See also: https://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch
Purpose: Provide the steps to add modeswitch capability for specified multi-state USB WiFi adapters.
"Multi-state" adapters will initially show up as a CDROM or flash drive when plugged into a USB port. If you run Windows, there will an attempt to install a driver. In any OS besides Windows, the adapter will continue to be seen as a CDROM or flash drive and no driver will be installed. For the WiFi adapter to show up in Linux, the adapter has to be told to switch state.
Most mainsteam distros of Linux include a utility called usb-modeswitch. It
will execute the switch for you if it has the information about your adapter
in its data files. If it is not installed or the data for your adapter is
not in its data files then follow the instructions for the specified adapters
below.
Note: To clarify, almost all modern, mainstream distros, such as Ubuntu, Fedora,
Debian, OpenSUSE and Arch do not require you to do anything. usb-modeswitch is
installed and set up and works automatically. However, not all distros are updated
in a timely manner and new adapters are released so if you find yourself in a
situation where plugging in a usb wifi adapter gives you nothing more than a
flashdrive or CDROM on your desktop, you may have a multi-state adapter on your
hands and you may need to install or update usb-modeswitch.
There are multiple sections for different adapters below. You need to scroll down to see if your adapter is listed.
Note: It seems that COMFAST uses the same setup for all of the adapters that it makes that are multi-state so if you don't see your COMFAST adapter listed, try the instructions for the CF-WU782AC.
2021-04-20
For: COMFAST CF-WU782AC USB WiFi adapter
For: COMFAST CF-WU785AC USB WiFi adapter
For: TEROW_ROW02FD USB WiFi adapter
Ensure usb-modeswitch is installed
$ sudo apt install usb-modeswitch usb-modeswitch-data
Execute usb-modeswitch in a terminal to see if it works
$ sudo usb_modeswitch -K -W -v 0e8d -p 2870
If successful, set it up to run automatically
edit the following file
$ sudo nano /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules
below the following line
SUBSYSTEM!="usb", ACTION!="add",, GOTO="modeswitch_rules_end"
add two lines
# COMFAST CF-WU782AC WiFi Dongle, TEROW ROW02FD WiFi Dongle, COMFAST CF-WU785AC WiFi Dongle
ATTR{idVendor}=="0e8d", ATTR{idProduct}=="2870", RUN+="usb_modeswitch '/%k'"
save the file ( Ctrl + x, y, Enter )
create the file /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/0e8d:2870
$ sudo nano /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/0e8d:2870
put the following inside:
# COMFAST CF-WU782AC WiFi Dongle, TEROW ROW02FD WiFi Dongle, COMFAST CF-WU785AC WiFi Dongle
TargetVendor=0x0e8d
TargetProductList="7612"
StandardEject=1
save the file ( Ctrl + x, y, Enter ) and reboot
2022-05-29
For: Techkey 5B12/5B10 (this may work for numerous adapters that use Realtek 8811cu chipsets)
Ensure usb-modeswitch is installed
$ sudo apt install usb-modeswitch usb-modeswitch-data
Execute usb-modeswitch in a terminal to see if it works
$ sudo usb_modeswitch -K -W -v 0bda -p 1a2b
If successful, set it up to run automatically
edit the following file
$ sudo nano /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules
below the following line
SUBSYSTEM!="usb", ACTION!="add",, GOTO="modeswitch_rules_end"
add two lines
# Techkey 5B12/5B10
ATTR{idVendor}=="0bda", ATTR{idProduct}=="1a2b", RUN+="/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -K -v 0bda -p 1a2b"
save the file ( Ctrl + x, y, Enter ) and reboot
2022-12-04
For: D-Link DWA-X1850
For: Alfa AWUS036AXER
Ensure usb-modeswitch is installed
$ sudo apt install usb-modeswitch usb-modeswitch-data
Execute usb-modeswitch in a terminal to see if it works
$ sudo usb_modeswitch -K -W -v 0bda -p 1a2b
If successful, set it up to run automatically
edit the following file
$ sudo nano /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules
below the following line
SUBSYSTEM!="usb", ACTION!="add",, GOTO="modeswitch_rules_end"
add two lines
# D-Link DWA-X1850 USB WiFi Adapter , Alfa AWUS036AXER USB WiFi Adapter
ATTR{idVendor}=="0bda", ATTR{idProduct}=="1a2b", RUN+="usb_modeswitch '/%k'"
save the file ( Ctrl + x, y, Enter )
create the file /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/0bda:1a2b
$ sudo nano /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/0bda:1a2b
put the following inside:
# D-Link DWA-X1850 USB WiFi Adapter , Alfa AWUS036AXER USB WiFi Adapter
TargetVendor=0x0bda
TargetProductList="8852"
StandardEject=1
save the file ( Ctrl + x, y, Enter ) and reboot
How to deactivate usb_modeswitch:
sudo nano /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf
Change
DisableSwitching=0
to
DisableSwitching=1
sudo reboot