Another "wireless not working" problem

English Network/Internet
#1

Boy do I need help on this one.

OK…I’ll be much more specific. I’ve have a dual boot Fujitsu Siemens Laptop (XP, Partition 1 & Novell SLED, Partion 2). The wired ethernet connection works fine and I can access the internet. However problems occur when I try to use the wirelss connection which otherwise works fine under XP.

Here are some details of the problem:

  1. Make and model of the wireless device:
    00:0b.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4303 802.11b Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)

  2. Driver version in use - Copied from the Windows system directory to a linux directory in an earlier attempt to sort this out. However I do not know where it is currently installed
    bcmwl5.inf

  3. Linux Kernel & Novell SLED version:
    Linux version 2.6.16.27-0.6-smp
    Novell SLED 10.2

  4. Error messages - None that I can see or work out

  5. What have i done to rectify this problem:
    First up. I made sure NDIS Wrapper was installed. I installed the version that came with the distro via YAST
    ndiswrapper-kmp-smp 1.10_2.6 16 21_0.8-19.2 i586
    I’ve deleted and reinstalled the WLAN 0 interface via YAST

  6. I’ve run the following commands (logged in as root su. Output is listed:

linux-u4t1:/home/nevski # lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 645xx (rev 51)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS AGP Port (virtual PCI-to-PCI bridge)
00:02.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS963 [MuTIOL Media IO] (rev 14)
00:02.1 SMBus: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS961/2 SMBus Controller
00:02.3 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] FireWire Controller
00:02.5 IDE interface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE]
00:02.6 Modem: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] AC’97 Modem Controller (rev a0)
00:02.7 Multimedia audio controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] AC’97 Sound Controller (rev a0)
00:03.0 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 0f)
00:03.1 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 0f)
00:03.2 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 0f)
00:03.3 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0 Controller
00:04.0 Ethernet controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet (rev 91)
00:09.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ711M1/MC1 4-in-1 MemoryCardBus Controller (rev 20)
00:09.1 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ711M1/MC1 4-in-1 MemoryCardBus Controller (rev 20)
00:09.2 System peripheral: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ711Mx 4-in-1 MemoryCardBus Accelerator
00:0b.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4303 802.11b Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV350 [Mobility Radeon 9600 M10]

dmesg | less

Having run the above command this is the output pertaining to the wireless driver and ndis wrapper. I see no reference to the chipset e.g.
04:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11a/b/g (rev 01) - taken from “My wireless does’nt work primer”

ndiswrapper: module not supported by Novell, setting U taint flag.
ndiswrapper version 1.10 loaded (preempt=no,smp=yes)
device-mapper: 4.5.0-ioctl (2005-10-04) initialised: dm-devel@redhat.com
dm-netlink version 0.0.2 loaded
ndiswrapper: driver bcmwl5 (Broadcom,12/29/2002, 3.10.36.0) loaded
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:0b.0[A] -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 177
ndiswrapper: using irq 177
wlan0: vendor: ‘’
wlan0: ndiswrapper ethernet device 00:90:4b:18:26:c9 using driver bcmwl5, 14E4:4301.5.conf
ndiswrapper (set_auth_mode:694): setting auth mode to 3 failed (C0010015)
wlan0: encryption modes supported: none

These are the wireless devices this command found.

linux-u4t1:/home/nevski # iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11b ESSID:off/any
Mode:Ad-Hoc Frequency:2.462 GHz Cell: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:11 Mb/s Tx-Power:14 dBm
RTS thr:2347 B Fragment thr:2346 B
Encryption key:off
Power Management:off
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

sit0 no wireless extensions.

The cell I wish to connect to is IGLOO45
linux-u4t1:/home/nevski # iwlist scan
lo Interface doesn’t support scanning.

eth0 Interface doesn’t support scanning.

wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:18:4D:AB:FB:D4
ESSID:“IGLOO45”
Protocol:IEEE 802.11b
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality:0/100 Signal level:-56 dBm Noise level:-256 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
Cell 02 - Address: 00:14:7F:46:BE:50
ESSID:“BTHomeHub-929E”
Protocol:IEEE 802.11b
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.442 GHz (Channel 7)
Quality:0/100 Signal level:-79 dBm Noise level:-256 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0

sit0 Interface doesn’t support scanning.

Things I’d have’nt tried:

I have downloaded the newest version of NDIS Wrapper 1.53.tar.gz
however I have no idea how to de-install the old one and install this version.

Upgraded the firmware. I have no idea whether I should do this (I don’t want to mess up my XP wirelss connection) or how !

My thoughts on this:
From these last two commands clearly, despite ndiswrapper and the device driver loading ok, (or it seems) the chipset recieves broadcasts but does not associate with the cell.

I am very stuck at this point and can see no way forward (desperate plea) I would really appreciate some help.

Thanks

#2

Have you configured the device in YaST - network devices - network cards ? ( i think that’s where it is in sled,haven’t used sled myself )

Andy

#3

salsanev wrote:
> Boy do I need help on this one.
>
> OK…I’ll be much more specific. I’ve have a dual boot Fujitsu
> Siemens Laptop (XP, Partition 1 & Novell SLED, Partion 2). The wired
> ethernet connection works fine and I can access the internet. However
> problems occur when I try to use the wirelss connection which otherwise
> works fine under XP.
>
> Here are some details of the problem:
>
> 1. Make and model of the wireless device:
> 00:0b.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4303 802.11b
> Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
>
> 2. Driver version in use - Copied from the Windows system directory to
> a linux directory in an earlier attempt to sort this out. However I do
> not know where it is currently installed
> bcmwl5.inf
>
> 3. Linux Kernel & Novell SLED version:
> Linux version 2.6.16.27-0.6-smp
> Novell SLED 10.2
>
> 4. Error messages - None that I can see or work out
>
> 5. What have i done to rectify this problem:
> First up. I made sure NDIS Wrapper was installed. I installed the
> version that came with the distro via YAST
> ndiswrapper-kmp-smp 1.10_2.6 16 21_0.8-19.2 i586
> I’ve deleted and reinstalled the WLAN 0 interface via YAST

With a kernel this old - it predates any of the open-source drivers
for bcm43xx devices - you will need to use YaST.

> 6. I’ve run the following commands (logged in as root su. Output is
> listed:
>
> linux-u4t1:/home/nevski # lspci
> 00:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 645xx (rev 51)
> 00:01.0 PCI bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS AGP Port
> (virtual PCI-to-PCI bridge)
> 00:02.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS963 [MuTIOL
> Media IO] (rev 14)
> 00:02.1 SMBus: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS961/2 SMBus
> Controller
> 00:02.3 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] FireWire
> Controller
> 00:02.5 IDE interface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE]
> 00:02.6 Modem: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] AC’97 Modem Controller
> (rev a0)
> 00:02.7 Multimedia audio controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
> AC’97 Sound Controller (rev a0)
> 00:03.0 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0
> Controller (rev 0f)
> 00:03.1 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0
> Controller (rev 0f)
> 00:03.2 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0
> Controller (rev 0f)
> 00:03.3 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0
> Controller
> 00:04.0 Ethernet controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900
> PCI Fast Ethernet (rev 91)
> 00:09.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ711M1/MC1 4-in-1 MemoryCardBus
> Controller (rev 20)
> 00:09.1 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ711M1/MC1 4-in-1 MemoryCardBus
> Controller (rev 20)
> 00:09.2 System peripheral: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ711Mx 4-in-1 MemoryCardBus
> Accelerator
> 00:0b.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4303 802.11b
> Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
> 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV350 [Mobility
> Radeon 9600 M10]
>
>
> dmesg | less
>
> Having run the above command this is the output pertaining to the
> wireless driver and ndis wrapper. I see no reference to the chipset
> e.g.
> 04:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11a/b/g
> (rev 01) - taken from “My wireless does’nt work primer”

No built-in driver will recognize your device, thus no mention in dmesg.

> ndiswrapper: module not supported by Novell, setting U taint flag.
> ndiswrapper version 1.10 loaded (preempt=no,smp=yes)
> device-mapper: 4.5.0-ioctl (2005-10-04) initialised:
> dm-devel@redhat.com
> dm-netlink version 0.0.2 loaded
> ndiswrapper: driver bcmwl5 (Broadcom,12/29/2002, 3.10.36.0) loaded
> ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:0b.0[A] -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 177
> ndiswrapper: using irq 177
> wlan0: vendor: ‘’
> wlan0: ndiswrapper ethernet device 00:90:4b:18:26:c9 using driver
> bcmwl5, 14E4:4301.5.conf
> ndiswrapper (set_auth_mode:694): setting auth mode to 3 failed
> (C0010015)
> wlan0: encryption modes supported: none

I have no idea what encryption is supported by this old a copy of
ndiswrapper.

> These are the wireless devices this command found.
>
> linux-u4t1:/home/nevski # iwconfig
> lo no wireless extensions.
>
> eth0 no wireless extensions.
>
> wlan0 IEEE 802.11b ESSID:off/any
> Mode:Ad-Hoc Frequency:2.462 GHz Cell: Not-Associated
> Bit Rate:11 Mb/s Tx-Power:14 dBm
> RTS thr:2347 B Fragment thr:2346 B
> Encryption key:off
> Power Management:off
> Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
> Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
> Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0
>
> sit0 no wireless extensions.
>
> The cell I wish to connect to is IGLOO45
> linux-u4t1:/home/nevski # iwlist scan
> lo Interface doesn’t support scanning.
>
> eth0 Interface doesn’t support scanning.
>
> wlan0 Scan completed :
> Cell 01 - Address: 00:18:4D:AB:FB:D4
> ESSID:“IGLOO45”
> Protocol:IEEE 802.11b
> Mode:Managed
> Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
> Quality:0/100 Signal level:-56 dBm Noise
> level:-256 dBm
> Encryption key:on
> Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s
> Extra:bcn_int=100
> Extra:atim=0
> Cell 02 - Address: 00:14:7F:46:BE:50
> ESSID:“BTHomeHub-929E”
> Protocol:IEEE 802.11b
> Mode:Managed
> Frequency:2.442 GHz (Channel 7)
> Quality:0/100 Signal level:-79 dBm Noise
> level:-256 dBm
> Encryption key:on
> Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18
> Mb/s
> 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
> Extra:bcn_int=100
> Extra:atim=0
>
> sit0 Interface doesn’t support scanning.
>
>
> Things I’d have’nt tried:
>
> I have downloaded the newest version of NDIS Wrapper 1.53.tar.gz
> however I have no idea how to de-install the old one and install this
> version.
>
> Upgraded the firmware. I have no idea whether I should do this (I
> don’t want to mess up my XP wirelss connection) or how !

First of all, updating the firmware CANNOT have any effect on XP. The
Windows driver includes firmware, which is reloaded every time the
driver is restarted. Secondly, no open-source driver will work, thus
the existence of Broadcom firmware in /lib/firmware is irrelevant.

> My thoughts on this:
> From these last two commands clearly, despite ndiswrapper and the
> device driver loading ok, (or it seems) the chipset recieves broadcasts
> but does not associate with the cell.
>
> I am very stuck at this point and can see no way forward (desperate
> plea) I would really appreciate some help.

I know nothing of network connection mechanisms in SLED, but I’m
pretty sure it will require using the ifup mechanism, which means that
/etc/sysconfig/ifcfg-wlan0 will be important.

Larry

#4

Hi Andy

Thanks for getting back to me. To answer your question. Yes, I have tried setting it up in YAST. I have deleted the WAN 0 interface then reenabled it again. All with no luck. However, lately my system has thrown up a window called “unlock keyring”
This asks me to “Enter a password for default key ring to unlock”, it goes on to say "The application nm-applet (/usr/bin/nm-applet) wants access to the default key ring, but is locked. I don’t believe I’ve set a password for this and have’nt a clue as to want process or subsystem is requesting a password

Any thoughts.

Thanks

Nev

#5

Thanks for your reply Larry.

I suspected that I had some old software. Do you have any suggestions as to what I can do. Upgrade my OS to one with a more recent kernel, Or upgrae NDIS Wrapper ?? What do I do with this command /etc/sysconfig/ifcfg-wlan0. I’m a Linux newbie !!!

Thanks

Nev

#6

salsanev wrote:
> Thanks for your reply Larry.
>
> I suspected that I had some old software. Do you have any suggestions
> as to what I can do. Upgrade my OS to one with a more recent kernel, Or
> upgrae NDIS Wrapper ?? What do I do with this command
> /etc/sysconfig/ifcfg-wlan0. I’m a Linux newbie !!!

That is not a command, it is a file.

I would upgrade to a more recent kernel. If you were to install
2.6.26, your device would be controlled by the b43legacy driver and
you would never need to mess around with ndiswrapper again.

Larry