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    Broadcom modules blues...

    I'm trying to configure a Broadcom PCI wireless device, Kubuntu Saucy, totally fresh install with repartitioned HDD.

    lspci | grep 43:
    Code:
    mmmmna@MCP61SM2MA-13:~$ lspci | grep Broadcom
    01:08.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
    mmmmna@MCP61SM2MA-13:~$
    I cannot install the proper Broadcom module as packaged.

    KDE shows no wireless internet connection until I insert a loaner USB device (an "SMC EZ Connect G", not using a Broadcom chipset, and not what I am trying to configure - this device works, but I want the internal PCI card to be the wifi device this system will use). With the SMC USB device, wireless works fine. I am posting using it.

    I tried installing the broadcom support over a week ago; sorry, I forget the details of what process I used, but today when I launched the Synaptic the package manager, I had an error message telling me that the BCM installation failed to complete, run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' and another sentence I've forgotten.

    Code:
    mmmmna@MCP61SM2MA-13:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
    Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.141+bdcom-0ubuntu1) ...
    Removing old bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...
    
    -------- Uninstall Beginning --------
    Module:  bcmwl
    Version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
    Kernel:  3.11.0-15-generic (i686)
    -------------------------------------
    
    Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.
    
    wl.ko:
     - Uninstallation
       - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.11.0-15-generic/updates/dkms/
     - Original module
       - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
       - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
    
    depmod....
    
    DKMS: uninstall completed.
    
    ------------------------------
    Deleting module version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
    completely from the DKMS tree.
    ------------------------------
    Done.
    Loading new bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...
    Building only for 3.11.0-15-generic
    Building for architecture i686
    Building initial module for 3.11.0-15-generic
    Done.
    
    wl:
    Running module version sanity check.
     - Original module
       - No original module exists within this kernel
     - Installation
       - Installing to /lib/modules/3.11.0-15-generic/updates/dkms/
    
    depmod....
    
    DKMS: install completed.
    Notice that there is no command prompt - the console never releases focus back to the user - I waited 30 minutes, no further activity on the screen. Control C will stop the process, but produces this error:
    Code:
    ^Cdpkg: error processing bcmwl-kernel-source (--configure):
     subprocess installed post-installation script was interrupted
    Errors were encountered while processing:
     bcmwl-kernel-source
    mmmmna@MCP61SM2MA-13:~$
    The Control C break also leaves me with the broadcom uninstalled. I repeated the sudo dpkg steps, and again, 30 minutes of unresponsive Konsole.

    I tried relaunching Synaptic, hoping to capture the rest of the error message, but it is no longer displayed. Also having problems with shutdown and restart - system no longer powers off (Kubuntu 11 worked fine with the Broadcom device and worked as expected for shutdown and restart, same exact hardware). I suspect these MIGHT be related, but I only want the wireless issue resolved at the moment.

    I apologize for the length, not sure what modules are needed for broadcom and wireless and whatnot:
    Code:
    mmmmna@MCP61SM2MA-13:~$ lsmod
    Module                  Size  Used by
    arc4                   12536  2 
    zd1211rw               57498  0 
    mac80211              517444  1 zd1211rw
    rfcomm                 53664  0 
    bnep                   18959  2 
    bluetooth             323656  10 bnep,rfcomm
    binfmt_misc            13140  1 
    nls_iso8859_1          12617  1 
    snd_hda_codec_hdmi     40373  1 
    ppdev                  17391  0 
    snd_hda_codec_realtek    45592  1 
    kvm_amd                50537  0 
    kvm                   368949  1 kvm_amd
    serio_raw              13189  0 
    k8temp                 12842  0 
    wl                   4162225  1 
    lib80211               14040  1 wl
    cfg80211              401762  3 wl,mac80211,zd1211rw
    snd_hda_intel          42658  5 
    snd_hda_codec         164003  3 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
    snd_hwdep              13272  1 snd_hda_codec
    snd_pcm                89488  3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
    snd_page_alloc         14230  2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
    snd_seq_midi           13132  0 
    snd_seq_midi_event     14475  1 snd_seq_midi
    snd_rawmidi            25094  1 snd_seq_midi
    parport_pc             31981  1 
    snd_seq                55383  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
    snd_seq_device         14137  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
    snd_timer              24447  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
    snd                    60790  21 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_midi
    soundcore              12600  1 snd
    i2c_nforce2            13037  0 
    mac_hid                13037  0 
    lp                     13299  0 
    parport                40795  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
    hid_generic            12492  0 
    usbhid                 47361  0 
    hid                    87370  2 hid_generic,usbhid
    usb_storage            48294  1 
    pata_acpi              12886  0 
    radeon               1307313  3 
    nouveau               839301  1 
    mxm_wmi                12893  1 nouveau
    wmi                    18590  2 mxm_wmi,nouveau
    video                  18777  1 nouveau
    sata_nv                23004  4 
    i2c_algo_bit           13197  2 radeon,nouveau
    ttm                    75982  2 radeon,nouveau
    drm_kms_helper         46867  2 radeon,nouveau
    drm                   242400  7 ttm,drm_kms_helper,radeon,nouveau
    forcedeth              62099  0 
    pata_amd               13761  0 
    mmmmna@MCP61SM2MA-13:~$
    I'm very certain that module wl is necessary, the zd1211rw is the module for the SMC USB wifi device that I need to return. Piping lsmod through grep, I do not see bcmwl nor bdcom in the lsmod output.

    Any ideas where I can turn to get the Broadcom device to function (module installed)? No need to address any power issues for now, I can make a separate post for that.
    Last edited by mmmmna; Jan 24, 2014, 08:51 PM. Reason: clarify, spelling

    #2
    Now occurring in Synaptic

    More bad news.

    Just launched Synaptic to update my system, and it is suffering the same hang:
    Code:
    ...
    ...
    Flash Plugin installed.
    Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.141+bdcom-0ubuntu1) ...
    Removing old bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...
    
    -------- Uninstall Beginning --------
    Module:  bcmwl
    Version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
    Kernel:  3.11.0-15-generic (i686)
    -------------------------------------
    
    Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.
    
    wl.ko:
     - Uninstallation
       - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.11.0-15-generic/updates/dkms/
     - Original module
       - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
       - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
    
    depmod....
    
    DKMS: uninstall completed.
    
    ------------------------------
    Deleting module version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
    completely from the DKMS tree.
    ------------------------------
    Done.
    Loading new bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...
    Building only for 3.11.0-15-generic
    Building for architecture i686
    Building initial module for 3.11.0-15-generic
    Done.
    
    wl:
    Running module version sanity check.
     - Original module
       - No original module exists within this kernel
     - Installation
       - Installing to /lib/modules/3.11.0-15-generic/updates/dkms/
    
    depmod....
    
    DKMS: install completed.
    And that is where it stopped. Again. Looks like from now on, every time I launch Synaptic or any update manager, I'll hang on the bcmwl problem. I really think running xkill to kill Synaptic will not lead to a stable OS. If I cannot update the system, then out of frustration, I'll be forced to drop back to an earlier Kubuntu release, so I can avoid the depmod lockup.

    I waited over 2 hours, no resolution.
    Last edited by mmmmna; Jan 23, 2014, 05:14 PM.

    Comment


      #3
      Broadcom PITA

      "I cannot install the proper Broadcom module as packaged.
      Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.141+bdcom-0ubuntu1) ..."

      You don't say what kind of computer you have, but I've had the same problems with mine. I'm on a Dell Inspiron B130, Celeron cpu, all Intel . Wonderful thing about this one, is that it won't even boot with the wifi card (same as yours) in it, until after a driver is installed. Sometimes the live CD will boot, sometimes not. Anyway, I have to pull the card out of the computer to do a new install.

      The driver package you tried to install did the same thing to me with dpkg. I ended up reinstalling the system, but I'm thinking now you might try going to Grub Rescue Mode and booting an earlier kernal, then uninstall the one that's messed up. The next update should reinstall the new kernal for you. Just guessing, havn't tried it.

      The card driver I'm using is bcmwl5 - one earlier than dpkg tries to install. I used ndiswrapper (for windows drivers) to install it. I got the driver from the Dell support sight, don't know if that's your computer, you might try a support sight for your brand. It came in a package labeled BCM94318E, just open it with Ark, and point Ndswrapper to it to install new driver. (Don't forget to install ndisgtk, the gui for the program, it doesn't install as a dependanency) Also, I had to install wifi-radar in order to see any local wifi connections in Network Manager, it just showed "hidden" connection otherwise. The keyboard switch does not work, have to enable the wifi check-box in network manager to turn it on and off.

      Anyway, I learn by trail and error, this is as much as I've learned about getting Broadcom to work. Can't make any promises about the quality of any wireless connection when you do get it running. Good luck.

      Comment


        #4
        Thanks for the reply.

        Since Synaptic had locked up, I eventually had to kill Synaptic. That ended as I predicted, the installation got totally destroyed since Synaptic was in the middle of installing kernel items.

        I suspect devs could have tested the Broadcom depmod script a little more:
        • It locks up during installation at depmod for the broadcom,
        • it locks when I install additional drivers if I install the distro without third party software but then install the drivers after the successful install,
        • it locks up if I update the OS using normal synaptic update method.


        This hardware all worked fine hours before I installed 13.10.

        So disappointing. Broadcom hardware was tough enough to configure with earlier distros, now I have to stay in the old world to simply use it.

        Comment


          #5
          Broadcom wi-fi is so troublesome that I will go out of my way to avoid or change it.

          Since the installer worked in the previous version, might I suggest the following. Reinstall 13.04, then do-release-upgrade to 13.10. Don't use any GUI tools to manage updates; use only the command line. Does the Broadcom wi-fi continue work this way? If so, then you might have stumbled on a bug in the GUI installer or a bug in the driver packages that confuses the GUI installer.

          Also, a general comment: Synaptic is a Gtk+-based package manager intended for GNOME distributions. Kubuntu does not do any package management testing with Synaptic. Neither does Ubuntu now, either, preferring instead to rely on their own tools.

          Comment


            #6
            Don't give up

            Sorry you had such bad luck. I'm running 12.04, and since I've figured out how to get Broadcom installed, the OS is running very well for me. I've turned off some of the bells and whistles, but it's much more current than XP, and I don't have to throw a good machine into the dumpster. 12.04 is good until April 2017, so maybe you could try it.

            Comment

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