need help with bcm4318, my first time install of opensuse

[calouie]

I'm a new comer to Opensuse 11.1 and I've just spent some time browsing the forum for some answers. Excuse me if this topic has come up before, but I'm still stumped as to what steps to take.
I've just made the leap over to opensuse with a fresh install, but I can't for the life of me get my wifi working.
I have a broadcom airforce one bcm4318 card and can connect to the internet with a wire connection.
As I'm new at this can someone give me a step by step process to help me get up and running. Can't run far with a wired connection. Thanks in advance to all who offer help.

[daKump]

Hi!
Welcome to our community!

b43 - Linux Wireless

openSUSE 11.0 and 11.1 use the following command:
sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware

If the command does not work, split it it up into a few steps

In a terminal of your choice:

Change the directory:

cd /usr/sbin/

Get root:

su

(type in your password in the following line)

Start the installation script:

install_bcm43xx_firmware

Reboot and check if you can connect to your wlan router

greetings Kump

[calouie]

hi dakump,
I just wanted to post back in here to thank you for answering my question. Worked like a charm.
Your answer was detailed and helpful. I had searched for the answer before posting and had read to install the driver by typing:
"sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware"
but it didn't work.
Breaking it down line by line as you did helped me get my wifi up and running.
It's answers like this that will help newcomers adopt opensuse and to feel welcome in the community.
Cheers,
calouie

[lwfinger]

calouie wrote:
> hi dakump,
> I just wanted to post back in here to thank you for answering my
> question. Worked like a charm.
> Your answer was detailed and helpful. I had searched for the answer
> before posting and had read to install the driver by typing:
> "sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware"
> but it didn't work.
> Breaking it down line by line as you did helped me get my wifi up and
> running.
> It's answers like this that will help newcomers adopt opensuse and to
> feel welcome in the community.

I want to reiterate that running /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware
does not install the driver. The driver is built into the kernel. As
the name would suggest, that command installs firmware, which is the
code that runs in the CPU in the wireless chip. The driver runs in
your computer's CPU. The reason it does not come with openSUSE is that
Broadcom refuses to allow us to distribute that material. As a result,
it has to be downloaded inside one of Broadcom's drivers, then
extracted by using fwcutter.

BTW, what failed in the script? As long as you have Internet access,
that script should be buttet proof.

[daKump]

For some reasons I'm not able to understand the "one line" solution does not work (I Think the respond is "command not found")

This was also an issue in this thread here:
Step by set instructions for Broadcom in Suse 11 - openSUSE Forums

I've known the answer because I've tried it myself a few days ago: Acer Extensa 5220 + Wlan - openSUSE Forums

@ calouie
You're welcome!
Sorry I was not explaining the main thing you do with this command.
As lwfinger explained, the driver is already provided by the kernel but it requiers the firmware to communicate with the wireless card.

greetings Kump

[lwfinger]

daKump wrote:
> For some reasons I'm not able to understand the "one line" solution does
> not work (I Think the respond is "command not found")

The main reason for "command not found" is a typing mistake. The font
used on the forum tends to compress spaces. Sometimes I forget to
double them up and that leads to a user running them together. The
command should be

sudo          /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware

I hope that makes it clear that there is a space between sudo and the
rest of the command.