Dell Studio 1735 w/BCM4312 WEP connect fails

Hi All;

Dell Studio 1735 w/BCM4312 WEP fails to connect even though I’m using the 10 character HEX key. It connects fine when there’s no security on my Linksys WRT310N router. Ubuntu, Windows 7, my Samsung TV and TiVo all connect fine with the 10 character HEX key, but with opensuse 11.4 I can’t connect.

lspci -nnk tells me I've got:
0c:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card [1028:000c]
        Kernel driver in use: wl

ifconfig tells me:
eth1      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:22:5F:29:B1:3A  
          inet6 addr: fe80::222:5fff:fe29:b13a/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:121
          TX packets:6 errors:6 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)  TX bytes:2100 (2.0 Kb)
          Interrupt:17 Base address:0xc000 

iwlist scan tells me:
eth1      Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:22:6B:4B:F2:27
                    ESSID:"Call 210-377-2942"
                    Mode:Managed
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Quality:5/5  Signal level:-41 dBm  Noise level:-92 dBm
                    IE: Unknown: DD6F0050F204104A00011010440001021041000100103B000103104700106AC061DEE5C69DB1FC90E86EA8CE6D2C102100074C696E6B737973102300075752543331304E102400063132333435361042000234321054000800060050F2040001101100075752543331304E100800020084
                    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; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s

"dmesg | grep firmware" lists nothing.

I installed b43-fwcutter and run /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware to no obvious benefit. I wonder if there’s anything that can be done?

I look forward to hearing any suggestions,
Dale E. Moore

Have you tried using WPA/WPA2 Personel? That is what I am using and it works just fine. I have openSUSE 11.4, KDE 4.6, am using Network Manager Widget and run KWallet to keep my network Pass Phrase. I know that changing the router security will require modifying all access, but you should not run with no security, ever. It is possible to compile/load the driver from Broadcom as well, as a last resort, but must uninstall your present wireless network (wl and just firmware only, nothing else) files first.

Unable to connect by wireless - Page 2

See message #13 in the above link. Try the different security first before doing anything else.

Thank You,

This certainly sounds like a good idea! But I’m sure I’m missing some pre-requisites for your install_wirelless script:

Are your ready to install: 

 hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz

 <and>

 5_100_82_38.patch

on to your computer now (y/N)?y
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd` clean
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.37.6-0.5-desktop/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [clean] Error 2
patching file src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd`
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.37.6-0.5-desktop/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [all] Error 2

The Compile Process Failed with exit code 2.

I hope to hear more of your thoughtful ideas!
Dale E. Moore

The problem lies in your encryption.
WEP would require you to use the complete key, which might be 128 charterers long

WPA is a much better choice any way and you just need a passphrase.

Thanks caf4926; I currently use a 10 character HEX key; I didn’t realize using a 128 character key was an option with my WEP.

The openSUSE drivers for my wireless NIC don’t include the WPA2-Personal (or any other WPA) option. I hope that jdmcdaniel3’s suggestion includes WPA2-Personal, but; so far I haven’t been able to install_wireless because of

make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.37.6-0.5-desktop/build: No such file or directory.

Do you know what needs to be installed to get past this error and do you expect that install_wireless will provide WPA2-Personal for my NIC?

You seemed to have the driver ‘wl’ in place!

This is the method I use
Install Broadcom Drivers from Packman

I’m certainly confused by your response caf4926; Are you saying that I shouldn’t listen to jdmcdaniel3 and that somehow if I “Install Broadcom Drivers from Packman” that WPA2-Personal will magically appear? Because that’s not been my experience so-far using wl.

Pardon me scratching my head looking confused,
Dale

What I am saying is. The code you posted, let me quote it:


0c:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)         Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card [1028:000c]         Kernel driver in use: wl

Tells me you have the driver in place.
WPA is nothing to do with installing the driver, it’s the type of encryption set in your router/access point. If your router/AP doesn’t support WPA, then you must use what you have available to you. If that is WEP, then you must use the complete hex key, which is probably 128 bit.

Post me the result of the following:

rpm -qa | grep broadcom
uname -a
rpm -qa | grep kernel
zypper lr -d

I’m still looking confused, but; happy to provide information…

RyCycle:/home/dalem # rpm -qa | grep -i broadcom
broadcom-wl-kmp-desktop-5.100.82.38_k2.6.37.6_0.5-7.pm.9.4.i586
broadcom-wl-5.100.82.38-7.pm.9.4.i586

RyCycle:/home/dalem # uname -a
Linux RyCycle.DaleHome 2.6.37.6-0.5-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2011-04-25 21:48:33 +0200 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

RyCycle:/home/dalem # rpm -qa | grep kernel
kernel-desktop-2.6.37.6-0.5.1.i586

RyCycle:/home/dalem # zypper lr -d
#  | Alias                                               | Name                                                | Enabled | Refresh | Priority | Type   | URI                                                                                                          | Service
---+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------+---------+---------+----------+--------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------
 1 | Updates-for-openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0                    | Updates for openSUSE 11.4 11.4-0                    | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /update/11.4](http://download.opensuse.org/update/11.4/)                                                                    |        
 2 | download.opensuse.org-Community                     | openSUSE BuildService - Mono:Community              | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /repositories/Mono:/Community/openSUSE_11.4](http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Mono:/Community/openSUSE_11.4/)                                     |        
 3 | download.opensuse.org-Wine                          | openSUSE BuildService - Wine CVS Builds             | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /repositories/Emulators:/Wine/openSUSE_11.4](http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Emulators:/Wine/openSUSE_11.4/)                                     |        
 4 | download.opensuse.org-database                      | openSUSE BuildService - Database                    | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /repositories/server:/database/openSUSE_11.4](http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/server:/database/openSUSE_11.4/)                                    |        
 5 | download.opensuse.org-openSUSE_11.4_Update_standard | openSUSE BuildService - Virtualization (VirtualBox) | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /repositories/Virtualization:/VirtualBox_backports/openSUSE_11.4_Update_standard](http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Virtualization:/VirtualBox_backports/openSUSE_11.4_Update_standard) |        
 6 | download.opensuse.org-standard                      | Main Repository (Contrib)                           | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /repositories/openSUSE:/11.4:/Contrib/standard](http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/openSUSE:/11.4:/Contrib/standard/)                                  |        
 7 | download.opensuse.org-webcam                        | openSUSE BuildService - Drivers for webcams         | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /repositories/drivers:/webcam/openSUSE_11.4](http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/drivers:/webcam/openSUSE_11.4/)                                     |        
 8 | google-chrome                                       | google-chrome                                       | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/rpm/stable/i386                                                            |        
 9 | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0                                | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0                                | Yes     | No      |   99     | yast2  | cd:///?devices=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-TSSTcorp_DVD+_-RW_TS-T633A,/dev/sr0                                       |        
10 | opensuse-guide.org-repo                             | libdvdcss repository                                | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://opensuse-guide.org/repo/11.4/                                                                         |        
11 | packman                                             | packman                                             | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /suse/openSUSE_11.4/](http://packman.inode.at/suse/openSUSE_11.4)                                                                   |        
12 | packman-essentials                                  | packman-essentials                                  | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /suse/Factory/Essentials/](http://packman.inode.at/suse/Factory/Essentials)                                                              |        
13 | packman-multimedia                                  | packman-multimedia                                  | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | [Index of /suse/openSUSE_11.4/Multimedia/](http://packman.inode.at/suse/openSUSE_11.4/Multimedia)                                                        |        
14 | repo-debug                                          | openSUSE-11.4-Debug                                 | No      | Yes     |   99     | NONE   | [Index of /debug/distribution/11.4/repo/oss](http://download.opensuse.org/debug/distribution/11.4/repo/oss/)                                               |        
15 | repo-debug-update                                   | openSUSE-11.4-Update-Debug                          | No      | Yes     |   99     | NONE   | [Index of /debug/update/11.4](http://download.opensuse.org/debug/update/11.4/)                                                              |        
16 | repo-non-oss                                        | openSUSE-11.4-Non-Oss                               | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | yast2  | [Index of /distribution/11.4/repo/non-oss](http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.4/repo/non-oss/)                                                 |        
17 | repo-oss                                            | openSUSE-11.4-Oss                                   | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | yast2  | [Index of /distribution/11.4/repo/oss](http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.4/repo/oss/)                                                     |        
18 | repo-source                                         | openSUSE-11.4-Source                                | No      | Yes     |   99     | NONE   | [Index of /source/distribution/11.4/repo/oss](http://download.opensuse.org/source/distribution/11.4/repo/oss/)

Is :

ESSID:“Call 210-377-2942” Your access point?

Are you telling me, that even using the complete WEP key, it doesn’t connect?

You must select the key option, not the passphrase option here:
SUSE Paste

Assume you know if you have 64 or 128

So, based on this message, perhaps you need the kernel source code to compile a new wireless driver.

Are your ready to install: 

 hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz

 <and>

 5_100_82_38.patch

on to your computer now (y/N)?y
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd` clean
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.37.6-0.5-desktop/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [clean] Error 2
patching file src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd`
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.37.6-0.5-desktop/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [all] Error 2

The Compile Process Failed with exit code 2.

You need to do the following:

Open YaST / Software / Software Management - Select the View Button on the top left and pick Patterns. Now, you will see several Patterns listed and you want to select:


   Development 

[X] Base Development
[X] Linux Kernel Development
[X] C/C++ Development

Then Press the Accept button on the bottom right and allow these applications to install.

Now I did indicate I would try to change my security setting first, before doing a driver compile.

Thank You,

Hi caf4926;

ESSID:“Call 210-377-2942” is my access point.

Thank you for clarifying that sometimes I was asked for passphrase and other times I was asked for key. I had entered the key, connected, powered down; then when I came back I couldn’t get back in - I was asked for passphrase. But, with your insight I realize it does always connect properly with my 128 key.

Thanks for taking the time and holding my hand!

During this process I became interested in WAP-Personal and since my router supports that I wonder if (as jdmcdaniel3 originally implied) WAP-Personal might be somehow available for my

0c:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card [1028:000c]

or is it likely that WAP-Personal is not available for my NIC. Do you have any thoughts on this matter?

Again, thanks for all your help!
Dale

It’s WPA not WAP
If the router supports it, use it. It’s much safer.
Once you switch the router to WPA, it uses a passphrase. You use that same passphrase in the networkmanager settings when connecting.
Obviously you have to manage your current connection and edit the Wireless Security section to WPA/WPA2-Personal and enter the passphrase you setup in the router. That’s it.

On 08/01/2011 11:36 PM, caf4926 wrote:
>
> It’s WPA not WAP
> If the router supports it, use it. It’s much safer.
> Once you switch the router to WPA, it uses a passphrase. You use that
> same passphrase in the networkmanager settings when connecting.
> Obviously you have to manage your current connection and edit the
> Wireless Security section to WPA/WPA2-Personal and enter the passphrase
> you setup in the router. That’s it.

Your NIC can handle it.

This error will go away once you install kernel-devel (kernel header)