HOW TO: rt5370sta usb wifi on Squeeze kernel 2.6 and below

[monkeyskeletons]

This is a how-to for compiling the kernel module for the rt5370 usb wireless devices, also for Panda Ultra Wifi (b/g/n) 150Mbps Wireless-N 2.4GHz USB Adapter or any device which uses the rt5370sta kernel module. Tested on Debian Squeeze confirmed working.

### INSTRUCTIONS TO ALLOW FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPILE ON DEBIAN LINUX (SQUEEZE) OR ANY OTHER LINUX THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS DEVICE OUT OF THE BOX. KERNEL 3.0+ HAS NATIVE SUPPORT BTW on ANY LINUX. USEFUL FOR 2.6 AND BELOW KERNEL. #####

This device uses the rt5370sta kernel module..


HOW TO COMPILE AND LOAD ****** Ralink RT5370sta ***** usb device support

Code:
This is the changes needed in the config.mk located in the WiFi Driver\Linux directory on the install CD. This works with both the file located on the installation CD for Panda Wireless USB adaptor, as well as the one available from their support website: http://www.ralinktech.com/en/04_support/support.php?sn=501 The rt5370sta driver is the one named DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022.tar. I used version 2.6.1.3 for this compile.

Using the archive utility on Linux to unpack the directory, which is named ( DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022.tar )

You will need to edit the config.mk file which is located in the DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022.tar\DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022\os\linux directory.

You will need to change the following to enable wpa support as well as to enable network manager to use this device.

Find the line that says:

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# Support Wpa_Supplicant
HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=n


Now change the n to a y (Without quotes of course!)

Now scroll down again until you find(should be right under last one):
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# Support Native WpaSupplicant for Network Maganger
HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=n


Like before, change n to a y
Save.

Now, we have to blacklist some other conflicting drivers.
Open Terminal again.
Type:
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sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

**You could also use nano just in case you don't have a GUI installed as of yet, or VIM. Any text editor will work for this.

NOTE: you can open the blacklist file with you preferred text editor besides gedit if you like.

Scroll down to the very bottom of the blacklist file.
Type:

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blacklist rt2800usb
blacklist rt2870sta

Save.
Reboot (IMPORTANT TO UNLOAD/LOAD NEW CONFIGS!!)

Once back in at the desktop, open Terminal.
cd to your Desktop.
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cd /home/YOURUSERNAME/directory_of_installer_files/DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022

Replace YOURUSERNAME with your Linux username.
Once you are cd in to your desktop, you need to cd again to your ralink folder.
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cd ralink

You can change the name of the working directory (ralink) to whatever you named the folder.

*****
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#apt-get install module-assistant

(needed to pull in kernel headers and relevant compile tools for build)

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#m-a update

(this will update module assistant

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#m-a prepare

(this will install gcc compiler 4.3, make, and relevant kernel headers for proper compiler setup)

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#exit

module assistant (return to build directory)

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#make clean

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#make

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#make install

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#modprobe rt5370sta

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#exit

During make if you get warnings, don't freak out. It's ok, just basic compiler warnings..no biggie.
Now, if it worked correctly, Network Manager
should be able to find networks and connect to them.
You may or may not need to reboot after you do the modprobe of the kernel moduel, as I found a reboot unneccessary for Crunchbang Statler and Debian Squeeze.