11.3 rc2 and asus wl-138bg wifi card

Hi,
I have asus wl-138g wifi card and can’t get it working. I download firmware as typed here: HCL/Network Adapters (Wireless)/Broadcom BCM43xx - openSUSE and modprobed b43, but Yast is still writing something about missing firmware. Also iwconfig can’t see device.

dmesg output after modprobe b43:


  996.581505] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
  996.876148] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
  996.876154]     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
  996.876160]     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
  996.876164]     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
  996.876168]     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
  996.876173]     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
  996.876177]     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
  997.054439] Broadcom 43xx driver loaded  Features: PMLS, Firmware-ID: FW13 ]

On 07/06/2010 03:56 AM, hellgast wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I have asus wl-138g wifi card and can’t get it working. I download
> firmware as typed here: ‘HCL/Network Adapters (Wireless)/Broadcom
> BCM43xx - openSUSE’ (http://tinyurl.com/mack7b) and modprobed b43, but
> Yast is still writing something about missing firmware. Also iwconfig
> can’t see device.
>
> dmesg output after modprobe b43:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> 996.581505] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> 996.876148] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
> 996.876154] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
> 996.876160] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 996.876164] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 996.876168] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 996.876173] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 996.876177] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 997.054439] Broadcom 43xx driver loaded Features: PMLS, Firmware-ID: FW13 ]
>
> --------------------

There is nothing here about missing firmware! Do you have to manually do
the modprobe? If so, something is wrong. If your wl-138bg card really is a
Broadcom device and is supported by b43, the autoload/hotplug system
should load it automatically.

Please go to http://www.linux-tips-and-tricks.de/index.php/ and download a
copy of the collectNWData.sh script, run it, and post the output. The
author is a frequent poster to the Forums and the script is safe.

I have to manually load b43 after run /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware, because script only download firmware not load b43 module. Asus wl-138g is bcm4138 chipset. I attach log from ./collectNWData.sh script:


--- Which type of your network connection should be tested?
--- (2) Wireless connection (WLAN)
--- What's the type of networktopology?
--- (2) WLAN HW router <---> LinuxClient
--- On which host is the script executed?
--- (1) LinuxClient
--- WLAN SSID to connect to: §§§§§§§§1

--- NWEliza is analyzing the system for common network configuration errors ...

!!! CND0310W: Classic network configuration with ifup was detected. Configuration with knetworkmanager is much easier
!!! CND0360E: Wireless connection tested with an existing wired connection on interface eth0. Unplug the cable and execute the script again

--- Go to http://www.linux-tips-and-tricks.de/CND#English to get more detailed instructions 
--- about the error/warning messages and how to fix the problems on your own.

--- If you are unsuccessful then place the contents of file collectNWData.txt in the net
--- (see http://www.linux-tips-and-tricks.de/CND_UPL#English for links) 
--- and then paste the nopaste link on your favorite Linux forum.

==================================================================================================================
==================================================================================================================
*** uname -a
Linux linux-yvp9 2.6.34-12-default #1 SMP 2010-06-29 02:39:08 +0200 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
==================================================================================================================
*** cat /etc/*-_]release || cat /etc/*-_]version
/etc/SuSE-release
openSUSE 11.3 (i586)
VERSION = 11.3
==================================================================================================================
*** cat /etc/resolv | grep -i "nameserver"
nameserver %%%.%%.%%%.%1
nameserver %%%.%%.%%%.%2
==================================================================================================================
*** cat /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1       localhost
127.0.0.2       linux-yvp9.site linux-yvp9
==================================================================================================================
*** route -n
Směrovací tabulka v jádru pro IP
Adresát         Brána           Maska           Přízn Metrik Odkaz  Užt Rozhraní
192.168.10.0    0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U     0      0        0 eth0
169.254.0.0     0.0.0.0         255.255.0.0     U     0      0        0 eth0
127.0.0.0       0.0.0.0         255.0.0.0       U     0      0        0 lo
0.0.0.0         192.168.10.1    0.0.0.0         UG    0      0        0 eth0
==================================================================================================================
*** ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWadr ##:##:##:##:##:#1  
          inet adr:192.168.10.7  Všesměr:192.168.10.255 Maska:255.255.255.0
          inet6-adr: fe80::2e0:4cff:fe7a:df06/64 Rozsah:Linka
          AKTIVOVÁNO VŠESMĚROVÉ_VYSÍLÁNÍ BĚŽÍ MULTICAST  MTU:1492  Metrika:1
          RX packets:1419 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:1249 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 délka odchozí fronty:1000 
          RX bytes:1600200 (1.5 Mb)  TX bytes:221032 (215.8 Kb)
          Přerušení:10 Vstupně/Výstupní port:0x2000 
lo        Link encap:Místní smyčka  
          inet adr:127.0.0.1 Maska:255.0.0.0
          inet6-adr: ::1/128 Rozsah:Počítač
          AKTIVOVÁNO SMYČKA BĚŽÍ  MTU:16436  Metrika:1
          RX packets:38 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:38 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 délka odchozí fronty:0 
          RX bytes:2340 (2.2 Kb)  TX bytes:2340 (2.2 Kb)
==================================================================================================================
*** ping tests
Ping of 195.135.220.3 OK
Ping of www.suse.de OK
==================================================================================================================
*** dhcpcd-test
==================================================================================================================
*** lspci
02:0b.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Marvell W8300 802.11 Adapter [11ab:1fa6] (rev 07)
02:0c.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ [10ec:8139] (rev 10)
==================================================================================================================
*** lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 046d:c016 Logitech, Inc. M-UV69a/HP M-UV96 Optical Wheel Mouse
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
==================================================================================================================
*** hwinfo (filtered)
22: PCI 20b.0: 0200 Ethernet controller
  Model: "Marvell W8300 802.11 Adapter"
  Vendor: pci 0x11ab "Marvell Technology Group Ltd."
  Device: pci 0x1fa6 "Marvell W8300 802.11 Adapter"
  SubVendor: pci 0x1043 "ASUSTeK Computer Inc."
  SubDevice: pci 0x138f 
23: PCI 20c.0: 0200 Ethernet controller
  Model: "Realtek RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+"
  Vendor: pci 0x10ec "Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd."
  Device: pci 0x8139 "RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+"
  SubVendor: pci 0x10ec "Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd."
  SubDevice: pci 0x8139 
  Driver: "8139too"
  Driver Modules: "8139too"
  Device File: eth0
  Link detected: yes
    Driver Status: 8139too is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe 8139too"
    Driver Status: 8139cp is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe 8139cp"
==================================================================================================================
*** lsmod # (filtered)
| ac97_bus        | af_packet       | ahci            | ata_piix        | crc16            |
| drm_kms_helper  | drm             | edd             | ehci_hcd        | emu10k1_gp       |
| floppy          | fuse            | hid             | hwmon           | intel_agp        |
| iTCO_vendor_support| iTCO_wdt        | i2c_algo_bit    | i2c_core        | i2c_i801         |
| jbd2            | libata          | mperf           | pci_hotplug     | ppdev            |
| radeon          | scsi_mod        | sd_mod          | sg              | shpchp           |
| snd_ac97_codec  | snd_emux_synth  | snd_emu10k1_synth| snd_emu10k1     | snd_hwdep        |
| snd_rawmidi     | snd_seq_device  | snd_seq_midi_emul| snd_seq_midi    | snd_seq_virmidi  |
| snd_util_mem    | sr_mod          | thermal_sys     | thermal         | ttm              |
| uhci_hcd        | 8139cp          | 8139too         |
==================================================================================================================
*** cat /etc/sysconfig/network/ifcfg-[earwd]*
--- /etc/sysconfig/network/ifcfg-eth0
BOOTPROTO='dhcp'
BROADCAST=''
ETHTOOL_OPTIONS=''
IPADDR=''
MTU=''
NAME='RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+'
NETMASK=''
NETWORK=''
REMOTE_IPADDR=''
STARTMODE='auto'
USERCONTROL='no'
==================================================================================================================
*** iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.
eth0      no wireless extensions.
==================================================================================================================
*** Actual date for bias of following greps
02:05:01 2010-06-27
==================================================================================================================
*** grep -i radio /var/log/messages* | tail -n 5
==================================================================================================================
*** dmesg | grep -i radio | tail -n 5
==================================================================================================================
*** tail -n 300 /var/log/messages* | /bin/grep -i firmware | tail -n 5
Jun 27 02:09:20 linux-yvp9 sudo:    ladas : TTY=pts/2 ; PWD=/home/ladas ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/zypper se firmware
Jun 27 02:15:21 linux-yvp9 sudo:    ladas : TTY=pts/2 ; PWD=/home/ladas ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware
Jun 27 02:16:35 linux-yvp9 kernel:   997.054439] Broadcom 43xx driver loaded  Features: PMLS, Firmware-ID: FW13 ]
Jun 27 02:18:13 linux-yvp9 kernel:  1094.637000] Broadcom 43xx-legacy driver loaded  Features: PLID, Firmware-ID: FW10 ]
Jun 27 02:00:30 linux-yvp9 kernel:    31.667209] platform radeon_cp.0: firmware: requesting radeon/R300_cp.bin
==================================================================================================================
*** ls /lib/firmware/*
| acenic                  | adaptec                 | advansys                | agere_ap_fw.bin          |
| agere_sta_fw.bin        | aica_firmware.bin       | ar9170-1.fw             | ar9170-2.fw              |
| ar9271.fw               | asihpi                  | ath3k-1.fw              | av7110                   |
| bnx2                    | bnx2x-e1h-4.8.53.0.fw   | bnx2x-e1h-5.2.7.0.fw    | bnx2x-e1-4.8.53.0.fw     |
| bnx2x-e1-5.2.7.0.fw     | b43                     | b43legacy               | cis                      |
| cpia2                   | cxgb3                   | dabusb                  | digiface_firmware.bin    |
| digiface_firmware_rev11.bin| dsp56k                  | dvb-fe-xc5000-1.6.114.fw| dvb-usb-dib0700-1.20.fw  |
| ea                      | edgeport                | emagic                  | emi26                    |
| emi62                   | emu                     | ess                     | e100                     |
| iwlwifi-1000-3.ucode    | iwlwifi-3945-2.ucode    | iwlwifi-4965-2.ucode    | iwlwifi-5000-1.ucode     |
| iwlwifi-5000-2.ucode    | iwlwifi-5150-2.ucode    | iwlwifi-6000-4.ucode    | i2400m-fw-usb-1.3.sbcf   |
| i2400m-fw-usb-1.4.sbcf  | kaweth                  | keyspan                 | keyspan_pda              |
| korg                    | libertas                | LICENCE.agere           | LICENCE.atheros_firmware |
| LICENCE.iwlwifi_firmware| LICENCE.i2400m          | LICENCE.libertas        | LICENCE.mwl8k            |
| LICENCE.qla2xxx         | LICENCE.ralink-firmware.txt| LICENCE.xc5000          | LICENSE.dib0700          |
| LICENSE.radeon_rlc      | matrox                  | microcode.dat           | mixart                   |
| multiface_firmware.bin  | multiface_firmware_rev11.bin| mwl8k                   | myricom                  |
| ositech                 | pcxhr                   | qlogic                  | ql2100_fw.bin            |
| ql2200_fw.bin           | ql2300_fw.bin           | ql2322_fw.bin           | ql2400_fw.bin            |
| ql2500_fw.bin           | radeon                  | rt2561.bin              | rt2561s.bin              |
| rt2661.bin              | rt2860.bin              | rt2870.bin              | rt73.bin                 |
| r128                    | sb16                    | slicoss                 | sun                      |
| sxg                     | tehuti                  | tigon                   | ttusb-budget             |
| usbdux                  | usbduxfast_firmware.bin | usbdux_firmware.bin     | vicam                    |
| vx                      | v4l-cx231xx-avcore-01.fw| v4l-cx23418-apu.fw      | v4l-cx23418-cpu.fw       |
| v4l-cx23418-dig.fw      | v4l-cx23885-avcore-01.fw| v4l-cx23885-enc.fw      | v4l-cx25840.fw           |
| yam                     | yamaha                  | 2.6.34-12-default       | 3com                     |
==================================================================================================================
*** ndiswrapper -l
No ndiswrapper module loaded
==================================================================================================================
*** Active processes
wpa_supplicant:NO knetworkmanager:NO nm-applet:YES
==================================================================================================================
*** egrep -i "persistent|networkmanager" /etc/sysconfig/network/config | grep -v "^#|^$"
NETWORKMANAGER="no"
==================================================================================================================
*** grep 'eth|ath|wlan|ra' /etc/udev/rules.d/*net_persistent* /etc/udev/rules.d/*persistent-net*
/etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules:SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="##:##:##:##:##:#1", ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1", KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth0"
==================================================================================================================
*** grep -r 'eth[0-10]|ath[0-10]|wlan[0-10]|ra[0-10]' /etc/modprobe.*
==================================================================================================================
*** iwlist scanning
No WLANs found
==================================================================================================================
*** NWElizaStates
IF:eth0 IM:1 DI:1 AP:0 FALON:1 NI:1 cNI:1 NDIS:0 IP6:0 KM:0 WLW:eth0 1 RTDT:SuSE 

On 07/06/2010 12:56 PM, hellgast wrote:
>
> I have to manually load b43 after run
> /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware, because script only download
> firmware not load b43 module. Asus wl-138g is bcm4138 chipset. I attach
> log from ./collectNWData.sh script:

The reason you had to manually load b43 is because you do not have a
Broadcom device.

> ==================================================================================================================
> *** lspci
> 02:0b.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Marvell Technology Group Ltd.
> Marvell W8300 802.11 Adapter [11ab:1fa6] (rev 07)

This device is your wireless. It does NOT have a built-in Linux driver. A
quick search shows that drivers for Linux are available, but quite old
(2006). As such, they are unlikely to build on current kernels without
considerable modification.

You have several options. (1) You can locate and build the driver despite
the above warning. There might be modified version that will build. (2) As
you have a 32-bit system, you can install the ndiswrapper package and use
the Windows driver. (3) You can replace that device with a PCI or USB unit
that works without any fiddling.

Thank you for your reply. my mistake, there are 2 versions of asus-wl138g wifi card, one with bcm4138 chipset and second with marvell W8300 chipset(mine). I will try ndiswrapper.

On 07/07/2010 03:16 AM, hellgast wrote:
>
> Thank you for your reply. my mistake, there are 2 versions of
> asus-wl138g wifi card, one with bcm4138 chipset and second with marvell
> W8300 chipset(mine). I will try ndiswrapper.

Some vendors change the chipset without changing the model number. That is
why we always ask for “lspci -nnk” output. The PCI scan does not lie.

Good luck with ndiswrapper.