Re: strange problem with usb wifi adapter
On Sun, Dec 12, 2021 at 12:18:52AM +0000, Long Wind wrote:
>
> Thank David!
>
> if this theory is correct, how does debian installer configure it? official image i use is supposed to be without non-free firmware
>
If it's a particular Mediatek chipset, then the firmware for it may be
in the firmware-linux-nonfree metapackage - which also pulls in
firmware-misc-nonfree which is the package where the actual driver is.
99% of current wireless chips need additional firmware to operate correctly.
https://packages.debian.org/bullseye/firmware-linux-nonfree
The fact of having trouble installing via wifi is one of the reasons why
I've started suggesting that people should use the unofficial installer which
includes non-free firmware for wifi chipsets. If anyone wants to use the
official image to install - it will generally work for wired connection
over Ethernet - which would also allow you then to add the non-free firmware
for the wifi card. [For a virtual machine, the official image is ideal because
that then depends on the host machine anyway.]
If your card needs firmware, then it's quite possible that the official
installer doesn't configure it - though you do get a prompt saying something
close to "Your device may need nno-free firmware. Use non-free or load
firmware now"
Hope this helps, with every good wish, as ever
Andy Cater
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