Hello people.
I bought a cheap i3 box hoping to be able to install IPF for replacing my outdated comercial firewall. But… I hit a problem - with the wifi. The wlan network card is a Realtek RTL 8822CE model which is supported by debian since kernel 5 - it is an info I found searching the web. But it seem IPF is not supporting the model, as it not present in the compatibility list. So the wifi is not working in IPF. I can see the NIC in Zone Configuration, and the interface (wlan1) is present in Wireless AP where I can configure the AP. With zero results, no wifi. Strange case, I understand RTL 8822CE is a pretty popular election for wlan card.
Is there any way to install a driver (there are several sources for various packages for this model)?
Or does anybody knows a solution for having the Realtek network card working? Whithout having to replace it.
Any help would be much appreciated.
The driver is available in the linux kernel for that device since kernel 5.2
https://linux-hardware.org/?id=pci:10ec-c822-1a3b-3750&page=1
It is defined to be loaded if required.
It might be that your hardware is not requesting that module to be loaded.
You can check if it has been loaded by running the following command on the console or ssh terminal.
lsmod | grep 8822
If you get no printed response then it means that the module was not loaded.
If you get a response then please paste the results that you get.
Why that would be and how to overcome it someone else with more knowledge needs to help with suggestions.
EDIT:
You can also confirm that the module is available by running the modinfo command with the module name. This is what I got on my system.
modinfo rtw88_8822ce
filename: /lib/modules/6.12.13-ipfire/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/rtw88_8822ce.ko.xz
license: Dual BSD/GPL
description: Realtek 802.11ac wireless 8822ce driver
author: Realtek Corporation
srcversion: 36A0392177CD0159239EBF9
alias: pci:v000010ECd0000C82Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000010ECd0000C822sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: rtw88_pci,rtw88_8822c
intree: Y
name: rtw88_8822ce
retpoline: Y
vermagic: 6.12.13-ipfire SMP preempt mod_unload modversions
sig_id: PKCS#7
signer: Build time autogenerated kernel key
sig_key: 31:98:17:69:06:3E:A0:B4:A6:BB:00:42:E3:C3:75:73:5B:77:C2:31
sig_hashalgo: sha512
signature: 30:66:02:31:00:DE:A6:F3:1E:E7:98:C9:AE:79:BD:40:4E:F4:09:55:
20:A1:53:47:31:48:E4:87:92:45:4B:71:9A:32:98:A3:7D:BC:BD:E1:
E4:FD:32:71:AB:9C:63:E1:E7:B1:D8:C4:D2:02:31:00:CE:81:44:95:
44:60:B0:8E:9B:A7:E4:33:99:5A:47:E6:AE:A4:A7:54:88:80:91:C2:
BD:27:20:8E:EE:91:A2:EA:97:45:06:6E:95:B5:5A:0D:C1:7F:2F:C4:
7E:80:DE:36
If the NIC is present in the zone configuration and you see the interface on the WlanAP-Page (where you choose the interface to use as AP by MAC) then the reason for your not-working wifi might be a wrong AP-configuration.
What is your channel, country-code, HT- and VHT-caps, etc.?
pls keep in mind that not all WiFi Cards can be operated as Access Points
/edit
your “ce” Version does NOT Support AP Mode: RTL8822CE Access Point Mode - Jetson Orin Nano - NVIDIA Developer Forums
The driver is broken after Linux Kernel 6.11 and looking at the github for the driver they are still working the bugs out. But this interface is a client card and not a station card. Its easier and cheaper in the long run to get an AP since its hard to find the info if the card is going to function properly as an access point.
The driver’s git that is brought in to the Linux ecosystem:
Thank you all. There are a several roads to follow ahead, a lot of info. Ill try to piece together the things and see where it leads - is it a bug/ broken something, an unsupported driver or a misconfiguration? I am civilian able to finger follow instructions, my competences are basic so I might be slow. But as I love the concept of IPF I am determined to solve it. So Ill be back… probably seeking more advices as I move on.
But. My main dilema right now is why am I able to see the NIC in zone configuration, and not at all in WirelessAP config wui page - I can create an AP, but cannot start it as there is no a board/ card/ device appearing in green above it. Which I guess it means the IPF can somehow recognise the WIFI card, but somewhere something goes bad.
So… one step at the time.
Thank you so much.
OK, thanks. It makes more sense to start from here.
For both Caps I have empty field. Config:
es / 802.11an / wpa2+3 / enforced / / /auto
Could you please enlight me a bit whith the two Caps?
Though I have noticed that there`s no board mentioned (normally in on-green) on top of that specific page. So I guess the fault is in-between those interfaces from wifi to server… do I miss a config? isnt supposed to have some bridge to pass wlan? …
Hello again.
I did a little research. The problem is the driver RTL2288CE doesn’t support AP mode. Luckily it can be replaced and I can have my device working as AP - RTL8822CE Access Point Mode - Help Docs for Errors/Issues on Nvidia Jetson Dev Boards
Though a little bit voodoo for my level of expertise, I’m willing to take my chances - I really love the simplicity of IPF, the learning curve is, if there is one, digestable for a not-so-geek user.
Thank you.
Before preceding with a „driver replacement„ I have checked your commands. So I discovered there’s no need for more voodo, I’am in the same movie with your config.
lsmod mod | grep
rtw88_8822ce 12288 0
rtw88_8822c 491520 1 rtw88_8822ce
rtw88_pci 32768 1 rtw88_8822ce
I guess it means up and running.
modinfo for rtw88_8822ce is identical with yours (minus keys)
So… what am I missing? I re-checked all configs
Zone Config
wlan1 = native
blue = default
DHCP Server
blue IP range out of green subnet (x.x.1.1 & x.x.2.1)
WirelessAp
Here things go bad. The wifi board doesn’t appear in the head of the page above. Also not so sure about HT/VHT Caps - where can I find the exact parameters?
a little more help would be much apreciated. 
It’s a bit tricky to configure cards that not support ACS (Auto Channel Selection) because the dropdown is only filled a startup try.
You have to configure the AP with a valid Country Code. (00 is not allowed anymore)
After this chose a valid Mode
Like BGN or AN and press save. After reload the page you can select a channel in the dropdown. Here you have to choose matching channel (BGN - 1-13 or AN 36-48)
Higher channels can only used on hardware that support radar detection which realtak also not does.
Got it, WIFI works.
Thank you all for helping. Theres a lot of info, some outdated/ a bit off - some incomplete, including the IPF documentation. The wifi driver, as Adolf said, is well cover by the linux kernel - I still don`t dig why the need for a compatibility devices list.
In the end the problem was the 802.11 config for me it works only in gn mode - the hostapd went suddenly green as I was shooting in the dark for the 100x time through those configs in WAP page. No other configs necessary.
But. BUT… now I am in a different story. The wifi devices receive ip in GREEN range. OK, patience, one step at the time. 