How To Install Realtek Wifi Drivers on Fedora 42
Installing Realtek WiFi drivers on Fedora 42 can be challenging, especially for users dealing with newer chipsets that lack built-in kernel support. Many Realtek wireless adapters require manual driver installation to achieve stable connectivity on Linux systems. This comprehensive guide covers multiple installation methods for various Realtek chipsets, ensuring your wireless adapter works seamlessly with Fedora 42.
Whether you’re dealing with RTL8852BE, RTL8821CE, RTL8192EU, or other popular Realtek chipsets, this tutorial provides detailed instructions for each scenario. We’ll explore DKMS-based installation, manual compilation from source, and offline installation methods to accommodate different user needs and system configurations.
Understanding Realtek WiFi Chipsets and Fedora 42 Compatibility
Common Realtek Chipsets Supported on Fedora 42
Fedora 42 supports numerous Realtek wireless chipsets through community-developed drivers. The most commonly encountered chipsets include RTL8852BE, RTL8852AE, RTL8821CE, RTL8192EU, RTL8812AU, and RTL8811AU. Each chipset requires specific driver packages optimized for Fedora’s kernel architecture.
Modern chipsets like RTL8852BE and RTL8922AE benefit from the rtw89 driver developed by lwfinger, which provides excellent 802.11ax (WiFi 6) support. Older chipsets such as RTL8821CE work with the rtw88 driver family, supporting both WiFi and Bluetooth functionality across PCIe, SDIO, and USB interfaces.
The RTL8192EU chipset, commonly found in USB dongles, requires dedicated drivers that also support related models including RTL8812AU, RTL8811AU, RTL8812BU, RTL8811CU, and RTL8814AU. Understanding your specific chipset is crucial for selecting the appropriate installation method.
Fedora 42 Kernel Compatibility Considerations
Fedora 42’s kernel version directly impacts driver compatibility and compilation success. The system typically runs kernel 6.x series, which requires updated development headers for proper driver compilation. DKMS (Dynamic Kernel Module Support) integration ensures drivers remain functional across kernel upgrades without manual recompilation.
Fresh Fedora 42 installations may lack essential development tools, while upgraded systems might have kernel header mismatches. These differences affect the compilation process and require specific preparation steps to ensure successful driver installation.
Prerequisites and System Preparation
Identifying Your Realtek WiFi Chipset
Before installing drivers, you must identify your specific Realtek wireless adapter model. Use the following command to detect PCI/PCIe internal adapters:
lspci -v | grep WirelessFor USB wireless dongles, execute:
lsusb -v | grep WirelessThe output displays your adapter’s manufacturer and model information, including the crucial device ID needed for driver selection. Look for entries containing “Realtek” followed by the specific chipset model.
You can also use the more detailed command to get comprehensive device information:
lspci -nn | grep NetworkThis command shows both the device name and the vendor/device ID in brackets, which helps confirm compatibility with available drivers.
Installing Essential Development Tools
Successful driver compilation requires comprehensive development tools and kernel headers. Install the complete Development Tools group:
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools"Add C development libraries and tools:
sudo dnf groupinstall "C Development Tools and Libraries"Install kernel headers and additional required packages:
sudo dnf install kernel-headers kernel-devel dkms elfutils-libelf-devel unzip gitThese packages provide the compiler, linker, kernel build environment, and DKMS framework necessary for driver compilation and installation. Authenticate with your administrator password when prompted.
If you encounter “User is not in sudoers file” errors, you’ll need to add your user to the sudo group or contact your system administrator for elevated privileges.
Method 1: DKMS-Based Installation for RTL8821CE
Advantages of DKMS Installation
DKMS installation offers significant benefits for driver management on Fedora 42. The framework automatically rebuilds kernel modules during system updates, ensuring driver persistence across kernel upgrades. This approach simplifies long-term maintenance and reduces the risk of connectivity loss after system updates.
DKMS also provides better error handling and logging, making troubleshooting easier when compilation issues arise. The modular approach allows for clean removal and reinstallation without affecting other system components.
Installing RTL8821CE Drivers with DKMS
The RTL8821CE driver supports multiple related chipsets including RTL8723DE, RTL8814AE, RTL8822BE, and RTL8822CE for PCIe interfaces, plus various SDIO and USB variants. Download the driver source:
git clone https://github.com/tomaspinho/rtl8821ce
cd rtl8821ceInstall the driver using DKMS:
sudo ./dkms-install.shIf the DKMS script is unavailable, manually add the module:
sudo dkms add .
sudo dkms build -m rtl8821ce -v 1.0.0
sudo dkms install -m rtl8821ce -v 1.0.0Load the driver module:
sudo modprobe rtl8821ceVerify successful installation by checking if the wireless interface appears:
ip link showPost-Installation Configuration for RTL8821CE
After successful installation, configure the driver for optimal performance. Create a configuration file to prevent power management issues:
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8821ce.confAdd the following content:
options rtl8821ce power_save=0This configuration disables power saving mode, which can cause connection drops on some systems. Reboot to apply changes, or reload the module:
sudo modprobe -r rtl8821ce
sudo modprobe rtl8821ceMethod 2: Manual Compilation for RTL8852BE
Downloading and Preparing RTW89 Driver Source
The RTL8852BE chipset requires the rtw89 driver, which supports multiple modern Realtek 802.11ax adapters including RTL8851BE, RTL8852AE, RTL8852CE, and RTL8922AE. Clone the official repository:
git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtw89
cd rtw89Ensure your system has the latest kernel headers matching your running kernel:
uname -r
sudo dnf install kernel-headers-$(uname -r) kernel-devel-$(uname -r)Compilation Process for RTW89 Driver
Begin compilation with the standard make command:
makeIf you encounter the error “No such file or directory” referencing /lib/modules/$(kernel-version)/build, the kernel development files are missing or mismatched. Resolve this by installing the correct kernel headers:
sudo dnf install kernel-headers kernel-develFor systems with multiple kernel versions, ensure headers match your running kernel:
sudo dnf install kernel-headers-$(uname -r) kernel-devel-$(uname -r)After successful compilation, install the driver:
sudo make installInstall firmware files if required:
sudo make installfwManual Module Loading and Persistence
Load the driver modules manually:
sudo modprobe cfg80211
sudo modprobe rtw89_core
sudo modprobe rtw89_pciFor RTL8852BE specifically:
sudo modprobe rtw89_8852beCreate a systemd service for automatic driver loading at boot. Create the service file:
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/rtw89-loader.serviceAdd the following content:
[Unit]
Description=Load RTW89 WiFi Driver
After=network-pre.target
[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/sbin/modprobe rtw89_8852be
RemainAfterExit=true
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.targetEnable the service:
sudo systemctl enable rtw89-loader.serviceMethod 3: RTL8192EU Driver Installation
DKMS Installation for RTL8192EU
The RTL8192EU driver supports multiple USB wireless adapters including RTL8812AU, RTL8811AU, RTL8812BU, RTL8811CU, and RTL8814AU. Download the driver source:
git clone https://github.com/Mange/rtl8192eu-linux-driver
cd rtl8192eu-linux-driverInstall using DKMS for automatic kernel module management:
sudo dkms add .
sudo dkms build -m rtl8192eu -v 1.0
sudo dkms install -m rtl8192eu -v 1.0Load the module:
sudo modprobe rtl8192euAlternative Manual Installation for RTL8192EU
If DKMS installation fails, compile manually:
make
sudo make installCreate a module loading configuration:
echo 'rtl8192eu' | sudo tee -a /etc/modules-load.d/rtl8192eu.confThis ensures the module loads automatically at boot without requiring DKMS.
Method 4: Offline Installation Without Internet
Preparing Required Packages for Offline Installation
Installing Realtek drivers without internet connectivity requires careful preparation. Download essential packages on a connected computer and transfer them via USB drive. Required packages include:
- kernel-headers
- kernel-devel
- gcc
- make
- git
- dkms
- elfutils-libelf-devel
Use dnf download to obtain package files:
dnf download --resolve kernel-headers kernel-devel gcc make git dkms elfutils-libelf-develTransfer the downloaded RPM files to your offline Fedora 42 system using a USB drive.
Offline Installation Process
Install the transferred packages using rpm:
sudo rpm -ivh *.rpmAlternatively, use dnf with local packages:
sudo dnf install *.rpmDownload the driver source code on a connected computer and transfer it to your offline system. Extract and compile following the manual compilation steps outlined in previous sections.
Android USB Tethering Alternative
If you have an Android device with internet access, enable USB tethering to provide temporary internet connectivity. Connect your Android device via USB, enable USB tethering in settings, and proceed with standard online installation methods.
This approach eliminates the complexity of offline package management while providing the connectivity needed for driver installation.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Resolving Driver Persistence Problems
Drivers disappearing after reboot indicates missing persistence configuration. Ensure modules are properly added to the system’s module loading configuration:
echo 'rtl8821ce' | sudo tee -a /etc/modules-load.d/rtl8821ce.confReplace ‘rtl8821ce’ with your specific driver module name. For DKMS-installed drivers, verify the installation status:
sudo dkms statusReinstall if the driver shows as not installed:
sudo dkms install -m rtl8821ce -v 1.0.0Compilation and Build Error Solutions
The most common compilation error involves missing kernel build directories. This typically manifests as:
make: *** /lib/modules/6.x.x-xxx.fc42.x86_64/build: No such file or directory. Stop.Resolve by installing matching kernel development packages:
sudo dnf install kernel-headers-$(uname -r) kernel-devel-$(uname -r)For generic kernel headers when specific versions are unavailable:
sudo dnf install kernel-headers kernel-develEnsure the Development Tools group is properly installed:
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools" "C Development Tools and Libraries"Hardware Detection and Connectivity Issues
If your wireless adapter isn’t detected after driver installation, check for hardware conflicts:
lspci | grep Network
lsusb | grep RealtekVerify the correct driver module is loaded:
lsmod | grep rtlCheck system logs for error messages:
sudo dmesg | grep -i wifi
sudo journalctl -u NetworkManagerRestart NetworkManager if connectivity issues persist:
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManagerAdvanced Configuration and Performance Optimization
Power Management Settings
Configure power management to prevent connection drops during standby. Create or edit the module configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8821ce.confAdd power management options:
options rtl8821ce power_save=0 aspm=0These settings disable power saving and ASPM (Active State Power Management) to maintain stable connections.
Network Performance Tuning
Optimize connection stability by adjusting driver parameters. For RTL8192EU drivers, create a configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8192eu.confAdd performance tuning options:
options rtl8192eu rtw_power_mgnt=0 rtw_enusbss=0Monitor driver performance using iwconfig:
iwconfig wlan0Check signal strength and connection quality regularly to identify potential issues.
Maintenance and System Updates
Keeping Drivers Updated
Regularly update driver sources from their respective repositories:
cd rtw89
git pull origin main
make clean
make
sudo make installFor DKMS-managed drivers, they automatically rebuild during kernel updates. Monitor the process during system updates to ensure successful compilation.
Handling Kernel Upgrades
DKMS drivers typically survive kernel upgrades automatically. However, manually compiled drivers require recompilation after major kernel updates. Keep driver source directories available for quick recompilation when needed.
Create backup scripts to automate driver reinstallation:
#!/bin/bash
cd /home/user/rtw89
make clean
make
sudo make install
sudo modprobe rtw89_8852beCongratulations! You have successfully installed Realtek drivers. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Realtek wifi driver on the Fedora 42 Linux system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Realtek website.
