eMachine e525: BCM4312 - AR8132 wireless problem

English Network/Internet
1

My notebook wireless doesn’t work.
I’ve an eMachine e525 and I’d like to install openSUSE 11.2.

With GNOME hardware information I saw that I’ve this:

  • BCM4312 802.11 b/g
    kernel driver: ssb

  • Atheros AR8132/L1c Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (eth0)
    kernel driver: atl1c

From GNOME terminal i’ve typed:

  • ‘/sbin/lspci’ with this results
    04:00.0 Network controller: Broadcon Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g (rev 01)
    05:00.0 Ethernet controller: Attansic Technology Corp. Atheros AR8132 / L1c Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (rev c0)

  • ‘/usr/sbin/iwconfig’ with this results
    lo no wireless extensions.
    eth0 no wireless extensions.

  • ‘sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan’ with this results
    lo Interface doesn’t suppert scanning.
    eth0 Interface doesn’t suppert scanning.

What can I do for my wireless connection?
Please help me!!!

2

Although you did not include the PCI ID’s for your device, I am quite certain it
is a 14e4:4315. You can confirm this with the command

/sbin/lspci -nnv | grep 14e4

You should see a line like

04:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g
[14e4:4315] (rev 01)

You have 3 options:

To run open-source software, you should install the Broadcom firmware with

sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware

and then install the compat-wireless package that matches your kernel.
Alternatively, you could download the kernel 2.6.32 sources and build that kernel.

For a closed-source solution, you can download the Broadcom-wl driver.

3

Yes my PCI ID’s is 14e4:4315.
If I type the command sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware I see that: b43 firmware successfully installed

But where is my kernel’s compat-wireless package?

4

On 01/22/2010 06:36 AM, NippoScanzanese wrote:
>
> Yes my PCI ID’s is 14e4:4315.
> If I type the command sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware I see
> that: b43 firmware successfully installed
>
> But where is my kernel’s compat-wireless package?

As you never said what kernel you are using, how can I know? Try Webpin.

5

So, I’ve tried to do all your solutions but that solutions are very difficul for me!

Typing ‘sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware’ it’s impossible because I don’t have internet connection and I can’t download the firmware.

I’ve downloaded the kernel 2.6.32 sources but I don’t know how built that kernel.

I’ve dowloaded the Broadcom-wl driver but what I’ve to do after?

PLease help me!

6

On 01/22/2010 10:36 AM, NippoScanzanese wrote:
>
> So, I’ve tried to do all your solutions but that solutions are very
> difficul for me!
>
> Typing ‘sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware’ it’s impossible
> because I don’t have internet connection and I can’t download the
> firmware.
>
> I’ve downloaded the kernel 2.6.32 sources but I don’t know how built
> that kernel.
>
> I’ve dowloaded the Broadcom-wl driver but what I’ve to do after?

If you don’t have an internet connection, how did you download the kernel sources?

To build the kernel, do the following:

\


tar jxvf linux-2.6.32.tar.bz2
cd linux-2.6.32
cp /proc/config.gz config.gz
gunzip config.gz
cp config .config
make xconfig

At this point, check under “Device Drivers” => “Network device support” =>
“Wireless LAN” => “Broadcom 43xx wireless support” and make certain that
“Support for low-power (LP PHY) devices” is checked.

Save the new configuration and then enter the command “make”. Once that
finishes, use the command “sudo make modules_install install”. Once that
completes, you can reboot. There will be a new entry in your GRUB menu.

Before the various “make” commands will work, you may have to install some
packages from the DVD.

Do NOT run as root when you build the kernel. This is very important!!!

If you do not have Internet access from Linux, you should download the file

http://mirror2.openwrt.org/sources/broadcom-wl-4.178.10.4.tar.bz2 by whatever
means you have, and copy it into your home directory.

You should then install the package “b43-fwcutter”, if not already available.

Then run the command


sudo b43-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware broadcom-wl-4.178.10.4/linux/wl_apsta.o

At this point, your should be able to configure your wireless.

7

Now I’ve internet connection with ethernet cable.

To built the kernel:
‘tar jxvf linux-2.6.32.tar.bz2
cd linux-2.6.32
cp /proc/config.gz config.gz
gunzip config.gz
cp config .config’

that’s OK!

I’ve problem at the ‘make’ instruction.

“Before the various “make” commands will work, you may have to install some
packages from the DVD.”??? What?

“Do NOT run as root when you build the kernel.”? How?

How to install the package “b43-fwcutter”?

8

On 01/22/2010 01:26 PM, NippoScanzanese wrote:
>
> Now I’ve internet connection with ethernet cable.
>
> To built the kernel:
> ‘tar jxvf linux-2.6.32.tar.bz2
> cd linux-2.6.32
> cp /proc/config.gz config.gz
> gunzip config.gz
> cp config .config’
>
> that’s OK!
>
> I’ve problem at the ‘make’ instruction.
>
> “Before the various “make” commands will work, you may have to install
> some
> packages from the DVD.”??? What?

Did make give you any problems? If packages are needed, then you can install
them with YaST. You do know how to do that? I said to use the DVD because you
said you did not have Internet in Linux. Now that you do, use ythe on-line
repositories.

> “Do NOT run as root when you build the kernel.”? How?

Run as a normal user.

> How to install the package “b43-fwcutter”?

Again using YaST.