Broadcom Drivers and Firmware, 11.4 M5

[yoyomc]

Sorry for my lack of precision, not “documentation”, but on the web on article linked to this new release.

It is difficult for me to create a similar package.

Is it a better solution to install OpenSUSE 11.3, to fix this wifi problem (the kernel version is ok with the 11.3), then to update to the 11.4 in the next future ?

Thanks

[lwfinger]

On 01/06/2011 04:06 PM, yoyomc wrote:
>
> Sorry for my lack of precision, not “documentation”, but on the web on
> article linked to this new release.

Once 11.4 gets released in March, then Packman will have drivers built for
Broadcom devices like yours. Note that the wl driver is not open-source and is
not licensed for openSUSE to distribute it. Packman is outside the normal
distribution and is setup to provide these things that are impossible under the
“open” restrictions of openSUSE.

> It is difficult for me to create a similar package.

It isn’t that difficult.

> Is it a better solution to install OpenSUSE 11.3, to fix this wifi
> problem (the kernel version is ok with the 11.3), then to update to the
> 11.4 in the next future ?

If you are unable/unwilling to compile your own driver, then the answer is yes.

[pistazienfresser]

@lwfinger

On 01/06/2011 11:06 AM, yoyomc wrote:
…]
> I have some issue with my wifi connection due to my broadcom card:
> BCM4322
>
…]
> linux-ayw1:/home/yoyo # /sbin/lspci
> 0c:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4322 802.11a/b/g/n
> Wireless LAN Controller (rev 01)
>
…]
> linux-ayw1:/home/yoyo # /sbin/lspci -n
> 0c:00.0 0280: 14e4:432b (rev 01)
>
>
> linux-ayw1:/home/yoyo # dmesg
> 8.474305] b43-phy0: Broadcom 4322 WLAN found (core revision 16)
> 8.520190] b43-phy0 ERROR: FOUND UNSUPPORTED PHY (Analog 8, Type 4,
> Revision 4)
> 8.520231] b43: probe of ssb0:0 failed with error -95
> 8.520255] Broadcom 43xx driver loaded Features: PMLS,
> Firmware-ID: FW13 ]

The Broadcom 802.11n devices, including your BCM4322, will not be supported by
b43 until kernel 2.6.38, which is why you get the “UNSUPPORTED PHY” message.
That kernel will not be in openSUSE until the release AFTER 11.4. You need to
install the Broadcom wl hybrid driver from the Packman repository. The necessary
packages are “broadcom-wl” and “broadcom-wl-kmp-XXXXX”, where XXXXX is
“default”, “pae”, “xen”, or “desktop”, depending on which kernel you run.

I also have a BCM4322 and I am running a 2.6.37 kernel from the wireless-testing
git tree that has the latest b43 code. In fact, I am connected with it right
now, and it never loses the connection. The main problems are that OFDM rates
are not yet implemented, thus the transmission rates cannot exceed 11 Mb/s, and
the device has trouble connecting with WPA/WPA2 encryption. I think I know the
reason for the failure of OFDM rates - that should soon be fixed, and I think
that will also fix the WPA/WPA2 difficulties.

TO: Broadcom WLAN Chip funktioniert nicht

@lwfinger/Larry:
14e4:432b] still needs the wl driver (installation and experience discribed in Install Broadcom Drivers from Packman ), or?
I have a German writing user and would like to try to set him on the right way.
(And I do not think that I should tell him to use a new kernel. )

Regards
Martin
(pistazienfresser)

[lwfinger]

On 03/17/2011 03:06 PM, pistazienfresser wrote:
> TO: ‘Broadcom WLAN Chip funktioniert nicht’
> (http://tinyurl.com/4e72kr2)
>
> @lwfinger/Larry:
> ‘14e4:432b’ (http://forums.opensuse.org/tags/14e4%3A432b.html)] still
> needs the wl driver (installation and experience discribed in ‘Install
> Broadcom Drivers from Packman’ (http://tinyurl.com/4z5jmq2) ), or?
> I have a German writing user and would like to try to set him on the
> right way.
> (And I do not think that I should tell him to use a new kernel. )

That is correct. With 11.5, installing firmware will allow the 14e4:432b to work
with b43. BTW, we are now transmitting with rates higher than 11 Mb/s.

[pistazienfresser]

Thanks for the confirmation (and surely for your working on the FOSS drivers).
Martin