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Asked: 2024-09-24T18:59:25+05:30 In:

What are the steps to install drivers for the D-Link DWA-181 AC1300 WiFi USB adapter on Ubuntu?

I recently got my hands on a D-Link DWA-181 AC1300 WiFi USB adapter, and I was super excited to get my internet connection up and running. But here’s the thing: I’m running Ubuntu, and I’ve never had to install a driver for any USB adapter on this system before. I feel a bit lost, to be honest!

I’ve read a few tutorials online, but they seem a bit complex and intimidating, like I need to be a coding wizard or something. I just need to know, how do I go about installing these drivers? I mean, it should be straightforward, right? I’ve seen some people mention using the terminal, but I’m not really familiar with command lines, and I worry I might mess something up if I go down that path.

Can someone break it down into simple steps for me? Like, what do I need to do once I plug in the DWA-181? Do I need to install anything special from the Ubuntu Software Center, or will I need to download drivers from D-Link’s website?

And what about dependencies? Do I need to make sure I have certain packages installed before I begin? It feels a bit overwhelming already, so any guidance would be really appreciated! I’m also curious if there’s any configuration I need to worry about after installing the drivers. Will my WiFi just magically connect, or are there other tweaks I should know about?

Also, has anyone faced issues there? I’d love to hear about any hiccups or errors you encountered, just so I can prep myself mentally. Thanks in advance for the help! I’m really eager to get everything up and running without pulling my hair out in frustration.

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    2 Answers


    1. If you’re using a D-Link DWA-181 AC1300 WiFi USB adapter on Ubuntu, you’re in luck, as many USB adapters have built-in support in recent versions of Ubuntu. Start by simply plugging in the adapter; in most cases, the system should recognize it automatically and attempt to connect to available WiFi networks. If you find that the adapter isn’t working out of the box, the next step would be to check for any missing drivers or packages. Open the terminal (you can search for “Terminal” in your applications) and run the following commands to ensure your system is updated and install any necessary packages: sudo apt update followed by sudo apt install linux-firmware. This command will fetch the latest firmware which might include the driver for your adapter.

      After installing any required packages, reboot your system. Upon reboot, check your network settings to look for available wireless connections. If you’re still having trouble, you can look into D-Link’s support page for Linux drivers specific to your adapter model, but most users find that the built-in support is sufficient. Do keep in mind that if you need to configure your network settings, you can do so through the network manager in the system settings. If you encounter any issues like connectivity drops or failure to connect, consider checking online forums or the Ubuntu community for the DWA-181, as they might have documented common problems and their solutions. Generally, though, once set up, the WiFi should connect automatically when within range.




    2. Installing D-Link DWA-181 on Ubuntu

      How to Install D-Link DWA-181 on Ubuntu

      If you’re new to Ubuntu and feeling a bit lost with your D-Link DWA-181 WiFi adapter, no worries! Here’s a simple breakdown to help you get it up and running.

      Step 1: Plug in the DWA-181

      First things first, just plug in your USB adapter. Ubuntu is pretty good at recognizing hardware, so it might automatically install the required drivers for you.

      Step 2: Check if it’s working

      Open your terminal (you can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T) and type the following command:

      lsusb

      This will list all USB devices connected to your computer. Look for something like D-Link Corp. to see if your adapter is recognized.

      Step 3: Install any missing drivers

      If it’s not working, you might need to install drivers manually. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds! You might need to install git and build-essential to compile the drivers:

      sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install git build-essential

      Step 4: Get the drivers

      You can try to find the drivers on D-Link’s website, but sometimes community-driven projects have the drivers as well. A popular choice is the rtl8187 driver. Use this command to download it:

      git clone https://github.com/jeremyb31/rtl8187.git

      Step 5: Compile and install

      After downloading, navigate to the folder and compile it:

      cd rtl8187
make
sudo make install

      Step 6: Load the driver

      Now, load the driver with:

      sudo modprobe rtl8187

      Step 7: Connect to WiFi

      You should be able to see your WiFi networks now. Click on the WiFi icon in the top-right corner of your screen and select your network. Enter the password if prompted, and you’re good to go!

      Common Issues

      Some users have reported needing a reboot or having to disable secure boot in BIOS for their adapters to work. If your connection keeps dropping, you might want to check your power management settings.

      Final Thoughts

      Installing drivers on Ubuntu can seem intimidating, but once you break it down step by step, it’s manageable! Don’t hesitate to ask for help in forums if you run into issues — there’s a supportive community out there.


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