Re: RTL8187 bugs

[Larry Finger <Larry.Finger@lwfinger.net>]

On 11/27/2013 04:59 PM, Nikita N. wrote:
> Alright then :) lets start:
>
>
> - Bug #1:
> Im running on standard Slitaz4, updating modules, the following script:
> ./backports-3.13-rc1-1/scripts/compress_modules.sh
> the "if" is not able to detect the present compression, as result the
> new modules are not compressed, and get mixed with the old ones
> compressed, resulting in errors.
> My actual workaround is just to delete the "if" line.
> The issue is present in all backports releases, since the switch from
> compat-drivers.
>
>
>
>
>
> - Bug #2:
> I previously updated to backports-3.11-rc3, after install here the dmesg
> report:
> "
> Loading modules backported from Linux version v3.11-rc3-0-g5ae90d8
> Backport generated by backports.git v3.11-rc3-1-0-g4e81a94
> cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> NET: Registered protocol family 10
> rtl8187: Invalid hwaddr! Using randomly generated MAC address
> ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
> ieee80211 phy0: hwaddr 6a:d5:65:93:2c:69, RTL8187vB (default) V1 +
> rtl8225z2, rfkill mask 2
> rtl8187: Customer ID is 0x00
> Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::radio
> Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::tx
> Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::rx
> rtl8187: wireless switch is on
> usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8187
> "
> The "Invalid hwaddr!" is the bug.
> As workaround I had to rollback to compat-drivers, where the problem
> does not exists, infact here dmesg:
> "
> Compat-drivers backport release: compat-drivers-v3.9-rc4-2-su
> Backport based on linux-stable.git v3.9-rc4
> compat.git: linux-stable.git
> cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> NET: Registered protocol family 10
> ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
> ieee80211 phy0: hwaddr 00:e0:4c:X:X:X, RTL8187vB (default) V1 +
> rtl8225z2, rfkill mask 2
> "
>
>
>
> - Bug #3:
> After reverting back to compat-drivers, my interface started behaving
> wrong in monitor mode.
> Monitor mode was always working properly before, but after applying
> backports-3.11 now is broken.
> The symptoms are the following: whatever is the channel, from airodump
> or wireshark I can see only broadcasts frames (dest ff:ff:ff..) and
> management frames (ack,probes,beacons,req send,block,
> assoc,auth,deauth,..)
> I tried also other live-RAM-only distros as BT5, Kali and Weaknet, the
> issue persists.
> The interface behaves like some kind of "wrong" data has been written
> permanently (in the eeprom?) which instructs the interface to discard
> all data frames when in monitor mode.
> Managed mode still works perfectly.
> I still could not find a workaround for this bug, as result my interface
> is still unusable in monitor mode.
>
>
>
>
> - Bug #4:
> Today I tried install latest stable backports-3.13-rc1-1, but RTL
> modules are not compiled.
> Running make defconfig-rtlwifi, it compiles only generic modules.
> Running make defconfig-wifi, compilation is very fast, and skips lots of
> chipsets, again same issue - no RTL modules.
> No workaround - I reverted back again to compat-drivers.
>
>
> I believe the highest priority bug is the #3, because turned my
> interface unusable.
> Of course its possible that the cause of the monitor malfunction doesnt
> come from backports, I cant say that for sure, but for sure happened
> after reverting to compat-drivers - where it always worked perfectly.
>
> Please feel free to ask all further infos you possibly need!
> Thanks for the attention :)

Since my previous reply, I have built rtl8187 from backports-3.13-rc1. It works 
without any problems.

Larry