On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:56:03 GMT
zappedback <zappedback@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:
>
> No help well im off to try another Linux distro i hope SUSE 11.1 fixes
> the network problems that stop suse from being a better and easier to
> use Linux.
>
>
You barely gave us any information about your system, your network device, or
your current setup.
What network device do you have?
What is its CURRENT setup?
IP addres, netmask, routing, dns… so forth
Yes, this could be a huge issue that stops the world turning and prevents
suse from being a better and easier-to-use linux… But I’m of the belief
that if it doesn’t work in suse, it might not work in another distro either.
From my experience (I have a little)… MOST things work in suse. SOME
things require a little more attention during setup to make them work.
From your initial posting, you’re using a device with the BCM43xx chipset.
This chipset requires that you download and install the firmware it needs to
work. Otherwise… nothing works.
This problem will plague you in almost ANY other distro you try…
From the notes posted here:
http://en.opensuse.org/HCL/Network_Adapters_(Wireless)
About 1/4 the way down, it lists bcm43xx… and gives this note:
11.0 Native kernel driver. First check if b43-fwcutter is installed, if not
install it, then run as root the included script: install_bcm43xx_firmware
from the /usr/sbin directory. You have to be already connected to the
Internet to run the script. Restart your system to load the driver.
A bit terse, but succinct. If you were to read the documentation on
http://forums.opensuse.org/network-internet/wireless/385856-additional-wireless-bits.html
You’d find some help there too for the Broadcom chipsets
Another page dedicated to making the bcm43xx chips work with linux:
http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43
Tends to be generic, but good information.
Considering that you’re using openSUSE 11.0… this makes things a little
easier, as many of the bcm43xx firmware files needed are NOW included in a
secondary repository, but not installed by default.
I’ll paraphrase the instructions found elsewhere:
Please make sure the Packman repository is installed. To do this, start the
YaST setup program, then click the following: (you can skip part of this if
you’ve got the Packman repo installed already)
- Software Management (new window opens, wait while it updates)
- click on ‘Repositories’ (top menu) and select ‘Repository Manager’
- click on ‘Add’, select ‘Community Repositories’, and ‘Next’
- Wait for some processing and retrieval of new repo lists
- Look through list, select the ‘Packman Repository’, click ‘OK’
There are many available, please consult the gurus on the
forums to see which are helpful, and which might not be.
- some more processing and downloading of repo file lists. Will
likely need to accept one or two signing keys.
- you’re returned to Repository Manager main list, click “Ok”
- you’re returned to the Software Management screen
Now that the Packman repo is installed, search and install the firmware
files. Start the YaST setup program and ‘Software Management’ module if not
already there from previous steps.
- in the ‘Search’ box, type ‘b43’, click ‘Search’.
- Click in boxes to select ‘b43’ and ‘b43legacy’
- click ‘Accept’, bottom right.
- if another window pops up with ‘these files are needed too’,
click ‘OK’ to acknowledge this.
- Say ‘No’ to ‘install more software’ query.
This installs the firmware files needed to make your wireless work.
This should be all you need. Shutdown and restart your system, and see if
your wireless works now. You may need to set it up in the YaST network
devices -> network settings modules, or the GUI based network-manager
application (look in the ‘tray’ near the clock)
A simple command to scan for wireless networks and test if card is working is:
sudo iwlist scan
Which should show you any wireless networks broadcasting around you.
{if you get ‘network is down’, type ‘sudo ifconfig wlan0 up’, then try again.
I hope it’s called ‘wlan0’, could be otherwise, but it’s not ‘eth0’ or ‘lo’,
adjust as needed}
Please be aware that while network-manager works well, the GUI interfaces
(knetwork-manager and others) sometimes have trouble connecting first time
around. keep trying. I’ve heard that this is fixed in newer updates.
If this does not help at all, please search the forums for bcm43 or broadcom,
or the make/model of your wireless card. I was able to glean some
information from the meager post you made, but more information will help us
help you.
Other solutions involve using ‘b43-fwcutter’ which extracts the firmware
files (from other sources) so that the card works. This should be
depreciated now that the b43/b43legacy packages are available. (b43-fwcutter
is also available via yast, you likely saw it during the search and install
above)
Hope this helps
Loni
–
L R Nix
lornix@lornix.com