[SOLVED] Trying to get Intel AX200 Wifi Card to work in Debian 11.

linustalman · 12-18-2021, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Miller

I'd say start from scratch with firmware.

Code:

apt purge firmware-iwlwifi
find /lib/firmware/ -name 'iwlwifi-*' -exec rm -f {} \;
apt install firmware-iwlwifi
*reboot

This SHOULD work if you're using the Debian kernel, I have multiple laptops running Debian Bullseye with AX200 cards and not a single one of them required the firmware from Intel (will not work if it's actually an AX210, the Debian 5.10 kernel simply doesn't work properly with that card, requires the backport kernel to fully function).

Hi Tim.

Done!
I'm using this kernel: 5.14.0-0.bpo.2-amd64
After a reboot, still no improvement.

Timothy Miller · 12-18-2021, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linustalman

Hi Tim.

Done!
I'm using this kernel: 5.14.0-0.bpo.2-amd64
After a reboot, still no improvement.

Then you'll need the backports firmware, as that kernel needs a slightly different version of the firmware from the 5.10 kernel.

Code:

apt install -t bullseye-backports firmware-iwlwifi
*reboot

linustalman · 12-18-2021, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Miller

Then you'll need the backports firmware, as that kernel needs a slightly different version of the firmware from the 5.10 kernel.

Code:

apt install -t bullseye-backports firmware-iwlwifi
*reboot

Code:

#apt install -t bullseye-backports firmware-iwlwifi

Code:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
firmware-iwlwifi is already the newest version (20210315-3).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 77 not upgraded.

Would it be possible to use this or would that make my system a FrankenDebian?

Edit: Actually, I just noticed that AX200 is not mentioned in https://packages.debian.org/bullseye/firmware-iwlwifi or even https://packages.debian.org/sid/firmware-iwlwifi.

Timothy Miller · 12-18-2021, 03:10 PM

AX200/AX201 same card with the only difference being where the processing is taking place (AX201 is CNVio, AX200 is "real")

linustalman · 12-19-2021, 02:00 AM

I was looking at other online mentions of AX200 and Linux and came across

Code:

sudo modprobe iwlwifi

and ran it. Would that help? If not can I undo it?

pan64 · 12-19-2021, 03:56 AM

Why don't you try it?
You can use lsmod to list loaded modules, modprobe to add/load additional modules and rmmod to remove them (if required). Additionally would be nice to post the output of the executed command too.

linustalman · 12-19-2021, 06:13 AM

Code:

lsmod

https://paste.debian.net/1224040/

---

Code:

lsmod | grep iwlwifi

Code:

iwlwifi               311296  1 iwlmvm
cfg80211             1024000  5 carl9170,iwlmvm,ath,iwlwifi,mac80211

linustalman · 12-24-2021, 04:52 AM

Still no wifi.

linustalman · 02-05-2022, 03:45 AM

Is this website legit? https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/...rivers/iwlwifi

Debian6to11 · 02-05-2022, 07:13 AM

Yes, it is a good website.
When I installed Debian11 around 15 November last year with stock kernel, my wifi card (same chip AX200) did not work but the bluetooth of the card worked. So I used my mobile's internet connection (connected to the computer with bluetooth) and installed the wifi firmware with apt (only need a few megabytes). After the firmware installation I had a working wifi.

Code:

Start-Date: 2021-11-15  13:07:07
Commandline: apt install firmware-iwlwifi
Install: firmware-iwlwifi:amd64 (20210315-3)
End-Date: 2021-11-15  13:07:09

Debian6to11 · 02-05-2022, 07:28 AM

Also, from this page,
https://superuser.com/questions/1553...-debian-buster

"The advantage of using this repository, instead of copying the firmware by hand, is that you will get updates automatically."

linustalman · 02-05-2022, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debian6to11

Also, from this page,
https://superuser.com/questions/1553...-debian-buster

"The advantage of using this repository, instead of copying the firmware by hand, is that you will get updates automatically."

I tried that before. No joy.

yvesjv · 02-09-2022, 01:57 PM

If not already enabled, try a custom kernel and make the modules too
The attached pics are of a working AX WNic

linustalman · 03-03-2022, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvesjv

If not already enabled, try a custom kernel and make the modules too
The attached pics are of a working AX WNic

Hi yvesjv. I'd be reluctant to use a non-standard kernel. Besides, I don't know where to begin.

yvesjv · 03-03-2022, 02:48 PM

Compiling your own custom kernel on debian should be easy.
A long time ago and before leaving debian due to the systemd debacle, for example I compiled custom kernels that would fit onto a 1.4mb floppy and ran squid proxy on debian for large colleges.

Not sure how you do it nowadays but it should no be that far off from how easy debian used to be.

Appears it is still a package build
https://kernel-team.pages.debian.net...ommon-official
The current stable linux kernel is downloadable at https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/ker...5.16.12.tar.xz

when in the linux-5.16.12 directory, copy the /boot/config-<current-running-Kernel> file and rename it to .config.
Once it is copied into the linux-5.16.12 directory, run this command and wait for it to complete:
yes "" | make oldconfig

Next run this command to modify the soon to be your custom kernel for your requirements.
make menuconfig
You will find what you want in Device Drivers/Network Device Support/Wireless LAN/
See attached picture of my current WNic setting
Save and exit.

Follow the instructions on the article and install your newly built kernel.
And reboot into your new custom kernel.

Edit: I cannot see the part where to 'make modules', perhaps that has changed.
Best to query the Debian forums as the modules are important and should be installed.