# morrownr/8821au-20210708

Linux Driver for USB WiFi Adapters that are based on the RTL8811AU and RTL8821AU Chipsets - v5.12.5.2

Repository: https://github.com/morrownr/8821au-20210708
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/8821au-20210708
Language: C
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: raspberry-pi, usb, debian, ubuntu, wifi, linux-mint, linux-driver, realtek, rtl8811au, rtl8821au, kali-linux, wireshark, aircrack-ng, hostapd
Last push: 2026-09-03T01:17:42+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 77/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 100, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 1808, "days_push": 0, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1142, forks 177 (observed 2026-09-03T02:15:15.271029+00:00)

## What it is
An out-of-kernel Linux driver (kernel module) for USB WiFi adapters based on the Realtek RTL8811AU and RTL8821AU chipsets, based on Realtek's v5.12.5.2 source with community updates. It supports client, AP (hostapd), and monitor modes, and is intended for kernels prior to 6.14 where the in-kernel rtw88 driver is not yet available.

## Use cases
- get a Realtek RTL8821AU USB wifi adapter working on Ubuntu or Debian
- install wifi driver on Raspberry Pi OS
- enable monitor mode for aircrack-ng packet capture
- set up a wireless access point with hostapd
- use WPA3 on a USB wifi dongle
- fix missing wifi driver on Linux Mint or Kali

## When to choose
- your kernel is older than 6.14 and lacks in-kernel rtw88 support for the chipset
- you need monitor mode or AP mode on an RTL8811AU/RTL8821AU USB adapter
- you run Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, Debian, or Kali with this specific chipset

## When to avoid
- your distro uses kernel 6.14 or later, where the standards-compliant in-kernel rtw88 driver is preferred
- you need a Linux Wireless Standards (mac80211) compliant driver
- your USB adapter uses a different Realtek chipset

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: maintenance
- function: networking, security
- domain: operating-systems, hardware, security
- platform: embedded
- tags: wifi-driver, realtek, rtl8821au, usb-wifi, kernel-module, monitor-mode, aircrack-ng, raspberry-pi, linux

## Member repositories
- morrownr/8821au-20210708 (main) score 77

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-09-03T02:15:15.271029+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:36:05.696029+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/morrownr/8821au-20210708 (fetched 2026-09-03T02:15:15.271029+00:00, sha d729bb99b203)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.