Dell D600
pc-os2008v2 Ubuntu 8.04.1
Kernel: 2.6.24-19-generic i686
02:03.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller (rev3)

Broadcom does NOT support Linux with drivers for the bcm43xx wireless devices so I must
use a Windows driver. I have successfully installed this driver on other distro's using these commands. It does not work on pc-os. From root in terminal I did the following:
rmmod bcm43xx

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ERROR:  Module bcm43xx does not exist in /proc/modules

I put add "blacklist bcm43xx" (without quotes) at bottom of /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
I cd'd to location of bcmwl5.inf (Windows driver) and entered:
ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
ndiswrapper -l

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bcmwl5 : driver installed
             device (14E4:4320) present (alternate driver: ssb)

modprobe ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper -m

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module configuration already contains alias directive

...because I had already done the foregoing. The first time it ran no error was reported.

Rebooted but wireless does NOT work.

What should I do?


---
Bob

Dont blacklist the bcm driver, hardwire into your network open Synaptic and install the bcm43xx-fwcutter utility install and grab the firmware files then reboot. if you cannot download the utility do let me know and I will provide it for an offline install.

Also, I dont see a 'sudo modprobe'

open Synaptic and install the bcm43xx-fwcutter utility install and grab the firmware files then reboot. if you cannot download the utility do let me know and I will provide it for an offline install.

I do NOT have Internet access...until I get this wireless function working. Please send the utility/files for offline install.

The other suggestion brought no joy.

Thank You,

Bob
bob.barth@gmail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/dis ... driver.zip

Download it here and follow the directions. This utility has been flagged for inclusion in the maintenance pack and future releases.

Thank you, I downloaded the driver file.

Read Me.txt says:

Install the utility, when time comes for configuration a dialog box will open. Tell the utility to find the file on the local hard drive. When its done open the system menu, click on 'System' and open 'Hardware Drivers' click on the radio button to tell it to use your device.

The files are:

bcm43xx-fwcutter_1%3a006-3_i386.deb
wl_apsta-3.130.20.0.o

What command am I to use to install the utility?

Thanks for flagging this utility for inclusion in the maintenance pack and future releases.

Thanks for your timely response and help.

----
Bob

In terminal I went to to the directory where bcm43xx-fwcutter_1%3a006-3_i386.deb and wl_apsta-3.130.20.0.o are located

The install failed because it looks for wl_apsta-3.130.20.0.o on the Internet (http://downloads.openwrt.org/sources/wl ... 130.20.0.o)

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sudo dpkg -i bcm43xx-fwcutter_1%3a006-3_i386.deb
(Reading database ... 99662 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace bcm43xx-fwcutter 1:006-3 (using bcm43xx-fwcutter_1%3a006-3_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement bcm43xx-fwcutter ...
Setting up bcm43xx-fwcutter (1:006-3) ...
--09:55:02--  http://downloads.openwrt.org/sources/wl_apsta-3.130.20.0.o
           => `wl_apsta.o'
Resolving downloads.openwrt.org... failed: Name or service not known.
dpkg: error processing bcm43xx-fwcutter (--install):
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
bcm43xx-fwcutter

What do I do get wl_apsta-3.130.20.0.o from the local directory?

---
Bob

Yes that is correct get the file from the local dircectory.

Then how do I get wl_apsta-3.130.20.0.o from the local directory?

What command should i use to get it?

Should I do it before I use dpkg?

---
Bob

I had the same problem with a PCMCIA card with Ubuntu. After you install the fwcutter utility open the menu, open the System submenu and Click on hardware drivers. If you are supported by the utility it will be in the dialog, click on the radio button and the utility configuration will start. Now if you dont see it its not supported you will have to use ndiswrapper.

Now the base system is the same as Ubuntu, so if it works in Ubuntu it will work in PC/OS. You say the alias configuration file already exists, delete that file and start over. It may be one of the preloaded drivers is conflicting with the card.

Its been awhile since I have had to use ndiswrapper, I use natively supported cards with Linux most of the time now.

What command do I use to install wl_apsta-3.130.20.0.o from the local directory?

The utility asks whether I want to extract the firmware. If I say yes or no, it still goes to the Internet.

I suppose if it were installed it would not go to the Internet.

Thank you for all your trouble and help.

---
Bob

Open a terminal windows where you have the firmware file located and manually cut the firmware using the following command:

sudo bcm43xx-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/$(uname -r) wl_apsta.o

Now reboot you machine, go into hardware devices in the system submenu and check to see if its "in use" if not click the radio button and make sure its in use, you may have to reboot. Now go to Network-Manager and connect.

BTW, I do intend to have this utility and the firmware installed in PC/OS 2009.

After a clean install of pc-os from terminal I executed:

sudo bcm43xx-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/$(uname -r) wl_apsta-3.1.130.20.0.O.o

There were no errors so I booted and went to System-->Device Drivers and saw:

Broadcom B43 wireless driver with the In Use radio button Green. The Enabled box is not checked and when I click it I get:

While this driver itself is free software, it relies on proprietary firmware which cannot be...shipped with the operating system. Your hardware will not work without the firmware.

When I click Enable I get the failed to fetch error followed by the URL for fwcutter...

NM manager does not display any networks.

----
Bob

Branta wrote:After a clean install of pc-os from terminal I executed:

sudo bcm43xx-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/$(uname -r) wl_apsta-3.1.130.20.0.O.o

There were no errors so I booted and went to System-->Device Drivers and saw:

Broadcom B43 wireless driver with the In Use radio button Green. The Enabled box is not checked and when I click it I get:

While this driver itself is free software, it relies on proprietary firmware which cannot be...shipped with the operating system. Your hardware will not work without the firmware.

When I click Enable I get the failed to fetch error followed by the URL for fwcutter...

NM manager does not display any networks.

----
Bob

I tried pcos08's instructions using a linksys card that uses the same chipset and I had no problems at all getting it to work which was exciting because I couldnt get it to work with any other distribution even with ndiswrapper. I had to go one step further and this may help though, reboot and type "sudo modprobe bcm43xx". My only other suggestion in this case would be to find a way to hardwire into a network.

I gave , up on the Broadcom internal wireless card because I think it is somewhat defective in my Dell D600.

I bought a D-Link WUA-1340 USB wireless card because D-Link is supported by Ubuntu. I plugged it in and I was on the net.

I then used Synaptic and installed bcm43xx instructing it to fetch and install the firmware. I terminated Synaptic and rebooted with the D-Link UNPLUGED and there was no net or AP after left-clicking on the NM. Hence, the conclusion as set forth in the first statement.

I will be interested to install pc/os2009vx to see if the bcn43xx installs and it does work on MY D600.

I have had nothing but joy with D-Link.

The Boadcom is internal in the D600, hence my interest in getting it to work.

Thanks for your help and comments.

----
Bob