The SURF N150 is an amazing ultra-compact Wi-Fi USB dongle from Belkin , its small design (one of the smallest available usb adapter) make it very interesting for an embedded use:
- Dimensions: 15 mm x 18 mm (WxH)
- Weight: approximately 9 grams
- Wireless N150 with up to 150 Mbps
- Encryption: WPA2, WPA, WEP 64/128-bit
- Cost around 20 Euros
Here are some snapshots:
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However it does not work out of the Box with Linux/BeagleBoard.
Here a small guide how I’ve got it working:
root@beagleboard:~# lsusb | grep Belkin
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 050d:1102 Belkin Components
google it gave that it’s a Realtek based chipset and supported in Linux Kernel (I’m using a 3.0.7 Kernel) in the RTL8192CU driver.
I rebuild the kernel enabling the RTL8192 driver (via make menuconfig) and copied the Firmware required by the driver into /lib/firmware/rtlwifi (on the Beagleboard SD card filesystem):
root@beagleboard:~# ls /lib/firmware/rtlwifi/
rtl8192cfw.bin rtl8192defw.bin rtl8712u.bin
rtl8192cufw.bin rtl8192sefw.bin
I installed wpa_supplicant via opkg and edited the config file to match my AP parameters (WPA2):
root@beagleboard:~# cat /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
eapol_version=1
network={
ssid="Access Point Name"
scan_ssid=1
proto=RSN
pairwise=CCMP TKIP
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
psk="password"
}
I also edited the network interfaces file (/etc/network/interfaces) to add:
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wpa-conf /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
wpa-driver wext
loading now the built-in wi-fi driver gave me the following:
root@beagleboard:~# modprobe rtl8192cu
[ 3484.251617] rtl8192cu: MAC address: 94:44:52:ee:af:bb
[ 3484.257049] rtl8192cu: Board Type 0
[ 3484.302947] rtl8192cu: rx_max_size 15360, rx_urb_num 8, in_ep 1
[ 3484.344635] rtl8192cu: MAC auto ON okay!
[ 3484.364440] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu
root@beagleboard:~# [ 3484.474151] rtl8192cu: Tx queue select: 0x05
[ 3484.489776] rtl8192c: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
[ 3485.130889] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
root@beagleboard:~# ifup wlan0
[ 3587.279724] rtl8192cu: MAC auto ON okay!
[ 3587.335906] rtl8192cu: Tx queue select: 0x05
[ 3587.349029] rtl8192c: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
[ 3588.184417] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
udhcpc (v1.13.2) started
Sending discover...
Sending discover...
Sending discover...
No lease, forking to background
The link association with the AP failed (it get associated once or two times), so I didn’t want to spend much time debugging this driver because it really sucks !
The other alternative was using the driver sources from Realtek website : RTL819xCU_USB_linux_v3.3.1_3083.zip
I unpacked the sources and changed the driver Makefile as follow to enable the cross-compilation for the beagleboard:
--- rtl8188C_8192C_8192D_usb_linux_v3.3.1_3083.20111213/Makefile 2011-12-13 15:44:37.000000000 +0100
+++ rtl8188C_8192C_8192D_usb_linux_v3.3.1_3083.20111213_/Makefile 2012-01-03 02:03:54.080247526 +0100
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@
CONFIG_BT_COEXISTENCE = n
CONFIG_RTL8192CU_REDEFINE_1X1 =n
-CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC = y
+CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC = n
+CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_BEAGLE = y
CONFIG_PLATFORM_TI_AM3517 = n
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ANDROID_X86 = n
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_S3C2K4 = n
@@ -240,6 +241,14 @@
INSTALL_PREFIX :=
endif
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_BEAGLE), y)
+EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_LITTLE_ENDIAN
+ARCH := arm
+CROSS_COMPILE := arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-
+KVER := 3.0.7-r100c
+KSRC ?= /home/zak/Projects/angstrom/build/tmp-angstrom_2008_1/work/beagleboard-angstrom-linux-gnueabi/linux-3.0.7-r100c/git
+endif
+
ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLATFORM_TI_AM3517), y)
EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_LITTLE_ENDIAN -DCONFIG_PLATFORM_ANDROID -DCONFIG_PLATFORM_SHUTTLE
CROSS_COMPILE := arm-eabi-
Make sure that the kernel sources (KSRC) and cross-compiler (arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi) paths are correctly set and issue a make to build the driver 8192cu.ko that should be copied to /lib/modules/3.0.7/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/8192cu.ko on the Beagle SD card file system.
Now when I load the new driver it prints a lot of stuffs but it works perfect 🙂 :
root@beagleboard:~# modprobe 8192cu
[ 224.467834]
[ 224.467834] rtw driver version=v3.3.1_3083.20111213
[ 224.474761] register rtw_netdev_ops to netdev_ops
[ 224.479797] CHIP TYPE: RTL8188C_8192C
[ 224.483703]
[ 224.483703] usb_endpoint_descriptor(0):
[ 224.489257] bLength=7
[ 224.491638] bDescriptorType=5
[ 224.494750] bEndpointAddress=81
[ 224.498016] wMaxPacketSize=200
[ 224.501220] bInterval=0
[ 224.503784] RT_usb_endpoint_is_bulk_in = 1
[ 224.508087]
[ 224.508087] usb_endpoint_descriptor(1):
[ 224.513641] bLength=7
[ 224.516021] bDescriptorType=5
[ 224.519134] bEndpointAddress=2
[ 224.522338] wMaxPacketSize=200
[ 224.525543] bInterval=0
[ 224.528076] RT_usb_endpoint_is_bulk_out = 2
[ 224.532684]
[ 224.532684] usb_endpoint_descriptor(2):
[ 224.538269] bLength=7
[ 224.540649] bDescriptorType=5
[ 224.543731] bEndpointAddress=3
[ 224.546936] wMaxPacketSize=200
[ 224.550140] bInterval=0
[ 224.552673] RT_usb_endpoint_is_bulk_out = 3
[ 224.557067]
[ 224.557067] usb_endpoint_descriptor(3):
[ 224.562652] bLength=7
[ 224.565002] bDescriptorType=5
[ 224.568084] bEndpointAddress=84
[ 224.571411] wMaxPacketSize=40
[ 224.574493] bInterval=1
[ 224.577056] RT_usb_endpoint_is_int_in = 4, Interval = 1
[ 224.582519] nr_endpoint=4, in_num=2, out_num=2
[ 224.582519]
[ 224.588714] USB_SPEED_HIGH
[ 224.600616] Chip Version ID: VERSION_NORMAL_TSMC_CHIP_88C.
[ 224.606353] RF_Type is 3!!
[ 224.624511] EEPROM type is E-FUSE
[ 224.627990] ====> ReadAdapterInfo8192C
[ 224.639587] Boot from EFUSE, Autoload OK !
[ 224.955017] EEPROMVID = 0x050d
[ 224.958221] EEPROMPID = 0x1102
[ 224.961486] EEPROMCustomerID : 0x00
[ 224.965148] EEPROMSubCustomerID: 0x00
[ 224.969055] RT_CustomerID: 0x00
[ 224.972351] _ReadMACAddress MAC Address from EFUSE = 94:44:52:ee:af:bb
[ 224.979217] EEPROMRegulatory = 0x0
[ 224.982788] _ReadBoardType(0)
[ 224.985900] BT Coexistance = disable
[ 224.989624] RT_ChannelPlan: 0x02
[ 224.993041] _ReadPSSetting...bHWPwrPindetect(0)-bHWPowerdown(0) ,bSupportRem)
[ 225.001525] ### PS params=> power_mgnt(0),usbss_enable(0) ###
[ 225.007629] ### AntDivCfg(0)
[ 225.010650] readAdapterInfo_8192CU(): REPLACEMENT = 1
[ 225.015960] <==== ReadAdapterInfo8192C in 390 ms
[ 225.022216] rtw_macaddr_cfg MAC Address = 94:44:52:ee:af:bb
[ 225.028228] MAC Address from pnetdev->dev_addr= 94:44:52:ee:af:bb
[ 225.054199] bDriverStopped:1, bSurpriseRemoved:0, bup:0, hw_init_completed:0
[ 225.084991] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu
root@beagleboard:~# ifup wlan0
[ 233.954589] +871x_drv - drv_open, bup=0
[ 233.967285] ===> FirmwareDownload91C() fw:Rtl819XFwImageArray_TSMC
[ 233.973968] FirmwareDownload92C accquire FW from embedded image
[ 233.980255] fw_ver=v79, fw_subver=0, sig=0x88c0
[ 234.042755] fw download ok!
[ 234.045806] Set RF Chip ID to RF_6052 and RF type to 1T1R.
[ 234.488586] IQK:Start!!!
[ 234.518737] Path A IQK Success!!
[ 234.544219] Path A IQK Success!!
[ 234.562591] IQK: final_candidate is 0
[ 234.566436] IQK: RegE94=101 RegE9C=10 RegEA4=fd RegEAC=3fd RegEB4=0 RegEBC=00
[ 234.566467] Path A IQ Calibration Success !
[ 234.724853] pdmpriv->TxPowerTrackControl = 1
[ 234.742858] MAC Address from REG_MACID = 94:44:52:ee:af:bb
[ 234.748596] rtl8192cu_hal_init in 789ms
[ 234.752716] MAC Address = 94:44:52:ee:af:bb
[ 234.781982] -871x_drv - drv_open, bup=1
[ 234.786285] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 234.803649] [rtw_wx_set_pmkid] IW_PMKSA_FLUSH!
[ 234.808349] set_mode = IW_MODE_INFRA
ioctl[SIOCSIWAP]: Operation not permitted
[ 234.871551] [rtw_wx_set_pmkid] IW_PMKSA_FLUSH!
[ 234.982727] IW_SCAN_THIS_ESSID, ssid=ALICE-WLAN14, len=12
[ 235.006866] (2)871x_drv - drv_close, bup=1, hw_init_completed=1
[ 235.039001] rtl8192c_set_FwJoinBssReport_cmd mstatus(0)
[ 235.054473] -871x_drv - drv_close, bup=1
[ 236.092437] +871x_drv - drv_open, bup=1
[ 236.096618] -871x_drv - drv_open, bup=1
[ 236.116333] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 236.275207] survey done event(5)
[ 236.280944] wpa_set_auth_algs, AUTH_ALG_OPEN_SYSTEM
[ 236.286071] set_mode = IW_MODE_INFRA
[ 236.311553]
[ 236.311584] wpa_ie(length:22):
[ 236.316406] 0x30 0x14 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x0f 0xac 0x04
[ 236.321777] 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x0f 0xac 0x04 0x01 0x00
[ 236.327026] 0x00 0x0f 0xac 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x08 0xc0
[ 236.350769] =>rtw_wx_set_essid
[ 236.354003] ssid=ALICE-WLAN14, len=12
[ 236.357879] Set SSID under fw_state=0x00000008
[ 236.362640] [by_bssid:0][assoc_ssid:ALICE-WLAN14][to_roaming:0] new candidat8
[ 236.374053] rtw_select_and_join_from_scanned_queue: candidate: ALICE-WLAN14()
[ 236.383178] rtw_restructure_ht_ie IEEE80211_HT_CAP_MAX_AMSDU is set
[ 236.389801] link to Ralink AP
[ 236.392944] <=rtw_wx_set_essid, ret 0
[ 236.405303] Set BSSID under fw_state=0x00000088
[ 236.441955] set ch/bw before connected
[ 236.689300] link to Ralink AP
[ 236.703124] OnAuthClient
[ 236.705841] network.SupportedRates[0]=82
[ 236.710052] network.SupportedRates[1]=84
[ 236.714141] network.SupportedRates[2]=8B
[ 236.718261] network.SupportedRates[3]=96
[ 236.722351] network.SupportedRates[4]=12
[ 236.726470] network.SupportedRates[5]=24
[ 236.730560] network.SupportedRates[6]=48
[ 236.734680] network.SupportedRates[7]=6C
[ 236.738769] network.SupportedRates[8]=0C
[ 236.742889] network.SupportedRates[9]=18
[ 236.746978] network.SupportedRates[10]=30
[ 236.751190] network.SupportedRates[11]=60
[ 236.755371] bssrate_len = 12
[ 236.780883] OnAssocRsp
[ 236.783477] report_join_res(5)
[ 236.786682] rtw_joinbss_update_network
[ 236.790649] +rtw_update_ht_cap()
[ 236.794036] rtw_joinbss_update_stainfo
[ 236.803894] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[ 236.810363] HW_VAR_BASIC_RATE: BrateCfg(0x15d)
[ 236.820892] WMM(0): 0, a42b
[ 236.827606] WMM(1): 0, a44f
[ 236.835388] WMM(2): 0, 5e4322
[ 236.838836] WMM(3): 0, 2f3222
[ 236.850555] [HW_VAR_ACM_CTRL] Write 0x0
[ 236.854919] HTOnAssocRsp
[ 236.877685] update raid entry, mask=0xfffff, arg=0x80
[ 236.892028] rtl8192c_set_FwJoinBssReport_cmd mstatus(1)
[ 236.906677] SetFwRsvdPagePkt
[ 236.909790] Set RSVD page location to Fw.
[ 236.922790] =>mlmeext_joinbss_event_callback
[ 237.047851] OnAction_back
[ 237.050598] OnAction_back, action=0
[ 237.054473] issue_action_BA, category=3, action=1, status=0
[ 237.060394] OnAction_back
[ 237.063262] OnAction_back, action=0
[ 237.066925] issue_action_BA, category=3, action=1, status=0
[ 237.102844]
[ 237.102844] ~~~~stastakey:unicastkey
[ 237.124145]
[ 237.124145] ~~~~stastakey:groupkey
[ 237.129364] ==> rtw_set_key algorithm(4),keyid(1),key_mask(2)
udhcpc (v1.13.2) started
Sending discover...
[ 238.108398] rtl8192c_dm_RF_Saving(): RF_Normal
Sending select for 192.168.1.84...
Lease of 192.168.1.84 obtained, lease time 604800
adding dns 192.168.1.1
To automatically load the driver and configure the wlan0 interface when the board starts I created a simple script :
cat /etc/init.d/wlan8192cu
#!/bin/sh
echo -n "loading 8192cu module"
modprobe 8192cu
and start it before the networing script (S41networking) :
cd /etc/rcS.d/
ln -s ../init.d/wlan8192cu /etc/rcS.d/S40wlan8192cu
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