Buffalo WLI-UC-GN 802.11n USB-WiFi adapter non functional

[Steven McCoy]

The WLI-UC-GN adapter is not functional in Ubuntu 9.10 beta with Linux 2.6.31.11.22. USB details:

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0411:015d MelCo., Inc.

With either the live cd or installing, a wireless network does not appear in NetworkManager. It is not clear the support status of this adapter or what driver should be used. Google suggests anything from Ralink 2800 to 3070 drivers. The provided modules do not detect an interface. Building the 2009_0820_RT2870_Linux_STA_V2.2.0.0 drivers fails due to API changes in the Linux kernel. Patching the changes for the new API creates a driver that can be loaded, appears in ifconfig and iwconfig but does not appear in NetworkManager. Running wpa_supplicant makes a "wireless network" heading appear in NetworkManager but other than that is non-functional for scanning networks or joining a network.

ra0 Ralink STA ESSID:"gogo no ocha" Nickname:"RT2870STA"
          Mode:Auto Frequency=2.412 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
          Bit Rate:1 Mb/s
          RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
          Link Quality=10/100 Signal level:0 dBm Noise level:-97 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

Trying to use ndisgtk on the bundled Windows driver CD fails due to not detecting the adapter. However the CD lists what would appear a different product "UCGN" and that gives an error about unable to determine whether an adapter can be detected. Using the ndiswrapper command line shows that the adapter can be detected. Running the ndiswrapper shows a runtime link error due to an undefined function:

[ 2337.937589] ndiswrapper version 1.55 loaded (smp=yes, preempt=no)
[ 2338.249902] ndiswrapper (import:242): unknown symbol: ntoskrnl.exe:'MmGetSystemRoutineAddress'
[ 2338.250459] ndiswrapper (load_sys_files:206): couldn't prepare driver 'netucgn'
[ 2338.251437] ndiswrapper (load_wrap_driver:108): couldn't load driver netucgn; check system log for messages from 'loadndisdriver'
`

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: shirley 1517 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'I82801DBICH4'/'Intel 82801DB-ICH4 with AD1981B at irq 11'
   Mixer name : 'Analog Devices AD1981B'
   Components : 'AC97a:41445374'
   Controls : 26
   Simple ctrls : 18
Date: Sun Oct 4 15:17:00 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=d3ba4c62-5290-4d55-88a7-88729dbf9bfa
Lsusb:
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0411:015d MelCo., Inc.
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1c4f:0003 SiGma Micro
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
MachineType: TOSHIBA Satellite A10
Package: linux-image-2.6.31-11-generic 2.6.31-11.38
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-11-generic root=UUID=c290075b-f3a3-4155-8d9c-d450d268c26a ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_HK.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-11.38-generic
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-backports-modules-2.6.31-11-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.20
RfKill:

SourcePackage: linux
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-11-generic i686
dmi.bios.date: 09/02/2003
dmi.bios.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.bios.version: Version 1.30
dmi.board.name: Portable PC
dmi.board.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.board.version: Version A0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: 0000000000
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.chassis.version: Version 1.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnTOSHIBA:bvrVersion1.30:bd09/02/2003:svnTOSHIBA:pnSatelliteA10:pvrPSA10U-01SV67:rvnTOSHIBA:rnPortablePC:rvrVersionA0:cvnTOSHIBA:ct10:cvrVersion1.0:
dmi.product.name: Satellite A10
dmi.product.version: PSA10U-01SV67
dmi.sys.vendor: TOSHIBA

[forumboy (cash-05)]

I have similar problem but found a solution. Please visit the following article: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8214841#post8214841

[^_Pepe_^ (jose-angel-fernandez-freire)]

Hi all,

We'd like to know whether this is still an issue for you. If so, please can you try with last kernel version, (Lucid upstream) which is located on http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.32/

Thanks in advance.

[JohnFlux (johnflux)]

Hi,

  I tried the newer kernel http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.33/ instead. The device still does not show up here. Specifically, iwconfig does not show it.

[JohnFlux (johnflux)]

I also tested with http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.32.9/ - it doesn't work with this either.

I have also attempted to compile the driver: RT3070USB(RT307x) http://www.ralinktech.com/support.php?s=2

This compiles, but I cannot load it. I get the errors:

[ 124.677810] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_alloc_urb
[ 124.678049] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_free_urb
[ 124.678590] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_register_driver
[ 124.678990] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_put_dev
[ 124.679132] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_get_dev
[ 124.679420] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_submit_urb
[ 124.680262] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_control_msg
[ 124.680754] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_deregister
[ 124.681455] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_kill_urb
[ 124.681591] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_buffer_free
[ 124.682309] rt3070sta: Unknown symbol usb_buffer_alloc

In dmesg.

[JohnFlux (johnflux)]

Okay, here's what is needed:

Download RT3070USB(RT307x) from http://www.ralinktech.com/support.php?s=2

This exists in staging, but we need to patch it. These instructions are based on the version: RT3070_LinuxSTA_V2.3.0.1_20100208

Then:

   tar -xvf RT3070_LinuxSTA_V2.3.0.1_20100208.tar.bz2
   cd RT3070_LinuxSTA_V2.3.0.1_20100208
   vi common/rtusb_io.c # remove the DBGPRINT(RT_DEBUG_OFF, ("#\n")); line
   vi os/linux/usb_main_dev.c #add MODULE_LICENSE("GPL"); to the very top
   vi common/rtusb_dev_id.c #add {USB_DEVICE(0x0411,0x015d)}, /* Buffalo Airstation WLI-UC-GN */ to the list
   cp RT2870STA.dat RT3070STA.dat
   sudo make
   sudo make install
   sudo cp os/linux/rt3070sta.ko /lib/modules/2.6.31-20-generic/kernel/drivers/staging/rt3070/rt3070sta.ko
   sudo modprobe rt3070sta

[JohnFlux (johnflux)]

I attempted to contact the named author of the module ( <email address hidden> ) but emails to this bounce with 'unknown user'.

[JohnFlux (johnflux)]

Hi,

  I took a different approach. I did:

  I cloned the kernel being used in lucid lynx:

  git clone git://kernel.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ubuntu-lucid.git
  cd ubuntu-lucid
  vi drivers/staging/rt2870/2870_main_dev.c
  # add { USB_DEVICE(0x0411, 0x015D) }, /* Buffalo Airstation NFiniti WLI-UC-GN */ to the list of drivers
  AUTOBUILD=1 fakeroot debian/rules clean binary-debs
  cd ..
  dpkg -i sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.32-17-generic_2.6.32-17.27_i386.deb linux-headers-2.6.32-17-generic_2.6.32-17.27_i386.deb

And that fixed the problem.

I will forward this to <email address hidden> and try to chase it

[Stefan Bader (smb)]

I have sent the change to add the Buffalo Airstation to upstream. We will see what happens there. The second ID to be added I have kept back (Ralink 2070L) as I would like to get confirmation this works. I have placed kernel which contain both IDs added to the driver to http://people.canonical.com/~smb/lp441990/
If this works, it would be good to open a separate bug report for it and send an email referencing this and the new bug to <email address hidden>. Thanks.

[JohnFlux (johnflux)]

I have posted instructions on:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9028760#post9028760

Stefan, please double-check my instructions :)

Hopefully someone will test and confirm if they work or not.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package linux - 2.6.32-18.27

---------------
linux (2.6.32-18.27) lucid; urgency=low

  [ Chase Douglas ]

  * SAUCE: Don't register vga16fb framebuffer if other framebuffers are
    present
    - LP: #527369

  [ Loïc Minier ]

  * [Config] armel/versatile: Set CRAMFS=m
    - LP: #524893
  * [Config] armel: Reset default command-line
    - LP: #524893

  [ Stefan Bader ]

  * build/modules: Update d-i to reflect recent config changes
    - LP: #546929

  [ Upstream Kernel Changes ]

  * (pre-stable) drm/nouveau: report unknown connector state if lid closed
    - LP: #523072
  * (pre-stable) Staging: rt2870: Add USB ID for Buffalo Airstation
    WLI-UC-GN
    - LP: #441990
  * (pre-stable) iwlwifi: fix nfreed--
    - LP: #545585
  * (pre-stable) pata_via: Add VIA VX900 support
    - LP: #548675
 -- Stefan Bader <email address hidden> Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:39:42 +0100