Make Raspberry pi 2 model B an access point using EDIMAX N 150 Wifi 4 nano usb adapter

[saugat10]

Hello,
I followed the configuration from https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentati ... cess-point to make my raspberry pi an access point with the topic "Setting up a Routed Wireless Access Point".
After completing the setup and rebooting my raspberry pi I get an error "Failed to start Access point server for wifi and ethernet.
When i see the details using command " systemctl status hostapd.service" i see the following error

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● hostapd.service - Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/hostapd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: activating (auto-restart) (Result: exit-code) since Wed 2023-01-18 09:24:50 GMT; 1s ago
       Docs: man:hostapd(8)
    Process: 800 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/hostapd -B -P /run/hostapd.pid -B $DAEMON_OPTS ${DAEMON_CONF} (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
        CPU: 39ms

When i try to run this line in terminal " ExecStart=/usr/sbin/hostapd -B -P /run/hostapd.pid -B /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf"
it gives me the following error

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-bash: -B: command not found

This is the output of "uname -a"

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Linux raspberrypi 5.15.88-v7+ #1617 SMP Mon Jan 16 15:29:29 GMT 2023 armv7l GNU/Linux

Am i missing something during my configuration?

[PhilE]

To try the rule on the command line you need to drop the ExecStart= and run it with sudo:

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sudo /usr/sbin/hostapd -B -P /run/hostapd.pid -B /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf

[saugat10]

This is the output.

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Configuration file: /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
nl80211: Driver does not support authentication/association or connect commands
nl80211: deinit ifname=wlan0 disabled_11b_rates=0
nl80211 driver initialization failed.
wlan0: interface state UNINITIALIZED->DISABLED
wlan0: AP-DISABLED
wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-TERMINATING
hostapd_free_hapd_data: Interface wlan0 wasn't started

This is the output of my iwconfig

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lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

wlan0     unassociated  ESSID:""  Nickname:"<WIFI@REALTEK>"
          Mode:Auto  Frequency=2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
          Sensitivity:0/0
          Retry:off   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=0/100  Signal level=0 dBm  Noise level=0 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

[MiscBits]

Does the adapter support AP mode?

Not all WiFi adapters do...

[dickon]

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iw phy | grep AP

will tell you.

You may need to install the 'iw' package.

[saugat10]

The driver that is needed for this WIFI adapter cannot be installed in raspberry pi 2 model B. The required driver for this adapter is is rtl8812au.

[dickon]

The driver that is needed for this WIFI adapter cannot be installed in raspberry pi 2 model B. The required driver for this adapter is is rtl8812au.

Fairly sure I've had that working perfectly well on a Pi. Needs an out-of-tree driver, but that isn't too difficult these days.

[saugat10]

The driver that is needed for this WIFI adapter cannot be installed in raspberry pi 2 model B. The required driver for this adapter is is rtl8812au.

Fairly sure I've had that working perfectly well on a Pi. Needs an out-of-tree driver, but that isn't too difficult these days.

I was able to use Edimax n 150 wifi adapter in PI4 for making it an access point but not in PI2

[dickon]

Fairly sure I've had that working perfectly well on a Pi. Needs an out-of-tree driver, but that isn't too difficult these days.

I was able to use Edimax n 150 wifi adapter in PI4 for making it an access point but not in PI2

Hmm. I'll have to try this.

[saugat10]

Fairly sure I've had that working perfectly well on a Pi. Needs an out-of-tree driver, but that isn't too difficult these days.

I was able to use Edimax n 150 wifi adapter in PI4 for making it an access point but not in PI2

Hmm. I'll have to try this.

Did you have a try?

[dickon]

I was able to use Edimax n 150 wifi adapter in PI4 for making it an access point but not in PI2

Hmm. I'll have to try this.

Did you have a try?

I haven't had a chance, I'm afraid. Busy weekend.

[saugat10]

Hmm. I'll have to try this.

Did you have a try?

I haven't had a chance, I'm afraid. Busy weekend.

Fair enough. Let me know if you find something.

[dickon]

Did you have a try?

I haven't had a chance, I'm afraid. Busy weekend.

Fair enough. Let me know if you find something.

Ah. The dongle I thought was an 8812au is actually an 8188ee. Apologies.

I still can't see why it would work on a 4, but not a 2 -- there's nothing inherently different about a 2 that would break AP mode (and AP mode only) -- did you have the same driver, kernel, and firmware versions installed?

[saugat10]

I haven't had a chance, I'm afraid. Busy weekend.

Fair enough. Let me know if you find something.

Ah. The dongle I thought was an 8812au is actually an 8188ee. Apologies.

I still can't see why it would work on a 4, but not a 2 -- there's nothing inherently different about a 2 that would break AP mode (and AP mode only) -- did you have the same driver, kernel, and firmware versions installed?

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pi@raspberrypi:~ $ uname -a
Linux raspberrypi 5.15.84-v7+ #1613 SMP Thu Jan 5 11:59:48 GMT 2023 armv7l GNU/Linux

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pi@raspberrypi:~ $ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
8188eu                798720  0

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pi@raspberrypi:~ $ iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

wlan0     unassociated  ESSID:""  Nickname:"<WIFI@REALTEK>"
          Mode:Auto  Frequency=2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
          Sensitivity:0/0
          Retry:off   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=0/100  Signal level=0 dBm  Noise level=0 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

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pi@raspberrypi:~ $ iw list
pi@raspberrypi:~ $

I installed 8188eu driver in my pi2 but i cannot see any output of iw list
In pi4 there was no need to install the driver.

[dickon]

That isn't the right driver for that chip, I believe. Try the one at https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au -- I seem to have that tree around on my router, so presumably I did have a device that used it. I'll see if I can find it; it'll've been two house-moves ago, though, so I may not.

[Edit:]
Found it, conveniently plugged into the front of the router. It's showing up as an 8811au, with AP capability, but it's using the 8812au Aircrack-ng driver. A second device I've managed to locate I think is missing the firmware, but a quick google for its USB IDs suggests it should also work.
[/Edit]

[saugat10]

That isn't the right driver for that chip, I believe. Try the one at https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au -- I seem to have that tree around on my router, so presumably I did have a device that used it. I'll see if I can find it; it'll've been two house-moves ago, though, so I may not.

[Edit:]
Found it, conveniently plugged into the front of the router. It's showing up as an 8811au, with AP capability, but it's using the 8812au Aircrack-ng driver. A second device I've managed to locate I think is missing the firmware, but a quick google for its USB IDs suggests it should also work.
[/Edit]

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pi@raspberrypi:~/rtl8812au $ sudo make install
install -p -m 644 88XXau.ko  /lib/modules/5.15.84-v7+/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/
/sbin/depmod -a 5.15.84-v7+

pi@raspberrypi:~/rtl8812au $ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
sha256_generic         16384  0
cfg80211              765952  0
rfkill                 32768  2 cfg80211
8021q                  32768  0
garp                   16384  1 8021q
stp                    16384  1 garp
llc                    16384  2 garp,stp
nft_counter            16384  1
nft_chain_nat          16384  4
xt_MASQUERADE          16384  1
nf_nat                 49152  2 xt_MASQUERADE,nft_chain_nat
nf_conntrack          126976  2 xt_MASQUERADE,nf_nat
nf_defrag_ipv6         20480  1 nf_conntrack
nf_defrag_ipv4         16384  1 nf_conntrack
nft_compat             20480  1
nf_tables             217088  5 nft_compat,nft_chain_nat,nft_counter
vc4                   290816  2
nfnetlink              20480  2 nft_compat,nf_tables
8188eu                798720  0
snd_soc_hdmi_codec     20480  1
cec                    49152  1 vc4
drm_kms_helper        274432  2 vc4
snd_soc_core          233472  2 vc4,snd_soc_hdmi_codec
snd_compress           20480  1 snd_soc_core
snd_pcm_dmaengine      16384  1 snd_soc_core
snd_bcm2835            24576  0
snd_pcm               114688  5 snd_compress,snd_pcm_dmaengine,snd_soc_hdmi_codec,snd_bcm2835,snd_soc_core
syscopyarea            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysfillrect            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysimgblt              16384  1 drm_kms_helper
fb_sys_fops            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
raspberrypi_hwmon      16384  0
bcm2835_isp            32768  0
snd_timer              32768  1 snd_pcm
bcm2835_codec          45056  0
i2c_bcm2835            16384  0
v4l2_mem2mem           36864  1 bcm2835_codec
videobuf2_dma_contig    20480  2 bcm2835_isp,bcm2835_codec
bcm2835_v4l2           45056  0
snd                    86016  6 snd_compress,snd_soc_hdmi_codec,snd_timer,snd_bcm2835,snd_soc_core,snd_pcm
bcm2835_mmal_vchiq     32768  3 bcm2835_isp,bcm2835_codec,bcm2835_v4l2
videobuf2_vmalloc      16384  1 bcm2835_v4l2
videobuf2_memops       16384  2 videobuf2_dma_contig,videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_v4l2         32768  4 bcm2835_isp,bcm2835_codec,bcm2835_v4l2,v4l2_mem2mem
videobuf2_common       65536  8 bcm2835_isp,bcm2835_codec,videobuf2_dma_contig,videobuf2_vmalloc,videobuf2_memops,bcm2835_v4l2,v4l2_mem2mem,videobuf2_v4l2
videodev              245760  6 bcm2835_isp,bcm2835_codec,videobuf2_common,bcm2835_v4l2,v4l2_mem2mem,videobuf2_v4l2
vc_sm_cma              32768  2 bcm2835_isp,bcm2835_mmal_vchiq
mc                     45056  6 bcm2835_isp,bcm2835_codec,videobuf2_common,videodev,v4l2_mem2mem,videobuf2_v4l2
uio_pdrv_genirq        16384  0
uio                    20480  1 uio_pdrv_genirq
fixed                  16384  0
drm                   540672  3 vc4,drm_kms_helper
fuse                  131072  1
drm_panel_orientation_quirks    16384  1 drm
backlight              20480  2 drm_kms_helper,drm
ip_tables              28672  0
x_tables               32768  3 ip_tables,nft_compat,xt_MASQUERADE
ipv6                  524288  28

i installed the driver but it does not show up in lsmod output

[dickon]

You'll need to

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modprobe 88XXau

as it won't load it just because you've installed it. Or reboot.

[saugat10]

You'll need to

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modprobe 88XXau

as it won't load it just because you've installed it. Or reboot.

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pi@raspberrypi:~ $ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
r8188eu               598016  0
88XXau               2007040  0
8021q                  32768  0
garp                   16384  1 8021q

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pi@raspberrypi:~ $ iw list
pi@raspberrypi:~ $

still iw list is giving no output. Now i think in PI4 it was inbuilt wireless features that supported AP mode not the usb adapter i will double check it and confirm.

[dickon]

Have you got the firmware-realtek package installed?

[saugat10]

Have you got the firmware-realtek package installed?

Yes. I was able to make AP with NETGEAR wifi adapter in raspberry pi 2