openSUSE 12.1KDE: No wireless with Broadcom wl for Linksys WPC300N V1

Hello,

OpenSUSE 12.1 KDE 32BIT. My wireless adapter is Linksys WPC300N V1 PCMCIA card. I installed Broadcom wl driver via YAST Software Management (both files broadcom-wl and broadcom-wl-kmp-default). Still no wireless despite blinking LINK pilot light.


uname -r
3.1.10-1.9-default


lspci -nnk

0a:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4321 802.11b/g/n [14e4:4329] (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Linksys WPC300N v1 Wireless-N Notebook Adapter [1737:0058]
        Kernel driver in use: wl


iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth1      IEEE 802.11bgn  ESSID:""  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated   
          Bit Rate:130 Mb/s   Tx-Power:24 dBm   
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=5/5  Signal level=0 dBm  Noise level=0 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0


dmesg

13.941219] lib80211: common routines for IEEE802.11 drivers
   13.941224] lib80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'NULL'
   13.947894] wl: module license 'unspecified' taints kernel.
   13.947904] Disabling lock debugging due to kernel taint
   13.981249] wl 0000:0a:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
   13.981270] wl 0000:0a:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
   13.981284] wl 0000:0a:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
   14.150511] ifup[567]: Service network not started and mode 'auto' -> skipping
   14.163790] lib80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'TKIP'
   14.164512] eth1: Broadcom BCM4329 802.11 Hybrid Wireless Controller 5.100.82.112
   14.241682] ifup[602]: Service network not started and mode 'auto' -> skipping

I did blacklist b43 and ssb, as well as ath5k, the kernel driver of Atheros AR-5001 for built-in miniPCIe wireless G adapter.

I also noted that the LINK pilot light with wl installed is not as solid and steady as that exists when the default b43-pci-bridge kernel driver is in place. The latter exists prior to Broadcom wl being installed and YAST Software Management shows b43-fwcutter as installed. Since there is no wireless with b43-pci-bridge, I decided to try wl.

Any suggestions? Thank you.

Install rfkill

And check with

/usr/sbin/rfkill list

I think I’d have stuck with b43 unless Larry can confirm it’s a no go.

Hi,

Today I uninstalled b43-fwcutter and firmware-b43-installer. I decided to try the proprietary driver wl using jdmcdaniel3 (James)'s bash script called “install-wireless”, as shown in his Post#2 in this thread: http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/wireless/474876-still-stuck-after-installing-opensuse-12-1-due-broadcom-bcm4312-wpa.html.

Here’s partial output of the terminal:

This script file must find the files:

hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_112.tar.gz

in the /home/tt888/Downloads folder.

These files will be downloaded from the Broadcom Web Site if they do not exist
and you have a Wired network connection now. If you do not have these files
and no network connection, this installation script file will fail to work.

Do you wish to proceed with the install on your i686 system now (y/N)? y
asking libproxy about url ‘http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta//hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_112.tar.gz
libproxy suggest to use ‘direct://’
–2012-05-03 22:57:52-- http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta//hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_112.tar.gz
Resolving Broadcom.com - Home (Broadcom.com - Home)… 63.251.216.155
Connecting to Broadcom.com - Home (www.broadcom.com)|63.251.216.155|:80… connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response… 200 OK
Length: 1139221 (1.1M) [application/x-gzip]
Saving to: `hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_112.tar.gz’

100%====================================================================================>] 1,139,221 63.7K/s in 12s

2012-05-03 22:58:04 (93.9 KB/s) - `hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_112.tar.gz’ saved [1139221/1139221]

Are your ready to install:

hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_112.tar.gz

on to your computer now (y/N)?y
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/uname -r/build M=pwd clean
make[1]: Entering directory /usr/src/linux-3.1.10-1.9-obj/i386/default' Wireless Extension is the only possible API for this kernel version Using Wireless Extension API make[1]: Leaving directory /usr/src/linux-3.1.10-1.9-obj/i386/default’
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/uname -r/build M=pwd
make[1]: Entering directory /usr/src/linux-3.1.10-1.9-obj/i386/default' Wireless Extension is the only possible API for this kernel version Using Wireless Extension API LD /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/built-in.o CC [M] /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/src/shared/linux_osl.o CC [M] /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o CC [M] /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/src/wl/sys/wl_iw.o CC [M] /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.o LD [M] /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/wl.o WARNING: modpost: missing MODULE_LICENSE() in /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/wl.o see include/linux/module.h for more information Building modules, stage 2. Wireless Extension is the only possible API for this kernel version Using Wireless Extension API MODPOST 1 modules WARNING: modpost: missing MODULE_LICENSE() in /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/wl.o see include/linux/module.h for more information CC /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/wl.mod.o LD [M] /home/tt888/Downloads/hybrid_wl/wl.ko make[1]: Leaving directory /usr/src/linux-3.1.10-1.9-obj/i386/default’
root’s password:
cat: /etc/rc.local: No such file or directory
/home/tt888/bin/install-wireless: line 128: /etc/rc.local: Permission denied

Your Broadcom hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_112.tar.gz and files have been installed

James, could you comment on the last 2 lines above? I don’t quite understand!

Thank you.

Hello caf4926,

On April 29, I did check rfkill and found nothing was blocked.

So are you using ‘wl’ or ‘b43’ now?

There is NEVER a need to uninstall b43-fwcutter for any reason.

If you do not wish to use b43 and select wl instead, you should blacklist ssb
and b43. The advantage of keeping the firmware around is that you can switch b43
on by unloading wl and loading b43. When you update the kernel, and wl is not
available, you can still use b43.

Thank you Larry for your words of wisdom, and I will keep these in mind.

@caf4926: I am using Broadcom wl. Anyway, still no wireless connection despite:


0a:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4321 802.11b/g/n [14e4:4329] (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Linksys WPC300N v1 Wireless-N Notebook Adapter [1737:0058]
        Kernel driver in use: wl


/usr/sbin/iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth1      IEEE 802.11bgn  ESSID:"snynhatrang"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: 00:1F:33:B4:E1:D8   
          Bit Rate=130 Mb/s   Tx-Power:24 dBm   
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=5/5  Signal level=-41 dBm  Noise level=-57 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0


sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan
lo        Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth0      Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth1      Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:1F:33:B4:E1:D8
                    ESSID:"snynhatrang"
                    Mode:Managed
                    Frequency:2.422 GHz (Channel 3)
                    Quality:5/5  Signal level:-40 dBm  Noise level:-92 dBm
                    IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
                        Group Cipher : TKIP
                        Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
                    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

   14.669955] wl: module license 'unspecified' taints kernel.
   14.669964] Disabling lock debugging due to kernel taint
   14.702656] wl 0000:0a:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
   14.702676] wl 0000:0a:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
   14.702690] wl 0000:0a:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
   14.955114] lib80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'TKIP'
   14.955744] eth1: Broadcom BCM4329 802.11 Hybrid Wireless Controller 5.100.82.112
   15.029270] ifup[625]: Service network not started and mode 'auto' -> skipping


/usr/sbin/rfkill list

This last command does not show anything, noting that rfkill is already installed. I also did blacklist ath5k, ssb and b43.

Any suggestion, gentlemen?

Hello,

I just took another look at James’ “install-wireless” script, and found the following typo “modeprobe” instead of “modprobe”:

if $(( Exit_Code )) -ge 1 ] ; then
sudo echo modeprobe wl >> /etc/rc.local

The part about the taint in the kernel is just to do with your using ‘wl’

Are you using network manager?

FYI: I’ve been recommending these: tenda-wireless-n150-usb-adapter-w311u

They just work and very quick too

Hello caf4926,

No, I am not using NM. I just checked YAST > Network Settings> ifup and the connection has NO subnet mask (255.255.255.0) at all. Instead, the Netmask field only has “/24”. I suspect this is related to the following portion of dmesg output:

355.288032] martian source 192.168.1.255 from 192.168.1.104, on dev eth0
355.288039] ll header: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:00:14:d1:c3:90:e3:08:00
355.290555] martian source 192.168.1.255 from 192.168.1.104, on dev eth1
355.290561] ll header: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:00:14:d1:c3:90:e3:08:00
376.839474] martian source 192.168.1.255 from 192.168.1.104, on dev eth0
376.839481] ll header: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:00:14:d1:c3:90:e3:08:00
376.841936] martian source 192.168.1.255 from 192.168.1.104, on dev eth1

The IP addresses following “martian source” is wrong.

I may look for another wireless adapter that works consistently in Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora and especially openSUSE.

Did you try Network Manager?

Hello everyone,

I finally did get wireless connection established! Not sure if any or all of the following steps help solves the problem:


#echo modprobe wl >> /etc/rc.local


#etc/init.d/network start
(Screen shows: "redirecting to systemctl"

  1. YAST > Network Settings > Enter HOST name in the first page (General or Overview) >Switch from ifup to Network Manager

  2. Unplug CAT5 cable

  3. Reboot

I still have the following 2 lines in dmesg, but they no longer concern me as long as wireless connection is established:


   13.704416] eth1: Broadcom BCM4329 802.11 Hybrid Wireless Controller 5.100.82.112
   13.772089] ifup[607]: Service network not started and mode 'auto' -> skipping

On 05/04/2012 01:46 AM, taytong888 wrote:
>
> Hello caf4926,
>
> No, I am not using NM. I just checked YAST> Network Settings> ifup
> and the connection has NO subnet mask (255.255.255.0) at all. Instead,
> the Netmask field only has “/24”.

The /24 is shorthand for 24 bits of ones from the left. If you count them (255
== 8 bits), that is identical with 255.255.255.0.

Hi caf4926,

Yes I did. See my Post#12, Item 3.