Infamous BCM4306, everything else fails.

English Hardware
1

I’ve got an HP Pavillion ZE4800 with the bcm4306. (Opensuse 11.0). I’m pretty sure that I’ve gotten the correct fw files for it, (even switched to old bcm43xx-fwcutter to get the right files). Anyway, my wireless doesn’t show up in ifconig or YaST network devices. However, in Network Information, it does show up! The Section in hardware information is:

Bus:PCI
Class: (spec): Network Controller
Device ID (spec): 65767
Device ID: 82720
Device: BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller
Driver: b43-pci-bridge
Drivers
—Active: Yes
—modprobe: Yes
-----Modules
-------modprobe ssb (so i modprobed ssb, nothing happened)
Hwcfg Bus: pci
Kernel Driver: ssb (shouldn’t this be bcm43x or something?)
Model: (same as device)
Old Unique Key: xWSp.H9ia_GArW1
Revision: 2
Slot ID: 9
etc, etc…

What, if anything, should i do to get wireless? All the firmware files are in /lib/firmware, bcm43xx isn’t blacklisted anywhere, but it still doesn’t work!

Please note: I can’t get internet at all other than the wireless. The wired is screwed up.

2

You seen Larry’s stickie in the wireless section ? deals with this sort of problem

Andy

3

Yah, I have. And I followed the directions, but nothing worked. BTW, thanks for the immediate response!

4

post the output of

lspci -v

Andy

5

alrighty, here it is

lspci -v

00:00.0 Host bridge: ATI Technologies Inc AGP Bridge [IGP 320M] (rev 13)
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32
Memory at d4000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64]
Memory at d0400000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=4]
I/O ports at 8090 [disabled] [size=4]
Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 2.0
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-ati
Kernel modules: ati-agp

00:01.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc PCI Bridge [IGP 320M] (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 99
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=68
I/O behind bridge: 00009000-00009fff
Memory behind bridge: d0100000-d01fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: e0000000-efffffff
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:02.0 USB Controller: ALi Corporation USB 1.1 Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Pavilion ze4400 builtin USB
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
Memory at d0002000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: ohci_hcd
Kernel modules: ohci-hcd

00:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: ALi Corporation M5451 PCI AC-Link Controller Audio Device (rev 02)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Pavilion ze4400 builtin Audio
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 5
I/O ports at 8400 [size=256]
Memory at d0003000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: ALI 5451
Kernel modules: trident, snd-ali5451

00:07.0 ISA bridge: ALi Corporation M1533/M1535 PCI to ISA Bridge [Aladdin IV/V/V+]
Subsystem: ALi Corporation ALi M1533 Aladdin IV/V ISA Bridge
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 1
Kernel modules: alim7101_wdt, alim1535_wdt

00:08.0 Modem: ALi Corporation M5457 AC’97 Modem Controller (prog-if 00 [Generic])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Pavilion ze4400 builtin Modem Device
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 3
Memory at d0004000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4]
I/O ports at 8800 [size=256]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2

00:09.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation Device 00e7
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: b43-pci-bridge
Kernel modules: ssb

00:0a.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 0024
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 11
Memory at 48000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4]
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=05, sec-latency=176
Memory window 0: 40000000-43fff000 (prefetchable)
Memory window 1: 44000000-47fff000
I/O window 0: 00001000-000010ff
I/O window 1: 00001400-000014ff
16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001
Kernel driver in use: yenta_cardbus
Kernel modules: yenta_socket

00:10.0 IDE interface: ALi Corporation M5229 IDE (rev c4) (prog-if b0)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Pavilion ze4400 builtin IDE
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32
[virtual] Memory at 000001f0 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 000003f0 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]
[virtual] Memory at 00000170 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 00000370 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]
I/O ports at 8080 [size=16]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: pata_ali
Kernel modules: alim15x3, pata_ali

00:11.0 Bridge: ALi Corporation M7101 Power Management Controller [PMU]
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Pavilion ze4400
Flags: medium devsel
Kernel driver in use: ali1535_smbus
Kernel modules: alim7101_wdt, i2c-ali1535, i2c-ali15x3

00:12.0 Ethernet controller: National Semiconductor Corporation DP83815 (MacPhyter) Ethernet Controller
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Pavilion ze4400 builtin Network
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 90, IRQ 11
I/O ports at 8c00 [size=256]
Memory at d0005000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: natsemi
Kernel modules: natsemi

01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon Mobility U1 (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Pavilion ze4400 builtin Video
Flags: bus master, stepping, fast Back2Back, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 66, IRQ 10
Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256]
I/O ports at 9000 [size=256]
Memory at d0100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64]
Capabilities: [58] AGP version 2.0
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Kernel modules: radeonfb

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6

also, following larry’s guide, once I get to step 4, I have to stop, since iwconfig doesn’t list my device, so that was a no-go :frowning:

7

nickadeedoo wrote:
> alrighty, here it is

>> 00:09.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4306 802.11b/g
>> Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
>> Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation Device 00e7
>> Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
>> Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
>> Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
>> Kernel driver in use: b43-pci-bridge
>> Kernel modules: ssb[/size]

You may have a new variety of the BCM4306’s with an SPROM coding error in the
Bluetooth coexistence bit. Before we pursue this further, please provide the
output of the following:

dmesg | grep b43
sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan

To answer your earlier question, ssb is the driver for the PCI interface. Once
it loads, one of its componenents decides whether your device needs b43 or
b43legacy and loads it. That decision is based on the PHY revision, which is not
available until ssb is loaded.

Thanks,

Larry

8

First of all: w00t!! People want to help me!! (I love this place :))

Second of all:

output of # dmesg|grep b43:


b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_unregister
b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_free
b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_allocate
b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_register

output of # iwlist scan:
Code}
lo Interface doesn’t support scanning.

eth0 Interface doesn’t support scanning.

9

To answer your earlier question, ssb is the driver for the PCI interface. Once
it loads, one of its componenents decides whether your device needs b43 or
b43legacy and loads it. That decision is based on the PHY revision, which is not
available until ssb is loaded.

Ah, thanks!

10

nickadeedoo wrote:
> First of all: w00t!! People want to help me!! (I love this place :))
>
> Second of all:
>
> output of # dmesg|grep b43:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_unregister
> b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_free
> b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_allocate
> b43legacy: Unknown symbol rfkill_register

The module isn’t loading, which is why no wlan0. What is the history of your
kernel? It doesn’t look as if the configuration is correct, but I don’t know if
the fault lies with openSUSE, or somewhere else.

Larry

11

Hey Larry, I’m another noob struggling with an old laptop that has this infamous BCM4306 PCI card. (Running xfce and openSUSE 11.0).
I seem to have made it a bit further.

running iwlist, I get:

wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:18:01:E6:1C:AA
ESSID:“TORQUIST”
Mode:Master
Channel:4
Frequency:2.427 GHz (Channel 4)
Quality=80/100 Signal level=-48 dBm Noise level=-64 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:tsf=0000003ec1f7f155

running iwconfig I get:

new-host:/usr/sbin # iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

wmaster0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:“torquist”
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Tx-Power=27 dBm
Retry min limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr=2352 B
Encryption key:(not shown 'cause I’m parnoid)
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

Still no connection.:frowning:

12

The module isn’t loading, which is why no wlan0. What is the history of your
kernel? It doesn’t look as if the configuration is correct, but I don’t know if
the fault lies with openSUSE, or somewhere else.

Larry

Well, this is a clean install, I changed nothing. This is the default install from Suse 11. But I assume the configuration being wrong is probably my fault. I could reinstall then try again, if that would help.

13

nyq wrote:
> Hey Larry, I’m another noob struggling with an old laptop that has this
> infamous BCM4306 PCI card. (Running xfce and openSUSE 11.0).
> I seem to have made it a bit further.
>
> running iwlist, I get:
>
> wlan0 Scan completed :
> Cell 01 - Address: 00:18:01:E6:1C:AA
> ESSID:“TORQUIST”
> Mode:Master
> Channel:4
> Frequency:2.427 GHz (Channel 4)
> Quality=80/100 Signal level=-48 dBm Noise
> level=-64 dBm
> Encryption key:on
> Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
> 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36
> Mb/s
> 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
> Extra:tsf=0000003ec1f7f155
>
> running iwconfig I get:
>
> new-host:/usr/sbin # iwconfig
> lo no wireless extensions.
>
> eth0 no wireless extensions.
>
> wmaster0 no wireless extensions.
>
> wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:“torquist”
> Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412 GHz Access Point:
> Not-Associated
> Tx-Power=27 dBm
> Retry min limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr=2352 B
> Encryption key:(not shown 'cause I’m parnoid)
> 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

You shouldn’t hijack a thread, but we need to have you run the following commands:

dmesg | grep b43
/sbin/lspci -nnv

Post the complete output of the first command, and the section that describes
the BCM4306 from the second.

Larry

14

nickadeedoo wrote:
>
> Well, this is a clean install, I changed nothing. This is the default
> install from Suse 11. But I assume the configuration being wrong is
> probably my fault. I could reinstall then try again, if that would help.

No, the configuration is the one used to generate the kernel. As long as you
didn’t compile it yourself, it should be OK.

What is the output of then ‘uname -r’ command?

Larry

15

alright. uname -r gives me (I guess the kernel version):

2.6.25.5-1.1-default (I think it needs more #'s :D)

16

nickadeedoo wrote:
> alright. uname -r gives me (I guess the kernel version):
>
> 2.6.25.5-1.1-default (I think it needs more #'s :D)

Do you have Internet access while running Linux? If you do, you should use YaST
to update your system. The current kernel is 2.6.25.18-0.2-default.

Larry

17

No internet access at all on linux. But, on the same computer, I have windows XP running wireless perfectly. So if i can download a package or something, then i can save it on my linux partition.

18

nickadeedoo wrote:
> No internet access at all on linux. But, on the same computer, I have
> windows XP running wireless perfectly. So if i can download a package or
> something, then i can save it on my linux partition.

That makes it harder, but download one of the following to your Linux partition:

http://download.opensuse.org/update/11.0/rpm/x86_64/kernel-default-2.6.25.18-0.2.x86_64.rpm

or

http://download.opensuse.org/update/11.0/rpm/i586/kernel-default-2.6.25.18-0.2.i586.rpm

Your choice depends on whether you have a 64- or 32-bit system. Then boot Linux
and in a terminal you need to enter the following command:

sudo rpm -Uv kernel-default-2.6.25.18-0.2.x86_64.rpm

If you have an i586 system, adjust the command appropriately. After you reboot,
‘uname -r’ should indicate 2.6.25.18-0.2-default.

Finally, do the ‘dmesg | grep b43’ again.

Larry

19

now HERE’s a problem. I accidentally forgot to do the -Uv option, and double-clicked on the i586 rpm (i have an x86 system), and it installed. Now when I booted, I get:

Booting ‘openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.18-0.2’
kernel root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_TOSHIBA_MK1031G_Z57H6673S-part3 resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent showopts vga=0x317

Error 1: Filename must be either an absolute pathname or blocklist

Press any key to continue…

Windows still boots fine.
Uh-oh :open_mouth:
The good news: We know the kernel version!

20

nickadeedoo wrote:
> now HERE’s a problem. I accidentally forgot to do the -Uv option, and
> double-clicked on the i586 rpm (i have an x86 system), and it installed.
> Now when I booted, I get:
>> Booting ‘openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.18-0.2’
>> kernel root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_TOSHIBA_MK1031G_Z57H6673S-part3
>> resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent showopts vga=0x317
>>
>> Error 1: Filename must be either an absolute pathname or blocklist
>>
>> Press any key to continue…

Between “kernel” and “root” should be the file name for the new kernel. In the
file /boot/grub/menu.lst, the stanza for your kernel should be

title openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.18-0.2
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.18-0.2-default
root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_TOSHIBA_MK1031G_Z57H6673S-part3 resume=/dev/sda2
splash=silent showopts vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.18-0.2-default

The stuff from “kernel” through to “0x317” should all be on one line. The above
assumes that you do not have /boot on a separate partition.

If the above doesn’t work, please post the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst from
your Linux partition, and the directory contents of /boot.

Larry