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#230 TL-WN821N not supported

open
nobody
None
5
2012-10-06
2008-08-24
Christophe DUMEZ
No

I have just got my hands on a new USB wifi dongle from TP-LINK (famous chinese manufacturer). It uses an Atheros chipset and its id (found using lsusb) is 0cf3:9170 (see appendix).

I decided to test ndiswrapper to make it work on my Ubuntu Hardy (v1.50 is shipped).
I used the following drivers from tp-link.com: http://www.tp-link.com/english/soft/200831131417.zip

ndiswrapper complains that WinXP and Win2K drivers are invalid. Only Vista driver is installable and the device is detected:
ndiswrapper -l
arusb_lh : driver installed
device (0CF3:9170) present

However, the device is not working at all and I get a lot of undefined symbols in the logs (see appendix). I believe this is normal with Vista drivers according to what I've read. However, I don't understand why WinXP drivers are not installable.

*** APPENDIX ***
USB dongle information page: http://www.tp-link.com/products/product_des.asp?id=140
Side note: this is a 802.11n (draft) device

lsusb -v
Bus 007 Device 004: ID 0cf3:9170 Atheros Communications, Inc.
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bDeviceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bDeviceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x0cf3 Atheros Communications, Inc.
idProduct 0x9170
bcdDevice 1.06
iManufacturer 16 ATHER
iProduct 32 USB2.0 WLAN
iSerial 48 12345
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 46
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0x80
(Bus Powered)
MaxPower 500mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 4
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 0
bInterfaceProtocol 0
iInterface 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 1
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x04 EP 4 OUT
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 1
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
bLength 10
bDescriptorType 6
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bDeviceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bDeviceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
bMaxPacketSize0 64
bNumConfigurations 1
Device Status: 0x0000
(Bus Powered)

dmesg output when connecting device (using Vista drivers) :
[ 26.600807] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMIndicateReceiveNetBufferLists'
[ 26.600816] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisFreeNetBufferList'
[ 26.600823] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisAllocateNetBuffer'
[ 26.600831] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisAllocateNetBufferList'
[ 26.600838] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisFreeNetBuffer'
[ 26.600844] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisFreeMdl'
[ 26.600862] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisOpenConfigurationEx'
[ 26.600872] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMSendNetBufferListsComplete'
[ 26.600879] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMOidRequestComplete'
[ 26.600888] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMIndicateStatusEx'
[ 26.600900] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMSetMiniportAttributes'
[ 26.600911] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMDeregisterMiniportDriver'
[ 26.600918] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMRegisterMiniportDriver'
[ 26.600944] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisAllocateNetBufferListPool'
[ 26.600951] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisAllocateIoWorkItem'
[ 26.600964] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisAllocateMemoryWithTagPriority'
[ 26.600972] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisGetSystemUpTimeEx'
[ 26.600979] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisFreeNetBufferListPool'
[ 26.600985] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisQueueIoWorkItem'
[ 26.600998] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisFreeNetBufferPool'
[ 26.601005] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisAllocateNetBufferPool'
[ 26.601012] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisFreeIoWorkItem'
[ 26.601019] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: NDIS.SYS:'NdisMResetComplete'
[ 26.601025] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: WDFLDR.SYS:'WdfVersionBind'
[ 26.601030] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: WDFLDR.SYS:'WdfVersionUnbind'
[ 26.601033] ndiswrapper (load_sys_files:210): couldn't prepare driver 'arusb_lh'
[ 26.601463] ndiswrapper (load_wrap_driver:112): couldn't load driver arusb_lh; check system log for messages from 'loadndisdriver'
[ 26.601493] usbcore: registered new interface driver ndiswrapper

Discussion

  • Daniel White

    Daniel White - 2008-11-23

    Try this one instead; it doesn't complain about these XP drivers.

    http://www.tp-link.com/english/soft/20089493245.zip

    However, I get the following from dmesg:

    [ 7452.555891] ndiswrapper version 1.53 loaded (smp=yes, preempt=no)
    [ 7452.696028] usb 4-4: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
    [ 7452.879582] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: ntoskrnl.exe:'NlsMbCodePageTag'
    [ 7452.879821] ndiswrapper (load_sys_files:206): couldn't prepare driver 'arusb_xp'
    [ 7452.881731] ndiswrapper (load_wrap_driver:108): couldn't load driver arusb_xp; check system log for messages from 'loadndisdriver'
    [ 7452.881835] usbcore: registered new interface driver ndiswrapper

    Looking at the source NlsMbCodePageTag does seem to be defined, so I'm not sure why I'm getting that error.

    Beyond that, any ideas where to look from here?

     

  • Jdawg

    Jdawg - 2008-12-26

    Same problem here daniel_white with same dmesg output...

     

  • Christian Stoeveken

    Christian Stoeveken - 2009-04-15

    I tried various drivers (TP-Link TL-WN821N, D-Link DWA-160 Rev A, Netgear WNDA3100 ...)

    the only one I could get it to "work" with is the IOGEAR GWU623 driver from here
    http://www.iogear.com/support/driver/GWU623.zip

    I still can't connect to wpa/wpa2 networks - but that might just be the network-manager.
    Scanning and connecting to unsecured wireless networks works.

    lshw -C Network
    *-network:1
    description: Wireless interface
    physical id: 2
    logical name: wlan1
    serial: 00:21:27:cf:05:21
    capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
    configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ndiswrapper+arusb_xp driverversion=1.53+,02/04/2008,3.0.0.99 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g

    dmesg
    [ 7955.669503] usb 1-2: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 13
    [ 7955.888759] usb 1-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
    [ 7956.044366] usb 1-2: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 13
    [ 7956.230253] ndiswrapper: driver arusb_xp (,02/04/2008,3.0.0.99) loaded
    [ 7956.580504] wlan0: ethernet device 00:21:27:cf:05:21 using NDIS driver: arusb_xp, version: 0x40700, NDIS version: 0x501, vendor: 'Atheros OTUS Wireless Network Adapter', 0CF3:9170.F.conf
    [ 7956.580653] wlan0: encryption modes supported: WEP; TKIP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK; AES/CCMP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK

    lsusb -v
    Bus 001 Device 013: ID 0cf3:9170 Atheros Communications, Inc.
    Device Descriptor:
    bLength 18
    bDescriptorType 1
    bcdUSB 2.00
    bDeviceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
    bDeviceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
    bDeviceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
    bMaxPacketSize0 64
    idVendor 0x0cf3 Atheros Communications, Inc.
    idProduct 0x9170
    bcdDevice 1.06
    iManufacturer 16
    iProduct 32
    iSerial 48
    bNumConfigurations 1
    Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 46
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0x80
    (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower 500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 4
    bInterfaceNumber 0
    bAlternateSetting 0
    bNumEndpoints 4
    bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
    bInterfaceSubClass 0
    bInterfaceProtocol 0
    iInterface 0
    Endpoint Descriptor:
    bLength 7
    bDescriptorType 5
    bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT
    bmAttributes 2
    Transfer Type Bulk
    Synch Type None
    Usage Type Data
    wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
    bInterval 0
    Endpoint Descriptor:
    bLength 7
    bDescriptorType 5
    bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
    bmAttributes 2
    Transfer Type Bulk
    Synch Type None
    Usage Type Data
    wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
    bInterval 0
    Endpoint Descriptor:
    bLength 7
    bDescriptorType 5
    bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
    bmAttributes 3
    Transfer Type Interrupt
    Synch Type None
    Usage Type Data
    wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
    bInterval 1
    Endpoint Descriptor:
    bLength 7
    bDescriptorType 5
    bEndpointAddress 0x04 EP 4 OUT
    bmAttributes 3
    Transfer Type Interrupt
    Synch Type None
    Usage Type Data
    wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
    bInterval 1
    can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
    can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
    cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

    [ 7956.582826] ndiswrapper: changing interface name from 'wlan0' to 'wlan1'
    [ 7956.582931] udev: renamed network interface wlan0 to wlan1
    [ 7961.181021] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan1: link is not ready
    [ 9136.361245] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan1: link becomes ready
    [ 9146.716025] wlan1: no IPv6 routers present

     

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