rebuild of rtl8821ce-dkms fails with linux-5.10 kernel version and new kernel module rtw88_8821ce fails to function

seems there is a kernel module now for rtl8821ce ..rtw88_8821ce .. but it does not function .. (dkms removed from system)

modules are loaded but are not functioning .. dkms registration was required with previous modules is some kind of registration required for the newer modules?

(an alternate usb wireless nic does work so everything else is ok)

problem appears to be firmware name miss-match .. according to other reports the firmware is not up to date or older/newer chip sets are not supported this effects wifi and bluetooth (dual function chip)

did a
modprobe -r rtw88_8821ce
modprobe rtw88_8821ce

dmesg .. tail ..

[ 208.374092] rtw_8821ce 0000:02:00.0: Firmware version 24.5.0, H2C version 12
[ 208.399386] rtw_8821ce 0000:02:00.0: rfe 2 isn't supported
[ 208.399491] rtw_8821ce 0000:02:00.0: failed to setup chip efuse info
[ 208.399493] rtw_8821ce 0000:02:00.0: failed to setup chip information

note the different module name for the firmware ..

note: same firmware appears to work for kernel 5.8 versions using rtl8821ce-dkms .. no errors appear in dmesg ..

It appears that firmware for rfc2 type antenna is not yet available as per comment #2 at following link:

https://forum.siduction.org/index.php?topic=8134.0

other newer antenna styles also unsupported by rtw88_8821ce firmware..

it appears that rtl8821ce-dkms is antenna and firmware agnostic and work for kernels 5.8 and lower .. at least one site has a module that fixes the symbol issue and allows compilation of an rtl8821ce module .. https://github.com/tomaspinho/rtl8821ce

also some other linux OS versions provide both rtw88_8821ce and other external rtl8821ce modules .. the user can then blacklist the non-working versions For kernel versions 5.9+ ..

should ubuntu consider this for hirsute?

this did not get uploaded automatically: rtl8821ce-dkms.0.crash

Hi, there is no 5.10 kernel in Groovy by default, so we're not going to back port it. You may install rtl8821ce-dkms from Hirsute, which fixed this already, as you install 5.10 generic kernel from hirsute, too.

While we do have linux-oem-5.10 in Focal, this should be back ported to focal instead.

Turns out 5.5.2.1-0ubuntu5 never made into Hirsute ....

@Derk, do you have some time to try my PPA in https://launchpad.net/~vicamo/+archive/ubuntu/ppa-1911605 ? Both Focal and Hirsute are available. Module blacklist installed, too.

yes that works I now have use of the rtl8821ce wireless connection again..

thank you!

How soon will this be merged with hirsute?

PPA and merge proposals ready for review. Need help from release team.

This bug was fixed in the package rtl8821ce - 5.5.2.1-0ubuntu6

---------------
rtl8821ce (5.5.2.1-0ubuntu6) hirsute; urgency=medium

  * Blacklist built-in rtw88_8821ce (LP: #1911605)

  * Update CI release series

 -- You-Sheng Yang <email address hidden> Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:00:33 +0800

For the Focal upload, please provide SRU information as documented at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates#Procedure

Hello Derk, or anyone else affected,

Accepted rtl8821ce into focal-proposed. The package will build now and be available at https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/rtl8821ce/5.5.2.1-0ubuntu4~20.04.3 in a few hours, and then in the -proposed repository.

Please help us by testing this new package. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/EnableProposed for documentation on how to enable and use -proposed. Your feedback will aid us getting this update out to other Ubuntu users.

If this package fixes the bug for you, please add a comment to this bug, mentioning the version of the package you tested, what testing has been performed on the package and change the tag from verification-needed-focal to verification-done-focal. If it does not fix the bug for you, please add a comment stating that, and change the tag to verification-failed-focal. In either case, without details of your testing we will not be able to proceed.

Further information regarding the verification process can be found at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/QATeam/PerformingSRUVerification . Thank you in advance for helping!

N.B. The updated package will be released to -updates after the bug(s) fixed by this package have been verified and the package has been in -proposed for a minimum of 7 days.

okay .. I installed focal 20.4.2.0 (xubuntu) along side hirsute on a separate partition ..

used a edimax usb wireless dongle to do the install and updates of focal ..

added proposed to apt sources .. then installed rtl8821ce-dkms as well as other updates

rebooted (without usb wi/fi) and rtl8821ce worked with std 5.8.0.44 kernel

then installed linux-{image,headers}-5.10.0-1014-oem .. dkms did auto module build as expected no issues.

rebooted and rtl8821ce functions under 5.10.0-1014-oem kernel..

so all looks good .

rtl8821ce package was as rtl8821ce-dkms-5.5.2.1-0ubuntu4~20.04.3

Thank you, Derk.

This bug was fixed in the package rtl8821ce - 5.5.2.1-0ubuntu4~20.04.3

---------------
rtl8821ce (5.5.2.1-0ubuntu4~20.04.3) focal; urgency=medium

  * FTBFS with Linux 5.10 (LP: #1911605)
    - Blacklist built-in rtw88_8821ce
    - Convert readFile()/writeFile() to use kernel_read()/write_file() and fix
      FTBFS with Linux 5.10

 -- You-Sheng Yang <email address hidden> Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:00:33 +0800

The verification of the Stable Release Update for rtl8821ce has completed successfully and the package is now being released to -updates. Subsequently, the Ubuntu Stable Release Updates Team is being unsubscribed and will not receive messages about this bug report. In the event that you encounter a regression using the package from -updates please report a new bug using ubuntu-bug and tag the bug report regression-update so we can easily find any regressions.