Fresh 13.2 install with Broadcom driver fails to scan for networks

Dell Latitude E6420
Broadcom “BCM43228”
OpenSUSE 13.2 GNOME (64 bit)
Packages installed: broadcom-wl, broadcom-wl-kpm-desktop, b43-firmware

Hello everyone,

I’ve installed a fresh install of OpenSUSE 13.2 through the GNOME live CD and updated/patched the machine. I was using a wired connection for the updates/patches, but I am currently trying to get my onboard Broadcom “BCM43228” to work. I installed two packages, broadcom-wl, and broadcom-wl-kpm-desktop, which enabled OpenSUSE to recognize my device, but did not enable the device to scan. I am using the NetworkManager applet through GNOME to configure my network settings and have not messed with any YaST settings. I read some people recommending installing the b43-firmware package, but I have not noticed a difference between having it installed and not having it installed. The only thing interesting about this problem is that I had the Wifi fully working on the exact hardware, just on another HDD (which I had to replace). And my hardware switch for Wifi is NOT off.

So essentially, Opensuse recognizes my onboard Wifi but fails to scan for networks.

Now lets get some terminal outputs going


nick@linux:~> uname -a
Linux linux.site 3.16.7-21-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT Tue Apr 14 07:11:37 UTC 2015 (93c1539) x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux


nick@linux:~> sudo ifconfig
eno1      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 5C:26:0A:7C:32:32  
          inet addr:192.168.0.5  Bcast:192.168.0.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::5e26:aff:fe7c:3232/64 Scope:Link
          inet6 addr: 2605:e000:8a98:2900:5e26:aff:fe7c:3232/64 Scope:Global
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:220435 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:96536 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:277686903 (264.8 Mb)  TX bytes:10694648 (10.1 Mb)
          Interrupt:20 Memory:e2e00000-e2e20000 


lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:65536  Metric:1
          RX packets:69 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:69 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:7150 (6.9 Kb)  TX bytes:7150 (6.9 Kb)


wlp2s0    Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr E4:D5:3D:63:13:84  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:10
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
          Interrupt:17
 

nick@linux:~> sudo iwconfig
wlp2s0    IEEE 802.11abg  ESSID:off/any  
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=200 dBm   
          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          
eno1      no wireless extensions.


lo        no wireless extensions.




nick@linux:~> sudo lspci -knn...

02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM43228 802.11a/b/g/n [14e4:4359]    Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1530 Half-size Mini PCIe Card [1028:0011]
    Kernel driver in use: wl
    Kernel modules: bcma, wl


nick@linux:~> /usr/sbin/rfkill list
0: dell-wifi: Wireless LAN
    Soft blocked: no
    Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
    Soft blocked: no
    Hard blocked: no


nick@linux:~> sudo iwlist scan 
wlp2s0    No scan results


eno1      Interface doesn't support scanning.


lo        Interface doesn't support scanning.

Any help will be appreciated and I am prepared to provide anymore information if necessary. Thank you.

Especially if it was working when you had the same version openSUSE running on a different HDD,

You may need an update…

While you have a wired Internet connection, run the following

zypper up

TSU

Thank you for the response!

Although I did have an update, it looks like it was nothing relevant to my wireless.

I also noticed that I am posting in Network/Internet and not the Wireless forum. Should I repost this there, or will this forum be okay?

I read some people recommending installing the b43-firmware package, but I have not noticed a difference between having it installed and not having it installed.

The firmware package is only relevant to those using the open source broadcom driver, not for hardware using the ‘wl’ driver.