Realtek RTL8811CU/RTL8821CU version 5.4.1 USB wifi adapter driver for Linux 4.20.x

Before build this driver make sure make, gcc, linux-header and git have been installed.

First, clone this repository

git clone https://github.com/brektrou/rtl8821CU.git

Build and install with DKMS

DKMS is a system which will automatically recompile and install a kernel module when a new kernel gets installed or updated. To make use of DKMS, install the dkms package.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install dkms

Arch Linux/Manjaro:

sudo pacman -S dkms

To make use of the DKMS feature with this project, do the following:

DRV_NAME=rtl8821CU
DRV_VERSION=5.4.1
sudo cp -r ${DRV_NAME} /usr/src/${DRV_NAME}-${DRV_VERSION}
sudo chown -hRv root:root /usr/src/${DRV_NAME}-${DRV_VERSION}
sudo dkms add -m ${DRV_NAME} -v ${DRV_VERSION}
sudo dkms build -m ${DRV_NAME} -v ${DRV_VERSION}
sudo dkms install -m ${DRV_NAME} -v ${DRV_VERSION}

If you later on want to remove it again, do the following:

DRV_NAME=rtl8821CU
DRV_VERSION=5.4.1
sudo dkms remove ${DRV_NAME}/${DRV_VERSION} --all

Build and install without DKMS

Use following commands:

cd rtl8821CU
make
sudo make install

Checking installed driver

To checking the driver, run this command:

ls /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl8xxxu

Make sure 8821cu.ko file present on that directory

Raspberry Pi

To build this driver on Raspberry Pi you need to set correct platform in Makefile. Change

CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC = y
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_RPI = n
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_RPI3 = n

to

CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC = n
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_RPI = y
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_RPI3 = n

For the Raspberry Pi 3 you need to change it to

CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC = n
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_RPI = n
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_RPI3 = y