Tuesday 25 April 2017

RTL8723BS wifi soon to hit mainline kernel


Bastien Nocera's RTL8723BS wifi github (hadess/rtl8723bs) has been merged into the kernel staging tree and as a result the compiling of the driver as an external module or running the driver on older kernels is no longer supported and the repository now only contains the history of the driver cleanup which is not available in the upstream-merged driver. As the final commit states:
The driver is available upstream now in the linux-next tree, in
the staging drivers section. All tests, bug reports should be
made to the linux-wireless mailing-list, using this upstream driver.
Consider the existence of this GitHub repository as historical
documentation. Patches that were shipped as part of this repository have
mostly been subsided and obsoleted by upstream kernel fixes.
Support for Bluetooth, and the firmware files are also in the process
of being made available upstream, and will be removed when that happens.
If all goes to plan it should appear in mainline kernel 4.12-rc1 whose merge window should open next week barring any last minute issues with the first builds appearing in early May.

I've consequently retired my script 'linuxium-install-rtl8723bs.sh' as we look forward to the upcoming mainline support.

35 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello, thanks. I wait for this solution.

Unknown said...

Can I access your script since 4.12 is not out yet?

Linuxium said...

I'm working on an alternative which I'll post as soon as it is finished.

Unknown said...

hello Ian, I am waiting with great certainty that you will find a solution soon.

Unknown said...

I Install Lubuntu 16.10 on my STCK1A8LFC, and the wifi does not work. If I install the Ubuntu version 14.04 LTS will work again?

Raf4ga said...

Thank you very much IAN, I found your script and I applied it to an ISO of ubuntuMATE 16.04 (kernel by default) and I have not had success with my wifi. What do I need apart from your 'isorespin.sh' script?

Linuxium said...

Officially wifi is only supported by Canonical on 14.04 v3.16 kernel so if you install 14.04 LTS you must make sure you get the point release that corresponds to the dependent kernel. Then you will have to install the Canonical DKMS modules to get wifi working. I have a solution for v4.11 which I will post soon if you are interested in trying the latest bleeding edge software.

Linuxium said...

Either you can upgrade to v4.11-rc5 and then apply my wifi script (see earlier posts) to get working wifi immediately or you can wait for my new v4.11 based solution.

Unknown said...

Hello, thanks. I wait for your solution.

Unknown said...

I installed ubuntu 16.04 and upgraded the kernel to v4.11-rc5, use the linuxium-install-rtl8723bs-binaries-for-4.11.0-rc5.sh script and the Wifi worked fine for a while, but then the system It was frozen.

Wait for new solution.

Linuxium said...

That is likely a different issue and you should probably try using 'intel_idle.max_cstate=1' option in your GRUB boot command.

Arasthel said...

Actually, I'm having this issue too, after installing the WiFi drivers on my Chuwi Hi10 Pro using the 4.11-rc5 kernel. I've tried you suggestion, but it doesn't seem to work, thanks anyway. I'll probably wait until the 4.12 kernel comes out.

Unknown said...

Aresthel, I had the same problem on one of my cubes. In the bios I changed sdio from acpi to pci and the wifi adapter worked

Unknown said...

Linuxium, do you have a payoneer account. So I can send a donation? If not I will send it paypal

Arasthel said...

Actually, I meant that I'm having random freezes, too - WiFi is working fine. I already changed that setting on the BIOS, thanks for the tip anyway!

Unknown said...

Dayly buid updated with the rtc-cmos fix so today then building a kernel from the tree, its mounting all the SD patitions nice and easy. Only Your last fix for the rtl8723bs is missing but it working grate applaying Your patch for ioctl_cfg80211.c IF having installing the BT firmware and service from Your "linuxium-install-rtl8723bs-binaries-for-4.11.0-rc5".

Hope the ioctl_cfg80211.c patch comming sooooon so its easyer installing the system on SD-card and having the boot for (L)ubuntu and Android on a small partition on the MMC2 and the systems and data on MMC0 or on a USB-Stick.

Thanking You agen Ian for a great work on the Ubunto on our small sticks

billP said...

v4.12-rc1 is out. Will the respin work with this kernel? I know you were working on an update that might change the arguments.

Unknown said...

Looks like Ian is having weekemd but i have tested the v4.12-rc1 and the rtc-cmos is in so the SD-card is working OK but the rtl8723bs module is not in the rc1 only in the linux-next(I think its the dayly build)(It wos lifted out from the rc1 on the 6/6 after trubbles with the merging of the other network changins that wos broking the drive compleetly).
I have not tested respinnig the rc1 but it wold working normal with the -p and its roling on the latest mainbuilded (=rc1) kernel.
Have using the -l for installing a hone made kernel with the patches in the post above and its working great so it must being possible doing the same with the dayly build kernel or the RC1 (downloading them to the respinn folder and respin as Ian have doing with google-chrome) but you dont getting a working wifi this way, only if you are buildong a patched rtl8723bs module in the kernel tree.

Unknown said...

Sorry I wos wrong.
The daily build, drm-intel-next and drm-intel-nightly dont have the rtl8723bs module inside.
So only possible building one kernel from the source and applaying the ioctl_cfg80211.c patch to get the rtl8723bs (or one module out of the tree from source) to working for the moment.

Linuxium said...

For interim RTL8723BS wifi packages for v4.11 and v4.12-rc1 kernels please see http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/interim-rtl8723bs-wifi-packages-for.html

Linuxium said...

Please see my latest post at http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/interim-rtl8723bs-wifi-packages-for.html

Linuxium said...

Please see my latest post at http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/interim-rtl8723bs-wifi-packages-for.html

Linuxium said...

And now you can respin an ISO and use '-l' with one of my rebuilt wifi packages from http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/interim-rtl8723bs-wifi-packages-for.html

Linuxium said...

Thanks. I only have Paypal.

Unknown said...

Good day sir.
I just bought an intel stick with windows installed.
My question is were i can find the ubuntu version? My plan is to install it on a USB flashdrive using Rufus and then installing it on the stick.
Sorry, im realy new to all this.

Linuxium said...

Official Ubuntu ISOs are located at http://releases.ubuntu.com

Unknown said...

So this version will work on the intel stick then?
ubuntu-14.04.5-desktop-amd64.iso 2016-08-03 17:49 1.0G Desktop image for 64-bit PC (AMD64) computers (standard download)
Thank you for your reply.

Linuxium said...

Yes, although with the default kernel you will not have HDMI audio, wifi or bluetooth. That is the whole point about respinning the ISO so that you can start with an ISO that has everything (or at least everything that is currently available).

So for example if you respin 'ubuntu-14.04.5-desktop-amd64.iso' using my 'isorespin.sh' script from 'http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2017/05/gui-isorespinsh.html' and upgrade the kernel to 'v4.12-rc1' and add the local package and 'rtl8723bs_4.12.0-041200rc1_amd64.deb' from 'http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2017/05/interim-rtl8723bs-wifi-packages-for.html' you'll get an ISO with HDMI audio and wifi/bluetooth which you can then install from.

And if you don't have a Linux machine to start with then download and install Oracle's VirtualBox on Windows and create a Linux VM from the Ubuntu ISO and install to a VDI of fixed size say 20GB. The run the new Ubuntu VM and install 'Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack' and you will be able to use my script 'isorespin.sh' to both respin the Ubuntu ISO and write it to a USB using 'dd'.

If you are happy with the results then consider donating.

Unknown said...

I will try that out.
Thanks again for all your help.

Unknown said...

hi, it is there any iso with RTL8723BS integrated drivers for intel stick STCK1A32WFC ?

Linuxium said...

My latest interim v4.12-rc6 and v4.12-rc7 ISOs do. See my most recent posts for these.

Unknown said...

It hit the mainline fine, installing Lubuntu 1804 wifi, hdmi, sound working out of the box. BUT (!) -- NO BLUETOOTH. Any ideas about that ?

Linuxium said...

BT needs userspace firmware which you can add by respinning your ISO as per 'http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2017/06/customizing-ubuntu-isos-documentation.html'.

Unknown said...

Can't userspace firmware loaded in runtime?
I can't respin.
It just does not boot for me (Lubuntu 18.04).

Linuxium said...

What is your target device, what respin command are you using and how are you creating your 'LiveUSB'?

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