Installation • RTL8821CU on Debian 12

The Linux kernel database shows this device is supported by the RTW88_8821CU driver since kernel 6.2 - https://cateee.net/lkddb/web-lkddb/RTW88_8821CU.html . Your solution may be as simple as installing a more recent kernel from Backports as Bookworm only has default kernel 6.1.
You may need the more recent firmware-realtek package from Trixie. Download and install manually - https://packages.debian.org/trixie/all/ ... k/download

Older kernels would need an out-of-tree driver compiled. Instructions below but shouldn't be needed with Backports kernel.

Code:

https://github.com/brektrou/rtl8821CU

That driver is reported to work up to kernel 5.x on its Github page. Better to use this one which is reported to work up to kernel 6.9 -
https://github.com/morrownr/8821cu-20210916

Simpler install instructions modified from this guide - https://docs.alfa.com.tw/Support/Linux/RTL8821CU/

STEP 1 : Open Terminal Emulator

STEP 2 : Run commands

sudo apt update
sudo apt install bc git build-essential dkms rfkill

STEP 3 : Download driver source

git clone https://github.com/morrownr/8821cu-20210916.git

STEP 4 : Compile and install

cd 8821cu-20210916
sudo ./install-driver.sh

STEP 5 (Optional): Check driver existence

Run commands below:

find /lib/modules/`uname -r`/ -name "8821cu.ko"

There should be a file in search result if driver was successfully installed.

Statistics: Posted by onknight — 2024-06-02 03:36 — Replies 5 — Views 46