How do I install a kernel module in a template VM in Q-os 4.3-rc1?

User Support
1

i need a drivers for my wifi that is not in the standard kernel.
it usually compile and run cleanly in regular distro, but the kernel scheme on Qubes-os seems specific. I am not able to run the module after it build cleanly. I got error like “unknow symbol in modules” perhaps because it is not the same compiler version that build the kernel and the module.

my question is : is there a way to use a custom kernel OR is there a way to build a modules from the template VM so I can use it .

2
  1. Properly identify the appropriate Distro/Release which works for your WiFi hardware with custom DKMS module (let’s say Fedora 41). Your WiFi module might not work with specific distro and/or release (maybe Debian would work better).
  2. Assure dkms, kernel-headers, kernel-devel or anything else which is advised by your WiFi hardware vendor is installed in the template.
  3. Compile and install the dkms module in the template (or a clone of it).
  4. Use it as your sys-net template.
  5. In sys-net settings → advanced tab, Set kernel to (provided by qube).

p.s.: Advising the exact vendor & PCI VID/PID or your WiFi module would help developers to provide better support. And sometimes fix it in upstream code. But it is understandable that some users might prefer to avoid sharing such details due to privacy concerns.

3

thanks you jamali,
my network drivers is from GitHub - lwfinger/rtw88: A backport of the Realtek Wifi 5 drivers from the wireless-next repo. this version works well for me on my HP laptop.

without wifi I won’t be able to keep Qubes-os as my working OS

4

Thanks for sharing.

Before proceeding with trying to compile the DKMS driver from source, could you please try to install the following in dom0 (if you could connect via Ethernet):

sudo qubes-dom0-update kernel-latest-qubes-vm

And in sys-net config, select one of the 6.15 kernels in the drop-down list. Like picture below:

kernel-latest
kernel-latest846×699 70.3 KB

Then see if detects your hardware.

5

Just a moment. Is this device wired via PCI or USB interface? You could find out about it via qvm-pci list and qvm-usb list in dom0. There are different variants of this device. Both PCI and USB (source).

6

seems to be PCI (if I consider sys-net )

I got an error “no match for argument kernel-latest-qubes-vm”

7

Have you enabled testing repositories for dom0? rc1 does not have stable repos (yet)

8

how do I do that ?

9

Go to App Menu → Settings → Qubes Tools → Qubes Global Config → Updates page → Enable all testing updates.

10

ok, done.
there seems to be more stuff … downloading …

11

OK there is a new kernel 6.15 ready to use. but this do not change the module. in the new kernel there is a rtw88_8821ce that is used, and in place I need the rtw_8821ce from the previously mentioned github repo.

so I am still searching a way to compile my own module but it is not easy to integrated this last in the kernel scheme used by qubes-os.

1 Like
12

OK, I was able to install a kernel in my template, update with the repo compile the module. Now I have a kernel that show the right module, but still I have no wifi.
I don’t understand why.
its shows no interface like wl0.
at this point I don’t know what to do.

13

I assue you switched to in-vm kernel in its setting.

Are you sure PCI pass-through is working properly and the WiFi interface is successfully attached to the target qube? You could confirm this with lspci in the target qube. And also looking and dmesg output might provide some clue.