Installing Realtek rtl8821ce Wifi Driver

swagglepuff

It took me a while to figure this out after searching via google and the forum. I figured I will write a tutorial on how to install this driver. The information I have put together is from 2 different threads on this forum. I will provide those links as they do go more into detail on the why. I have simply just taken the information from each and put it in order.

https://discuss.getsol.us/d/113-rtl8821ce-install-advice
https://discuss.getsol.us/d/1222-how-to-install-github-sources-requiring-dkms-for-missing-devices-drivers

You will need to make sure you install the tools to use make
sudo eopkg install it -c system.devel

Install git sudo eopkg install git

Then install the current linux headers sudo eopkg install linux-current-headers

Now you will clone the rtl8821ce drive from github
git clone https://github.com/tomaspinho/rtl8821ce.git

Change directory into the file you just cloned
cd rtl8821ce

Once you are in the file directory run /lib/modules/<linux version>/build
you will need to replace <linux version> with your linux version. To find this you
simply run uname -r in a separate terminal window input exactly what that command returns
An example from mine is /lib/modules/5.2.9-125.current/build

After you run that you will next run make you do not need to run this as sudo. It will take a while to complete.
Then run sudo make install
Followed by sudo modprobe -a 8821ce

That should be all, I have done this several times on my system because I keep distro hopping and coming back. Check your network status and you should see wireless below ethernet, if not restart the computer.

xahodo

Thanks! I've got the same device in a laptop, I could really use this.
However, can this cause problems with this patches the Solus team has applied to the kernel?

swagglepuff

xahodo I am haven’t had any issues after installing this. I am in kernel 5.2.9-125.current. I am fairly new to Solus and am still learning Linux in general.

swagglepuff

An edit to the instructions. Dont put install in the command for the system.devel. Also before you run /lib/modules part you need to start withmake -C

sikkeyy

Hello,
i'm new on solus and i felt in love with it. But my wifi isnt working..
After fresh install i did an sudo eopkg up.
Then i installes system.devel, git and linux-current-headers..
Then i did:
sudo make -C /lib/modules/5.2.20-130.current/build
Passwort:
make: Verzeichnis „/usr/src/linux-headers-5.2.20-130.current“ wird betreten
HOSTCC scripts/kconfig/conf.o
HOSTCC scripts/kconfig/confdata.o
HOSTCC scripts/kconfig/expr.o
HOSTCC scripts/kconfig/lexer.lex.o
HOSTCC scripts/kconfig/parser.tab.o
HOSTCC scripts/kconfig/preprocess.o
HOSTCC scripts/kconfig/symbol.o
HOSTLD scripts/kconfig/conf
scripts/kconfig/conf --syncconfig Kconfig
make[1]: *** Keine Regel vorhanden, um das Ziel „arch/x86/tools/relocs_32.c“,
benötigt von „arch/x86/tools/relocs_32.o“, zu erstellen. Schluss.
make: *** [arch/x86/Makefile:232: archscripts] Fehler 2
make: Verzeichnis „/usr/src/linux-headers-5.2.20-130.current“ wird verlassen

What am i doing wrong?

xdrm-brackets

Hi Everyone ! Thanks for your instructions, I managed to configure a friend's laptop with the same driver issue earlier.
Here I am again, a year later to repair this laptop with a fresh install (disk corrupted), I've no idea on how I've managed to solve it the first time.

I have my own laptop running an up-to-date Solus (linux 5.12.11-183) alongside the "broken" one.

The problem with the setup is that the laptop does not have any ethernet card. In this configuration the laptop is completely offline. I managed to use my laptop's eopkg cache to install system.devel and git on the target; but I am unable to find the linux-headers for the target version (not the same as my laptop's).

/lib/modules/<linux-version>/ exists
/lib/modules/<linux-version>/build does not

Do you have ideas on how to overcome this ?

juli

xdrm-brackets Hi,
I think you could solve the offline problem by just bying a usb-to-ethernet-adapter. I bought one when I had a similar problem and I am using it right now because I have solus new installed and haven't already installed the software to use the wifi of my labtop.

George

xdrm-brackets i'm using driver rtl8812au, after every kernel update i'm using simple script on bash, that's help me update driver. If i'm re-installing system (I recently bought an XPG Gammix SSD and sold HDD) i'm using other script and tethering on my phone.

For fresh install:

sudo eopkg it -y -c system.devel
git clone https://github.com/gordboy/rtl8812au-5.9.3.2.git
cd rtl8812au-5.9.3.2
sudo make install
sudo modprobe 8812au

After kernel update (run on sudo):
cd /home/georgybog/rtl8812au-5.9.3.2
make clean
make
sudo make install
sudo modprobe 8812au

i would also recommend you to use the driver installation script Tomomi from @Alexander88207 which i currently maintain

https://github.com/georgybog/wireless-simple

xdrm-brackets

juli I solved it that way, thank's for the advice, I hoped there was a completely offline solution.

Fanton

I think the driver is now both included in the kernel and properly working (the latter took more time than the former). After updating Solus 4.2 or waiting for 4.3, no more tinkering should be necessary.