utulity usb_modeswitch to unload any 0bda:1a2b devices that it finds. If you have a device with different ID, change the rule accordingly.

The build this driver, do the following:

For all distros:

git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8852bu.git
cd rtl8852bu
make
sudo make install

When you get a new kernel, you will need to rebuild the driver. Do the following:
cd rtl8852bu
git pull
make
sudo make install

When your kernel is updated, then do a 'git pull' and redo the make commands.

Installation with module signing for SecureBoot

For all distros:

git clone git://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8852bu.git
cd rtl8852bu
make
sudo make sign-install

You will be promted for a password, please keep it in mind and use it in next steps.

Reboot to activate the new installed module. In the MOK managerment screen:

Select "Enroll key" and enroll the key created by above sign-install step
When promted, enter the password you entered when create sign key.

If you enter wrong password, your computer won't not rebootable. In this case, use the BOOT menu from your BIOS, to boot into your OS then do below steps:

sudo mokutil --reset

Restart your computer Use BOOT menu from BIOS to boot into your OS In the MOK managerment screen, select reset MOK list Reboot then retry from the step make sign-install

Adding modules to DKMS for Debian/Ubuntu

DKMS automatically rebuilds the driver module for each kernel update. (So that you don't have to make; make install at every update)

Build and Installation (For currently active kernel)

# Add module to dkms tree
sudo dkms add .

# Build 
sudo dkms build rtl8852bu -v 1.15.0.1

# Install 
sudo dkms install rtl8852bu -v 1.15.0.1

# Check installation
modinfo 8852bu

# Load driver 
modprobe 8852bu

Larry Finger

lwfinger / rtl8852bu