Unable to compile backports wireless drivers on Kali

[Malek123]

Hello Experts,

I have a problem when I am trying to install the "backports" drivers for my AWUS036NHR V2 Rtl8188 adapter on my Kali 4.6. I am installing these drives since the adapter is not stable using the official standard drivers. Here is what I am trying to do:

root@kali:~/backports# make defconfig-wifi
/--------------
| Your kernel headers are incomplete/not installed.
| Please install kernel headers, including a .config
| file or use the KLIB/KLIB_BUILD make variables to
| set the kernel to build against, e.g.
| make KLIB=/lib/modules/3.1.7/
| to compile/install for the installed kernel 3.1.7
| (that isn't currently running.)
\--
Makefile:40: recipe for target 'defconfig-wifi' failed
make: *** [defconfig-wifi] Error 1

I have already installed Linux-headers:

root@kali:~/backports# apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
linux-headers-4.6.0-kali1-686-pae is already the newest version (4.6.4-1kali1).

I have downloaded the latest stable backports release:

BACKPORTS_VERSION="v4.2.6-1-0-g90118c7"
BACKPORTED_KERNEL_VERSION="v4.2.6-0-g1c02865"
BACKPORTED_KERNEL_NAME="Linux"

Can you please help me out with this I really appreciate it already.

Many thanks,
Malek

[Malek123]

I don't know why lsusb is showing chipset as "RTL8187" while it is something else "RTL818":

root@kali:~/backports# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8187 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187 Wireless Adapter

dmesg output when I plug the adapter in:

root@kali:~/backports# dmesg | tail
[39901.946336] rtl8187: wireless switch is on
[39901.947253] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8187
[39902.026323] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[39914.711759] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[39914.831151] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[39969.576428] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[40028.056668] device wlan0mon entered promiscuous mode
[43293.264367] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[43293.300443] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[43294.758270] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
root@kali:~/backports#

I really need help here!

Thanks

[Malek123]

Sorry here is the USB adapter information:

[QUOTE]
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:817f Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188RU 802.11n WLAN Adapter
/QUOTE]

root@kali:~/backports# dmesg | tail
[44997.495821] rtl_usb: rx_max_size 15360, rx_urb_num 8, in_ep 1
[44997.497199] rtl8192cu: Loading firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw_TMSC.bin
[44997.503924] ieee80211 phy1: Selected rate control algorithm 'rtl_rc'
[44997.509210] usb 1-1: firmware: direct-loading firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw_TMSC.bin
[44997.511724] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu
[44997.621580] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[44997.634617] rtl8192cu: MAC auto ON okay!
[44998.428734] rtl8192cu: Tx queue select: 0x05
[45003.719588] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[45003.770569] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

Thanks

[lilNDN]

Did you reboot after installing the headers? I'm pretty sure it is necessary to do so. If that doesn't work, try running "make KLIB=/lib/modules/3.1.7/ defconfig-wifi" but replacing the 3.1.7 with whatever kernel version you are running.

[Malek123]

Hi lilNDN,

Yes I already tried restarting the VM but didn't help. I guess I am gonna try your suggestion. By the way my kernel version is 4.6

I will let you know what happens

Thanks
Malek

[Malek123]

Hello lilNDN,

I have tried the command as you suggested but it didn't work

root@kali:~/backports# make KLIB=/lib/modules/4.6.0-kali1-686-pae/ defconfig-wifi
/--------------
| Your kernel headers are incomplete/not installed.
| Please install kernel headers, including a .config
| file or use the KLIB/KLIB_BUILD make variables to
| set the kernel to build against, e.g.
| make KLIB=/lib/modules/3.1.7/
| to compile/install for the installed kernel 3.1.7
| (that isn't currently running.)
\--
Makefile:40: recipe for target 'defconfig-wifi' failed
make: *** [defconfig-wifi] Error 1

Do you have any suggestion?

Thanks,
Malek

[lilNDN]

Not off the top of my head, but I would try "make KLIB=/lib/modules/4.6.0/ defconfig-wifi" instead of including the Kali specific stuff in the KLIB path. I'm just going off the message it's giving you. It looks like it is expecting a specific format for the path that only includes the kernel version number.