Troubles with a Asus USB-N13 wireless adapter

[jabster]

Hi.

So I purchased an Asus USB-N13 n-band wireless adapter for my desktop, based a few reviews and a quick google search saying it worked in linux, and also based on the Asus page which specifically mentioned linux support.

I can't get this thing to work tho. I do have a d-link DWA-160 Rev B that is working, apparently using the same driver that the asus should be using, the rt2870. The d-link "just worked" btw.

So, for the asus, here's my lsusb:

Code:

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0b05:1784 ASUSTek Computer, Inc. USB-N13 802.11n Network Adapter [Ralink RT2870]
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1267:0103 Logic3 / SpectraVideo plc G-720 Keyboard
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c00b Logitech, Inc. MouseMan Wheel

lsmod | grep rt:

Code:

rt2870sta             353826  0
exportfs                3107  1 nfsd
rtc_cmos                6929  0
parport_pc             26665  0
parport                28094  2 ppdev,parport_pc
usbcore               124336  8 snd_usb_audio,snd_usb_lib,rt2870sta,uhci_hcd,ohci_hcd,ehci_hcd,usbhid

From /var/log/messages when plugging it in:

Code:

Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=0b05, idProduct=1784
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Product: 802.11 n WLAN
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Manufacturer: Ralink
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: SerialNumber: 1.0
Aug 13 08:24:24 forbin ntpd[3253]: synchronized to LOCAL(0), stratum 10
Aug 13 08:24:24 forbin ntpd[3253]: kernel time sync status change 0001

I'll also grab another version of the messages when I haven't mucked around with things so much.

/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist:

Code:

blacklist ssb
blacklist ssb
blacklist rt2800
blacklist rt2800usb
blacklist rt2x00usb
blacklist rt2x00lib

This darn thing does not work.

I have also tried a new udev rule:

Code:

cat /etc/udev/rules.d/10-wlan.rules
# udev rule for Asus USB-N13 wireless adapter
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idVendor}=="0b05", SYSFS{idProduct}=="1784", RUN+="/sbin/modprobe rt2870sta"

At this point, when I plug the asus in, my usb system seems to largely freeze up: lsusb just hangs, can't open hardware in PCC. At one point, the asus was showing up as a scanner, which I found interesting.

Any ideas here?

Thanks,
john

[jabster]

For comparison, here is the output for the d-link:

lsusb:

Code:

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 07d1:3c11 D-Link System DWA-160 Xtreme N Dual Band USB Adapter(rev.B) [Ralink RT2870]
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1267:0103 Logic3 / SpectraVideo plc G-720 Keyboard
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c00b Logitech, Inc. MouseMan Wheel

lsmod | grep rt:

Code:

rt2870sta             353826  1
exportfs                3107  1 nfsd
rtc_cmos                6929  0
parport_pc             26665  0
parport                28094  2 ppdev,parport_pc
usbcore               124336  8 snd_usb_audio,snd_usb_lib,rt2870sta,uhci_hcd,ohci_hcd,ehci_hcd,usbhid

/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist:

Code:

blacklist ssb
blacklist ssb
blacklist rt2800
blacklist rt2800usb
blacklist rt2x00usb
blacklist rt2x00lib

var/log/messages:

Code:

Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=07d1, idProduct=3c11
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Product: 802.11 n WLAN
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Manufacturer: Ralink
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: SerialNumber: 1.0
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: rt2870sta: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: rtusb init --->
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: === pAd = f0b04000, size = 463228 ===
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: <-- RTMPAllocAdapterBlock, Status=0
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: usbcore: registered new interface driver rt2870
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: <-- RTMPAllocTxRxRingMemory, Status=0
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: -->RTUSBVenderReset
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: <--RTUSBVenderReset
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: 1. Phy Mode = 0
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: 2. Phy Mode = 0
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: RTMPSetPhyMode: channel is out of range, use first channel=1
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: 3. Phy Mode = 0
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: MCS Set = 00 00 00 00 00
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: <==== rt28xx_init, Status=0
Aug 13 08:21:55 forbin klogd: 0x1300 = 00073200
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: ---> RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: <--- RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: <-- RTMPAllocTxRxRingMemory, Status=0
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: -->RTUSBVenderReset
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: <--RTUSBVenderReset
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: 1. Phy Mode = 0
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: 2. Phy Mode = 0
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: 3. Phy Mode = 0
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: MCS Set = 00 00 00 00 00
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: <==== rt28xx_init, Status=0
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: 0x1300 = 00073200
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: NET: Registered protocol family 17
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: Using interface wlan0/00:21:91:7F:03:12
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: Using detection mode: wireless extension
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Aug 13 08:21:56 forbin klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Aug 13 08:21:58 forbin klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 3(3) BSS returned, data->length = 420
Aug 13 08:22:08 forbin last message repeated 2 times
Aug 13 08:22:08 forbin klogd: ==>rt_ioctl_siwfreq::SIOCSIWFREQ[cmd=0x8b04] (Channel=1)
Aug 13 08:22:08 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: Link beat detected.
Aug 13 08:22:09 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: Executing '/etc/ifplugd/ifplugd.action wlan0 up'.
Aug 13 08:22:10 forbin klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 3(3) BSS returned, data->length = 420
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin dhclient: DHCPREQUEST on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin dhclient: DHCPACK from 192.168.100.1
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin avahi-daemon[3035]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv4 with address 192.168.100.103.
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin avahi-daemon[3035]: New relevant interface wlan0.IPv4 for mDNS.
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin avahi-daemon[3035]: Registering new address record for 192.168.100.103 on wlan0.IPv4.
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin NET[3855]: /sbin/dhclient-script : updated /etc/resolv.conf
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin dhclient: bound to 192.168.100.103 -- renewal in 39606 seconds.
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: client: Determining IP information for wlan0... done.
Aug 13 08:22:11 forbin ifplugd(wlan0)[3687]: Program executed successfully.
Aug 13 08:22:13 forbin klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 3(3) BSS returned, data->length = 420
Aug 13 08:22:45 forbin klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 3(3) BSS returned, data->length = 420
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin snmpd[4127]: could not open /proc/net/if_inet6
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin snmpd[4127]: cannot open /proc/net/snmp6 ...
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin saslauthd[4134]: detach_tty      : master pid is: 4134
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin saslauthd[4134]: ipc_init        : listening on socket: /var/run/saslauthd/mux
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin snmpd[4150]: NET-SNMP version 5.6.1
Aug 13 08:23:03 forbin klogd: usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
Aug 13 08:23:06 forbin klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947

When I plug the d-link in, it automagically works. (Obviously I've previously run the network setup, password, etc).

-john

[jabster]

I should also probably add that when I try to add a new connection, my only option with the asus plugged in is to use ndiswrapper, which then asks me if I'm sure I want to do that because it's already configured with usbcore. Using the winxp drivers from the CD, it goes on to tell me it can't find the ndiswrapper interface.

-john

[AS]

Hi jabster,

what kernel are you using ?

other hints:
be sure that the package rt2870-firmware is installed,
try to delete all wireless connection, reboot, try reconfigure the Asus USB adapter.
check (or post) the file /etc/modprobe.conf

AS

[muungwana]

From /var/log/messages when plugging it in:

Code:

Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=0b05, idProduct=1784
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Product: 802.11 n WLAN
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Manufacturer: Ralink
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: SerialNumber: 1.0
Aug 13 08:24:24 forbin ntpd[3253]: synchronized to LOCAL(0), stratum 10
Aug 13 08:24:24 forbin ntpd[3253]: kernel time sync status change 0001

This part says the usb subsystem detects the card but no driver stepped up to claim it. This usually means either all drivers that can claim the card are not loaded or not installed.

what makes you think " rt2870" can control the card? all links i have seen online says the driver for the card is "rt3070"

I just checked on my system and the driver is not installed, just checked on synaptic and it isnt there too. The driver you are looking for is called "rt3070" and can be located at http://www.ralinktech.com/support.php?s=2

you have two alternatives.

1. Make a package request for the driver and wait for it to find its way into the repository if the license allow it
2. Build the driver yourself. Building instructions should be with the driver if you decide to take this route.

[AS]

Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=0b05, idProduct=1784
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Product: 802.11 n WLAN
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: Manufacturer: Ralink
Aug 13 08:24:22 forbin klogd: usb 1-5: SerialNumber: 1.0
Aug 13 08:24:24 forbin ntpd[3253]: synchronized to LOCAL(0), stratum 10
Aug 13 08:24:24 forbin ntpd[3253]: kernel time sync status change 0001

modinfo rt2870sta

filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.38.8-pclos3.pae/kernel/drivers/staging/rt2870/rt2870sta.ko.gz
version:        2.1.0.0
license:        GPL
description:    RT2870/RT3070 Wireless Lan Linux Driver
author:         Paul Lin <paul_lin@ralinktech.com>
firmware:       rt3071.bin
firmware:       rt3070.bin
firmware:       rt2870.bin
srcversion:     93C0C58E1A016FE5BD4DC9F
alias:          usb:v0411p015Dd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2019pED14d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2001p3C0Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
....
alias:          usb:v0B05p1784d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
....

to me it seems it's supported from module rt2870sta.

AS

[muungwana]

That driver is ignoring the card.

The vendor id is reported as "0b05" but the driver has an alias of "0B05".

The the mismatch btw the capital "b" in one place a small "b" in another could be the problem.

[jabster]

A few quick replies:

Re rt2870 vs rt3070:
http://lwn.net/Articles/348354/
"The final part of rt2870 and rt3070 merge.
It adds RT3070 chipset support to rt2870 driver and removes no longer needed
rt3070 driver (yes, it means one Ralink driver less in the staging tree!)."

Also:

Code:

$ modinfo rt2870sta
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.33.5-pclos1.bfs/kernel/drivers/staging/rt2870/rt2870sta.ko.gz
version:        2.1.0.0
license:        GPL
description:    RT2870/RT3070 Wireless Lan Linux Driver
author:         Paul Lin <paul_lin@ralinktech.com>
srcversion:     0035B7078BB292AE880D636

kernel: 2.6.33.5-pclos1.bfs #1 SMP PREEMPT

AS: The 2870 driver is installed, as the d-link is using the same driver. Also confirmed in symaptic.


$ cat /etc/modprobe.conf

Code:

install scsi_hostadapter /sbin/modprobe sata_nv; /sbin/modprobe pata_amd; /bin/true
install ide-controller /sbin/modprobe ide_generic; /bin/true
install usb-interface /sbin/modprobe ehci_hcd; /sbin/modprobe ohci_hcd; /bin/true
alias eth0 e100
alias sound-slot-0 snd_hda_intel
alias pci:v00008086d00001229sv00008086sd0000100Cbc02sc00i00 e100
options ipv6 disable=1
alias wlan0 usbcore

That is with the dlink installed. I'll try again with the asus, but I'll post this first in case I totally lose my connection and have to reboot.

I've also tried the rebooting method several times, so far to no avail.

-john

[jabster]

That driver is ignoring the card.

The vendor id is reported as "0b05" but the driver has an alias of "0B05".

The the mismatch btw the capital "b" in one place a small "b" in another could be the problem.

So, any idea how to accommodate the mismatch?

[muungwana]

kernel version 2.6.33.5 is very old. All who use this kernel are advised to update to more recent ones, preferably the latest one.

Update your kernel to version "2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs" and try again.

The first thing to do when a piece of newly acquired hardware fail to work as expected is to update the kernel to the recent version.

[AS]

That driver is ignoring the card.

The vendor id is reported as "0b05" but the driver has an alias of "0B05".

The the mismatch btw the capital "b" in one place a small "b" in another could be the problem.

So, any idea how to accommodate the mismatch?

These are hexadecimal codes, no need to adjust anything here. Instead look like you have an older kernel, my report refer to the latest kernel 2.6.38.8-pclos3.

Is there any specific reason why you continue to use that old kernel ?  If not, I would try to install a new kernel.

Additionally:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,92863.0.html

Edit: muungwana has been faster  

AS

[jabster]

Why am I on an older kernel? Why, quite simple. I did not realize that Reload & Mark All Upgrades in synaptic did not upgrade my kernel as well.

Upgrading now.

Will report back once all that is done.

thanks,
john

[muungwana]

The kernel is the only package that does not auto update with the "Reload & Mark All Upgrades" routine.

Strictly speaking, kernels do not "update" as the newer one do not replace the old one. The newer one just sit next to the old one and both can be used.

When you are happy with the new one, you can go back to synaptic while using the new one and uninstall the old one to reclaim a bit of disk space.

[jabster]

Of course, now I feel rather silly.

New kernel, plug in adapter to usb port...fires right up. Pretty green light. 44% signal strength at the moment which could be better, tho I've noticed that my signal can vary thru out the day. d-link has been typically 90%+.

Grrr.

Thanks guys.

-john

[muungwana]

signal strength is not that important, what is important is if the connection holds and if you are noticing any slowness in transfer speeds. Do you?