# RTL8821CU_driver_v5.8.1

**Repository Path**: devgox/RTL8821CU_driver_v5.8.1

## Basic Information

- **Project Name**: RTL8821CU_driver_v5.8.1
- **Description**: No description available
- **Primary Language**: Unknown
- **License**: Not specified
- **Default Branch**: master
- **Homepage**: None
- **GVP Project**: No

## Statistics

- **Stars**: 0
- **Forks**: 0
- **Created**: 2022-02-04
- **Last Updated**: 2022-02-04

## Categories & Tags

**Categories**: Uncategorized

**Tags**: None

## README

# RTL8821CU_RTL8811CU_driver version v5.8.1
RTL8811CU and RTL8821CU driver

The Realtek RTL8811CU-CG is a highly integrated single-chip that supports 1-stream 802.11ac solutions with Multi-user MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) and Wireless LAN (WLAN) USB interface controller. It combines a WLAN MAC, a 1T1R capable WLAN baseband, and RF in a single chip. The RTL8811CU-CG provides an outstanding solution for a high-performance integrated wireless device.:
- USB high speed interface
- 802.11ac/abgn, 802.11ac
- 2.4 GHz Support
- 5.8 GHz Support
- Supports concurrent mode (operates as two virtual WLAN interfaces)
- MIMO config - 1x1
- MU-MIMO
- AC wave2
- 256 QAM

## Driver features
- IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi compliant
- 802.1x, WEP, WPA TKIP and WPA2 AES/Mixed mode for PSK and TLS (Radius)
- WPA3 SAE (Personal)
- WPS - PIN and PBC Methods
- IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac Client mode
  - Support wireless security for WEP, WPA TKIP and WPA2 AES PSK
  - Support site survey scan and manual connect
  - Support WPA/WPA2 TLS client
  - Support power saving mode
- Soft AP mode
- WiFi-Direct
- Miracast
- MU-MIMO
- BT-COEXist
- Mesh
- Wake on WLAN

## Platform support
- Linux (kernel 2.6.18 ~ 5.x)
- Android 1.6 ~ 2.3, 4.0 ~ 9.x  


## Linux driver support
The Linux driver appears as 8821cu.ko. Check if the USB sub-system recognizes the device.  
```bash
uname -a
Linux nes3 4.19.0-6-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 4.19.67-2+deb10u2 (2019-11-11) x86_64 GNU/Linux
```
```bash
lsusb | grep Realtek
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:c811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
```
```bash
lsmod | grep 8821cu
8821cu               2260992  0
cfg80211              589824  1 8821cu
usbcore               253952  6 ehci_hcd,xhci_pci,btusb,8821cu,xhci_hcd,ehci_pci
```
If 8821cu is present, everything is good to go!

## Building the driver
If the driver is not present, it can be built using the included driver sources.  
 - Driver version : rtl8821CU_WiFi_linux_v5.8.1_34171.20190628_COEX20190509-4141
 - Driver [changelog.pdf](./changelog.pdf)
 - Build tools - Install build tools, if needed (see below)

```bash
# Install build tools
sudo apt-get install build-essential -y
sudo apt-get install bc -y
sudo apt-get install unzip git -y

# install kernel headers
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

# check
apt search linux-headers-$(uname -r)
ls -l /usr/src/linux-headers-$(uname -r)
```
#### Option 1 - Direct build

```bash
git clone https://github.com/axiomware/RTL8821CU_driver_v5.8.1.git
cd RTL8821CU_driver_v5.8.1
```

##### Following customizations have been made to the default Makefile(see installation document for details):
- Choose x86 target
- Concurrent mode enabled (To disable, comment out `EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_CONCURRENT_MODE`)
- Mesh point enabled (To disable, comment out `EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_RTW_MESH`)
- Monitor mode enabled (To disable, set `CONFIG_WIFI_MONITOR = n`)
- Log Level = 3 (default is 4, set `CONFIG_RTW_LOG_LEVEL = 4`)

```bash
# Build
make

# install
sudo make install

# reboot to start the wireless module or use modprobe to load the driver
sudo modprobe 8821cu

#uninstall the driver using make
sudo make uninstall

# or uninstall directly if make is not installed
KVER=$(uname -r)
MODFILE=/lib/modules/$KVER/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/8821cu.ko
sudo rm -f $MODFILE
sudo /sbin/depmod -a $KVER
```
#### Option 2 - DKMS build (verified on Debian 10 LTS with Kernel version 4.19)

DKMS is a system which will automatically recompile and install a kernel module when a new kernel gets installed or updated. To make use of DKMS, install the dkms package and follow the steps listed below:

```bash
sudo apt-get install dkms

DRV_NAME=rtl8821CU
DRV_VERSION=5.8.1

git clone https://github.com/axiomware/RTL8821CU_driver_v5.8.1.git

# Modify Makefile, if needed (see installation document for details)
# default Makefile is for:
# x86 target
# Concurrent mode enabled
# Monitor mode enabled
# Mesh point

sudo cp -r  RTL8821CU_driver_v5.8.1 /usr/src/${DRV_NAME}-${DRV_VERSION}

# Build and install
sudo dkms add -m ${DRV_NAME} -v ${DRV_VERSION}
sudo dkms build -m ${DRV_NAME} -v ${DRV_VERSION}
sudo dkms install -m ${DRV_NAME} -v ${DRV_VERSION}

# reboot to start the wireless module or use modprobe to load the driver
sudo modprobe 8821cu

# To remove a driver, do the following:
DRV_NAME=rtl8821CU
DRV_VERSION=5.8.1
sudo dkms remove ${DRV_NAME}/${DRV_VERSION} --all
```

## Test Driver

```bash
sudo iwconfig
enp3s0    no wireless extensions.

enp1s0    no wireless extensions.

wlx30eb1f04ecad  unassociated  Nickname:"<WIFI@REALTEK>"
          Mode:Auto  Frequency=2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
          Sensitivity:0/0
          Retry:off   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

enp2s0    no wireless extensions.

lo        no wireless extensions.

wlp0s18u1u2  unassociated  Nickname:"<WIFI@REALTEK>"
          Mode:Auto  Frequency=2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
          Sensitivity:0/0
          Retry:off   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0
```