Is an rt2570 driver in 5.8 SOHO?

[JimC]

Hey guys...

I was wondering if anyone can tell me if an rt2570 driver is in the new 5.8 SOHO release?   I didn't see one the last time I gave one of the RCs a spin (and my only network connection is wireless).  So, I was trying to find out if it was supported yet before taking the time to install the final.

Thanks.

Jim C.

[easuter]

No, I don't believe there is one installed.

I'm interested though, are you actually able to use your card with the rt2570 module? I have a USB card (actually its borrowed ) with a Ralink rt2570 chip, and have been unable to get it working no matter what I try (5.8 standard and soho).
If you are able to use rt2570 successfully, I'd like to pick your brain if thats ok 

[JimC]

Well, I'm not very good with the "guts" of Linux.

But, I don't have anything better to do.  I'll go ahead and install Vector 5.8 SOHO and see if I can get it to work or not.

I found a driver that does seem to work OK with PCLinuxOS 2007 Test 4.  You would have to compile it.   So, I'll try the same driver with Vector 5.8 SOHO and report back here.

It may be a while (perhaps not even today).  I haven't installed 5.8 SOHO yet.  I wasn't going to unless there was an rt2570 driver, since I don't like it when hardware gets orphaned between versions, and this card does work with some of the older Vector releases (heck, I was just using it with VL SOHO 5.1.2-Live CD about a week ago).

But, I made an exception for PCLinuxOS 2007.  They orphaned my card (my adapter worked in PCLinuxOS 0.92 and it doesn't work in the newer 0.93 or 2007 Test Releases).  So, I guess I'll do the same thing with Vector 5.8 SOHO and see if the rt2570 driver I downloaded works with it (if they really didn't include it, and I don't know if it's included or not, which is why I asked here).

This is where I got the driver that works:

http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/wiki/index.php/Downloads

Basically, you need to download and save it to a folder.

Then, navigate to that folder and type this as root (making sure the filename matches the one you downloaded)

tar -xvzf rt2570-1.1.0-b2.tar.gz

Then, navigate to the module folder (a subfolder in the folder you extracted it to) and do this from a console as root:

su
make
make install
modprobe rt2570

That installs the new driver (or at least that worked for me using PCLinuxOS 2007 Test 4).   I'll install Vector 5.8 SOHO and give it a try with it, too (if I don't see one already in it for this adapter).

[easuter]

I was just curious because myself and some other serialmonkey forum members are unable to use those same drivers at all  - the driver reports zero signal strength all the time, so no connection is established.
Take a look at this thread to see what I mean:

http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3543

But for other users the driver seems to work fine.

I hope it does work for you! 

[JimC]

The driver I downloaded works with Vector 5.8 SOHO, too.

I  just finished installing Vector 5.8 SOHO and I'm typing from SeaMonkey right now via the rt2570 driver I downloaded (see the link in my last post).

I didn't even need a reboot.  This distro seems really fast.   I'm impressed (although I just got up and running, since I was working on getting the network up first, so I haven't had time to try out much yet.

But, first impressions for speed are very good.  I do have one question.  How do I turn off the system sounds that are happening for every darn thing you do (minimize, open apps, etc.)?   It's driving me nuts.  No, I haven't tired to find it in the manual yet.  But, if you happen to read this,  please post the solution for turning them off if you know it.   Thanks.  LOL

In any event, I just loged in as root, extracted the downloaded drivers to a folder on my desktop (I had them on another partition), navigated to it and did the steps I mentioned above to get the driver installed.   I also went ahead and grabbed an IP Address for it while I was in the console and it's working just fine.

I copied and pasted what I did and the output it gave me.   I saw some errors during the make.  But, it seems to be working great.


root:# cd Desktop
jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop
root:# cd rt2570-1.1.0-b2
jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2
root:# cd Module
jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module
root:# make
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.20.3'
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_main.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/mlme.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.o
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c: In function `RTUSBBulkOutDataPacket':
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c:139: warning: passing arg 6 of `RTusb_fill_bulk_urb' from incompatible pointer type
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c: In function `RTUSBBulkOutNullFrame':
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c:193: warning: passing arg 6 of `RTusb_fill_bulk_urb' from incompatible pointer type
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c: In function `RTUSBBulkOutMLMEPacket':
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c:258: warning: passing arg 6 of `RTusb_fill_bulk_urb' from incompatible pointer type
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c: In function `RTUSBBulkOutBeacon':
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c:1004: warning: passing arg 6 of `RTusb_fill_bulk_urb' from incompatible pointer type
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c: In function `RTUSBBulkOutPsPoll':
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c:1059: warning: passing arg 6 of `RTusb_fill_bulk_urb' from incompatible pointer type
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c: In function `RTUSBBulkReceive':
/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_bulk.c:1125: warning: passing arg 6 of `RTusb_fill_bulk_urb' from incompatible pointer type
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/connect.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/sync.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_init.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtmp_tkip.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/wpa.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtmp_wep.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_info.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/assoc.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/auth.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/auth_rsp.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/md5.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_io.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/sanity.o
  CC [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rtusb_data.o
  LD [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rt2570.o
  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST 1 modules
  CC      /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rt2570.mod.o
  LD [M]  /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rt2570.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.20.3'
jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module
root:# make install
echo "2.6 module install"
2.6 module install
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.20.3/build SUBDIRS=/root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module  modules_install
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.20.3'
  INSTALL /root/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module/rt2570.ko
  DEPMOD  2.6.20.3
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.20.3'
/sbin/depmod -a
append 'alias rausb0 rt2570' to /etc/modprobe.conf
jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module
root:# modprobe rt2570
jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module
root:# iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

rausb0    RT2500USB WLAN  ESSID:""  Nickname:""
          Mode:Managed  Frequency=2.412 GHz
          RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Link Quality=0/100  Signal level:-120 dBm  Noise level:-256 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module
root:# dhcpcd rausb0
jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module
root:# iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

rausb0    RT2500USB WLAN  ESSID:"cockfield"  Nickname:""
          Mode:Managed  Frequency=2.437 GHz  Access Point: 00:13:10:03:23:A9
          Bit Rate=54 Mb/s
          RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Link Quality=76/100  Signal level:-62 dBm  Noise level:-195 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

jimdesktoop:/~/Desktop/rt2570-1.1.0-b2/Module
root:#                                             

[easuter]

Interesting...your iwconfig does not give a zero signal strength, must be a hardware issue on my end....
I'll forward this info to the serialmonkey guys to see what they make of it.

Thanks for all your input

[JimC]

I do have one question.  How do I turn off the system sounds that are happening for every darn thing you do (minimize, open apps, etc.)?   It's driving me nuts.  No, I haven't tired to find it in the manual yet.  But, if you happen to read this,  please post the solution for turning them off if you know it.   Thanks.  LOL

Never mind.  I found it.  lol

Control Center>Sound & Multimedia>System Notifications

Leave it at the default of KDE System Notifications

Check the box to "Apply to all applications"
Cick  on the button to "Turn off All" Sounds
Click on the Apply button

[JimC]

Interesting...your iwconfig does not give a zero signal strength, must be a hardware issue on my end....
I'll forward this info to the serialmonkey guys to see what they make of it.

Thanks for all your input

It seems to be working great.  Link quality looks fine from the iwconfig output (look at the second output in my post above, after using dhcpcd rausb0 to connect to my router). 

I haven't checked it with any other utilties yet.

I don't see a way to start it so that Vector will grab an IP address for it using VASM, unless I missed it (rausb0 is not an adapter in the list).   I'm not familiar with the Vector utilities.

Using dhcpcd rausb0 from a konsole as root worked fine though (as you can see from what I copied and pasted above). 

It saw my router, set the ESSID ID to it, changed to the frequency I'm using with, grabbed an IP Address, etc.    It's working just fine so far and I didn't even need to send it any parameters for ESSID, etc.

I think there was more than one link for an rt2570 driver on the download page, and I'm not sure which one I've got (other than the folder name I navigated to in my last post). So, that might explain some of the differences between people reporting using it.  I remember downloading them from both links at different times. lol

[JimC]

P.S.

I think this is a better signal than I normally get with distros that support this adapter.  My router (WRT54G) is  in another room sitting on the floor by a TV.  :-)

KWiFiManager sees the signal quality about the same way as iwconfig is showing it.



I've also been running this same driver under PCLinuxOS 2007 Test 4 for a few days, and it's been working great with it.  I've been downloading ISOs, etc..  For that matter,  I used it to download the .iso for Vector 5.8 SOHO that I just installed.

But, I don't think I saw those errors during the make with PCLinuxOS 2007 test 4 when i installed the driver in it.

[easuter]

Thanks for all the info

On my end it seems to be a problem of the rt2570 module not recognizing the usb dongle when it is plugged in...so my problem has got nothing to do with VL or any other distro for that matter.

I'm glad it worked for you though, this has been driving me nuts.

[JimC]

Well.. it looks like my enthusiasm for it may have been a bit premature. 

After rebooting, I couldn't get it to work again.   I've tried all sorts of stuff.  No go.

When I type lsmod, I see the rt2570 driver listed.  But, it's got a 0 beside it.

However, when I use iwconfig, rausb0 is showing up.  Odd, since it doesn't appear to work.  It's not connected to anything though.

I can't get it to connect using dhcpd (or any other built in utilities I've tried),  even if I try to pass my ESSID, freq and more to it.

This driver has been working fine for me under PCLinuxOS2007 though.

It worked great in Vector after initially installing, too.  But, I haven't been able to get it working again after a reboot.

[JimC]

Interesting...your iwconfig does not give a zero signal strength, must be a hardware issue on my end....
I'll forward this info to the serialmonkey guys to see what they make of it.

Thanks for all your input

While you're chatting with the developers, I see an issue (which may or may not have anything to do with my being unable to get it working again after a reboot).

The ESSID being passed to it is being truncated to 8 characters.  ;-)

If you try to set it manually to anything longer (and my router is using a 9 character ESSID), it truncates it to 8 characters.   I noticed this trying to manually configure it using iwconfig after a reboot.

I could type this:

iwconfig rausb0 ESSID cockfield

But, iwconfig (without parameters) would show the ESSID as cockfiel (missing the d at the end).  That's probably part of the problem.  See my previous post (I can't get it working again after a reboot).  As prevously mentioned, I saw errors during the make, too (and I did not see those errors compiling it with pclinuxos 2007 test 4, and it's been working fine for days now with it, including lots of reboots).  I don't know if that issue (truncating ESSID) is because of the iwconfig code being used with Vector, or if it's related to something in the driver.  But, it may be worth looking into (it's definitely an issue from what I can see).

[JimC]

It looks like the windows drivers might be an option, too.

The rt2500usb drivers on the CD that came with my card seem to work OK in and older 3.4.3 SimplyMEPIS I'm in right this minute.

Here is all it took (I just copied the drivers to my desktop to install them) and link quality shows at 100/100 with my rt2570 based Belkin USB Wireless G adapter.  You might need to remove/blacklist any drivers in it that conflict first to use it.

root@1[Desktop]# ndiswrapper -i rt2500usb.inf
Installing rt2500usb
root@1[Desktop]# ndiswrapper -m
Adding "alias wlan0 ndiswrapper" to /etc/modprobe.d/ndiswrapper
root@1[Desktop]# modprobe -r ndiswrapper
root@1[Desktop]# modprobe ndiswrapper
root@1[Desktop]# iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11g  ESSID:"cockfield"  Nickname:"default"
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.437 GHz  Access Point: 00:13:10:03:23:A9
          Bit Rate=54 Mb/s   Tx-Power:20 dBm   Sensitivity=-121 dBm
          RTS thr=2347 B   Fragment thr=2346 B
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality:100/100  Signal level:-60 dBm  Noise level:-256 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

root@1[Desktop]# dhclient wlan0
Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.0.3
Copyright 2004-2005 Internet Systems Consortium.
All rights reserved.
For info, please visit http://www.isc.org/products/DHCP

Listening on LPF/wlan0/00:11:50:8a:33:83
Sending on   LPF/wlan0/00:11:50:8a:33:83
Sending on   Socket/fallback
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 8
DHCPOFFER from 192.168.1.1
DHCPREQUEST on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67
DHCPACK from 192.168.1.1
bound to 192.168.1.101 -- renewal in 35480 seconds.

[easuter]

Hi JimC,

The serialmonkey devs haven't answered my post so far, and its probably to be expected since they are dedicating more time and effort to getting the newer Ralink chips supported (RT2500/2570 is already considered legacy hardware)

Anyway, I have also tried ndiswrapper in the past but the Windows driver (called NetRTUSB.inf I think) would cause ndiswrapper and the kernel to crash, so I never got very far on that.

I see that the driver you are using is called something else, so maybe this is a light at the end of the tunnel. 
Please let me know if it works on VL, and I might also need a copy of that driver! 

Thanks for posting back with that information!

[salmonix]

Hi there,
I saw easuter @ serialmonkey. As I remember the USB wifi-devil is a D-Link DWL-G122, rev.b. That is not working for me  with the latest rt2570-cvs, not even blinking. But at least I have no kernel panic when activating (trying to) the USB.

JimC:

I am curious exactly the rt-chipped usb wifi which is up (manufacturer, revision, etc.) at least on the level to allow some traffic. 
Do You configure the rausb0 via a config file at bootime or load manually the driver, and manually iwconfig-ifconfig it?