How to set up Broadcom 802.11b/g wireless

Kalian · 01-25-2006, 08:02 PM

Hey folks, I'm new to this forum, Linux and wireless in generl, so I have a lot of questions!

I'm not a techie by trade, so go easy with the lingo.

I decided to setup a dual boot Winblows/Fedora core 4 system on my HP Pavilion dv8113cl Notebook. I've got it all installed, but I'm not sure how to configure the wireless. It's a Broadcom 802.11b/g wlan. It works fine in winblows, but Linu is not automaticaly setting it up. I know absolutely nothing about Linux, I was hoping someone could point me to a step by step tutorial. As stated above, I'm not a techie, if I had to configure it in windows I wouldn't have a clue what to do. But if I had step by step instructions I'd be fine.
TIA!

comprookie2000 · 01-25-2006, 08:07 PM

I hate to have to inform you of this. You will need to use ndiswrapper for that.
http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/m....php/Main_Page
The good news is you will be a semi-techie when you get it working.
Good Luck and have fun in the process.

Kalian · 01-25-2006, 09:10 PM

Thanks Comprookie2000, I checked the list and my wireless is not on it. Hopefully it will work out.

comprookie2000 · 01-25-2006, 09:20 PM

Look at lspci, do you see Card: Broadcom BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller
or
Card: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller I think that is yours.

Kalian · 01-25-2006, 11:15 PM

It took me a while, but here is what I got. I logged in as root, then chose "terminal" from the gui:
From the terminal I typed lspci and it showed,

06:02.0 Network Controller: Broadcom Corporation: Unknown Device 4318 (rev 02)

Is that the same card as what you were thinking? I also saw the realtek network card so I guess the above is the wireless?

I also was wondering what is the etiquite here for posting additional questions? Should I start another thread or keep it all on this one?
Thanks for the help!

blabno · 01-26-2006, 04:50 AM

Im trying to set up the same card as you, so as soon as i will figure it out i shall tell you everything. As far as i managed was to load propper modules, but i found out that i cannot set essid, so probably my card is off, and i do not know how to turn it on (no option i bios). You may try to get ndiswrapper from ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net. Read my post "TravelMate 4401LMi - WiFi problem". (linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=408128)

Kalian · 01-26-2006, 02:43 PM

Thanks blabno.

jwspring · 01-26-2006, 03:08 PM

Try lspci -v it should provide additional information

blabno · 01-26-2006, 03:17 PM

OK, i managed to set that card with my TravelMate 4401LMi so lets start. In my case it was about turning the card on by pressing the led-button, but linux does not knot what should it do with such a button. I installed acer_acpi module, and was able to go online as i am know. You might not have to push any button to activate your wifi, but if you have to we shall experiment.

First we need to install the drivers. Broadcom drivers for linux are under development and i do not know how to use them now. (bcm43xx.berlios.de)
I use ndiswrapper and winXP drivers instead.

Get ndiswrapper from ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net
I understand that you have not compiled kernel on your own. Install krenel-headers from FedoraCD, we will need them to compile ndiswrapper.

now unpack and compile ndis:

Code:

tar -zxvf ndsiwrapper.tar.gz
or
tar -jxvf ndiswrapper.tar.bz2

cd ndiswrapper
make
make install

Now get windowsXP drivers for card from ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/ferrari_4000/driver/80211.zip
or use your own.
Install driver :

Code:

ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5a.inf
ndiswrapper -m

You may specify other path to bcmwl5a.inf like /mnt/c/bcmwl5a.inf, depending on where it is.

Now load the module with driver

Code:

modprobe ndiswrapper

Now you setup your card. In order to do so you need wireless-tools package to be installed ( iwconfig and iwlist are most important ).

Code:

iwconfig wlan0 mode Ad-hoc essid kuna nick pink key s:k1u2n

Now if you get IP via dhcp

Code:

dhcpcd wlan0

otherwise

Code:

ifconfig wlan0 192.168.0.32 up

change 192.168.0.32 to whatever you want.
And you shall be ready. Feel free to ask questions.
BTW. if you can not set essid, then your card is off and you will need some module to enable your buttons. Might try that acer_acpi ( first position in google ).

Kalian · 01-26-2006, 05:09 PM

Ok, First off, here is what I got from lspci -v

06:02.o Network controller: Broadcom corporation: Unknown device 4318 (rev 02)
Subsytem: Hewlett -packard company: Unknown device 1355
Flags: Busmaster, fast devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
Memory at c0204000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]

I'm going to download the ndiswrapper next, but I'm going to have dificulty with the rest. I don't know what you mean by install kernel headers from fedora cd. I don't remember seeing that option. I don't mean to be a pain, but I am new to both linux and command line interfaces. I have familiarized myself with the gui. Can I do all this with the gui? (gnome or kde)
I'll download and burn the above mentioned files while I'm waiting for the reply.
Thanks for all the help so far!

Edit: Forgot to mention, my wireless is turned off and on by a led button.

Kalian · 01-26-2006, 05:25 PM

Ok, First off, here is what I got from lspci -v

06:02.o Network controller: Broadcom corporation: Unknown device 4318 (rev 02)
Subsytem: Hewlett -packard company: Unknown device 1355
Flags: Busmaster, fast devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
Memory at c0204000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]

I'm going to download the ndiswrapper next, but I'm going to have dificulty with the rest. I don't know what you mean by install kernel headers from fedora cd. I don't remember seeing that option. I don't mean to be a pain, but I am new to both linux and command line interfaces. I have familiarized myself with the gui. Can I do all this with the gui? (gnome or kde)
I'll download and burn the above mentioned files while I'm waiting for the reply.
Thanks for all the help so far!

Kalian · 01-26-2006, 05:39 PM

Oops, sorry for the double post. Not used to the forum.
Here's what I got so far. I downloaded both 1.8 and the 1.9 version of ndiswrapper, since I wasn't sure which one to use. Should I use the stable 1.8 version or the untested 1.9 version?
I also downloaded the driver you mentioned. I copy/pasted the link. I believe it's a zip file? Will I be able to unzip it in linux?
I'm going to burn those files to disk and then try to follow what you have posted so far. Thanks again!

Kalian · 01-26-2006, 06:28 PM

Hmm, it's more complicated than it looks. (to me, anyway) I'm not sure where to send the files from the cd once I'm in linux. I don't know how to use the command line interface. (I don't know the commands or what directory I'm in. I just see localhost before the prompt.) Could you walk me through this? God will surely reward you for your patience!

comprookie2000 · 01-26-2006, 09:09 PM

These links should help;
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=292721
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showth...9&page=1&pp=15
http://stanton-finley.net/HP_Pavilion_ZE2108WM.html

Kalian · 01-27-2006, 12:42 PM

Thanks comprookie2000, I almost got it. Everything worked fine up to step 3, #4 in the first link above. (the neowin forum thread.) I verified the driver and it wasn't there. The wireless led comes on now. In the above mentioned link step 3 #3 installs the .inf file. Did he forget the .sys file? do I need to install the .sys file the same way I installed the .inf file? Sorry for the dumb questions, it's still confusing to me!

Edit: Forgot to mention, that neowin forum link is great. It's a step by step tutorial, great for newbies like me!