As a wish list type request, it would also have been helpful if I could have added the installation DVD media as a repository and upgraded the system from the three installation DVD. It didn't, and it was ugly. Not only did I lose wifi, but I also had a couple of core packages that refused to upgrade, and they were apparently critical - the installation removed them and then the box didn't work.
Fortunately, I have a clone copy of the original drive, so rolling backwards is no problem.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Ben Hutchings <ben@decadent.org.uk>Date: Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 4:05 PM
Subject: Bug#867066: [Fwd: Re: Bug#867066: RealTek Wifi issue with new kernel]
To:
867066@bugs.debian.org-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Charles Chambers <
cchamb2@gmail.com>
To: Ben Hutchings <
ben@decadent.org.uk>
Subject: Re: Bug#867066: RealTek Wifi issue with new kernel
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2017 12:26:59 -0700
Message-id: <CAGPMUcF51mJhi5uY=
vtGb09sdjXN3ab2snUU4n-qryzZQpJ46g@mail.gmail.com>
Yes, I tried using the installer image with the nonfree repository. The
wifi adapter is neither detected nor identified as unknown.
The original (Debian 8.7 installation) behavior was that the installer
would stop and wait for me to choose the network interface across which to
install. It would then prompt for me to choose the wifi network, prompt
for the WPA key, connect, and continue with the install. This was normal.
Then a problem came up where it looped. It would stop so I could choose
the network adapter, then the wifi network, and then set the key. Then it
would loop to asking me again to choose the wifi network and set the key.
This was the behavior starting around Debian 8.8.
Now it doesn't identify the wifi adapter at all.
The online research I've done so far indicates that the kernel version may
have an impact on rather a number of RealTek 802.11n adapters. A fix is in
the works, but
kernel.org reports it's in staging process at the moment.
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/rtl819x
On Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 4:36 AM, Ben Hutchings <
ben@decadent.org.uk> wrote:
> On Mon, 2017-07-03 at 12:11 -0700, Charles Chambers wrote:
> [...]
> > The target system has a Realtek USB wireless adapter supported by the
> > r8712u driver. The driver no longer works with the current version of
>
> the
> > kernel as shipped with 9.0.0.
>
> Did you use the installer with non-free firmware included?
>
> Is firmware-realtek included in the installed system?
>
> Ben.
>
> --
> Ben Hutchings
> Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. - Lily
> Tomlin
>
>
--
Charlie
cchamb2@gmail.com