Cfrtjryk

Im trying to install drivers for a rosewill RNX-N600UBE wireless card (Ralink RT2870 chipset) on Kali Linux. I downloaded the drivers form their website and unpacked/unzipped them, but now when i try to run the 'make' command i get this error.

/home/fox/System/2011_0427_RT3572_Linux_STA_v2.5.0.0.DPO/os/linux/../../os/linux/rt_linux.c:1156:20: error: incompatible types when assigning to type ‘int’ from type ‘kuid_t’

/home/fox/System/2011_0427_RT3572_Linux_STA_v2.5.0.0.DPO/os/linux/../../os/linux/rt_linux.c:1157:20: error: incompatible types when assigning to type ‘int’ from type ‘kgid_t’

make[4]: *** [/home/fox/System/2011_0427_RT3572_Linux_STA_v2.5.0.0.DPO/os/linux/../../os/linux/rt_linux.o] Error 1

make[3]: *** [_module_/home/fox/System/2011_0427_RT3572_Linux_STA_v2.5.0.0.DPO/os/linux] Error 2

make[2]: *** [sub-make] Error 2

make[1]: *** [all] Error 2

The issue is that one of the kernel headers / interfaces changed in a recent 3.x kernel. Where a UID / GID values were originally referred to as regular integers, they are now structs with a single element. Any code relying on the older definition now will fail to compile until updated to match the new kernel headers.

I'm currently experimenting with patching a similar error in virtualbox-guest-utils for my Ubuntu install; in theory locating and replacing instances of ->i_uid = with ->i_uid.val = or ->i_gid = with ->i_gid.val = on the line numbers reported in the error should fix the problem (but I can't guarantee that at this time as compilation is now failing on a different, unrelated, error for me).

Your best bet is contacting the original author of your code for an updated version of the source that works with the newer kernels.

I found a fix to the compilation errors in another driver on this website:
http://www.arnelborja.com/compiling-rt2870-wifi-driver-in-fedora/

below is the patch content:

--- include/os/rt_linux.h   2013-09-12 13:27:14.000000000 +0800

+++ include/os/rt_linux.h.patched   2014-03-23 11:45:03.907628847 +0800

@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@ typedef struct file* RTMP_OS_FD;



 typedef struct _OS_FS_INFO_

 {

-   int             fsuid;

-   int             fsgid;

+   kuid_t              fsuid;

+   kgid_t              fsgid;

    mm_segment_t    fs;

 } OS_FS_INFO;

make only reports the errors but they are in fact errors from your compiler (probably gcc):

error: incompatible types when assigning to type ‘int’ from type ‘kuid_t’ 

Basically, your code is buggy or inappropriate for your platform but make functions correctly.

This solution worked for me. The procedure I followed was:

1. I followed the steps for my distribution (Debian Jessie) from here.




2. I saved de driver for Linux of the manufacturer (which comes with the equipment in the CDROM), and I unzipped it to a folder.




3. In the folder, I typed make (as root), and I got an error. So, I did the modification above, and it worked.




4. I typed make install (as root), I rebooted the computer, and the wireless interface was recognized. I configured it and it worked. ;)

My system is: Debian Jessie, kernel 3.16.0-4-amd64, using gnome.