Qualcomm Atheros QCA8171 not recognized during installation

[dudumomo]

Dear all,

I'm trying to install Debian into my new ASUS X450JF that got an Ethernet card Qualcomm Atheros QCA8171.
However, it seems the chipset is not recognized during the installation of the testing version. (It actually asked me to configure my Wireless device instead (But same as well, not recognized. It is a RT3290 Wifi+BT combo.)

What can I do?

Hope you can help !

[cynwulf]

Install firmware-ralink for the wireless

The wired NIC requires the alx driver - no experience with that, but I believe it's available via compat-drivers (compat-wireless): http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collabor ... orking/alx

[dudumomo]

Wow thanks for this prompt reply.

So during installation, I should go to command line and install these?
How does it work?

Thank you !

EDIT: If I add the .deb of the firmware into a second USB key, then it works. I have been able to connect to the network.

Thanks again

[chakrsc22]

Synaptic shows a package called firmware-atheros which is available on the unofficial netinst CD with firmware. Why don't you try that?

[cynwulf]

So during installation

http://wiki.debian.org/Firmware#Firmwar ... stallation

[emariz]

Synaptic shows a package called firmware-atheros which is available on the unofficial netinst CD with firmware. Why don't you try that?

He should not, because it is used by the USB wireless and Bluetooth devices. It clearly says so in its description.


The Atheros drivers are free software and thus included in the mainline kernel. The "problem" is that Debian kernels are usually "old." According to this simple search at Kernel.org (1), support for this device was added earlier this year, thus you may need a newer kernel.

1: https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kerne ... rep&q=8171

[beinasmartasdonthelp]

Download compat-drivers source code https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel ... -u.tar.bz2
Extract the tarball and type the following commands on a terminal:
cd [path-to-extracted-driver]
./scripts/driver-select alx
make
sudo make install
Reboot the system.

Read more: http://blog.norture.com/2013/05/how-to- ... z2ZoEn3QaY



The alx driver provides support for these chipsets:

1969:1091 – AR8161 Gigabit Ethernet
1969:1090 – AR8162 Fast Ethernet
1969:10A1 – QCA8171 Gigabit Ethernet
1969:10A0 – QCA8172 Fast Ethernet



The driver also supports the following chipsets using atl1c:

1969:1063 – AR8131 Gigabit Ethernet
1969:1062 – AR8132 Fast Ethernet
1969:2062 – AR8152 v2.0 Fast Ethernet
1969:2060 – AR8152 v1.1 Fast Ethernet
1969:1073 – AR8151 v1.0 Gigabit Ethernet
1969:1083 – AR8151 v2.0 Gigabit Ethernet

Also found an answer on the Debian wiki
http://wiki.debian.org/ath9k