[SOLVED] broadcom-sta loads but does nothing

AlvaroG · 05-01-2010, 05:40 PM

No luck: I compiled my kernel with the CONFIG_WEXT_PRIV option enabled, replaced all occurrences of CONFIG_WIRELESS_EXT with CONFIG_CFG80211_WEXT in the source code of the driver, and I'm still getting the same results.

This is all the output I get when I load the wl module:

Code:

lib80211: common routines for IEEE802.11 drivers
lib80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'NULL'
wl: module license 'unspecified' taints kernel.

Thanks to all for your help, but I think my only choice is to wait for a new version of the driver.

Regards.

rfernandez · 05-01-2010, 07:54 PM

Code:

[    5.335044] wl: module license 'unspecified' taints kernel.
[    5.356658] wl 0000:0b:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[    5.358225] wl 0000:0b:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[    5.378477] wlan0: Broadcom BCM4315 802.11 Hybrid Wireless Controller 5.60.48.36

My kernel init output. the module license 'unspecified' just removes the possibility to debug the interface in case of some problem, but the driver works like it should.

AlvaroG · 05-02-2010, 03:36 PM

OK, I think this story has come to an end ;-)
I upgraded to 2.6.33.3 (now in -current) and the b43 driver is now able to handle switching the wireless device on and off. This was the only issue I had for which I wanted the sta driver, so there is no reason to keep fighting with it. I will try a new version when available, but for now this issue is closed.

Regards.

rfernandez · 05-02-2010, 03:54 PM

Hi Alvaro.

I'm happy that you got it up and working. =)
But, if I may, what did you do to make the b43 working with your card?

Thanks in advance.

AlvaroG · 05-02-2010, 06:50 PM

Hi Rodrigo,
I just downloaded b43-fwcutter and b43-firmware from slackbuilds.org and installed them (in that order). It had some issues with older kernels (I mentioned that already :-D) but it is working nicely with 2.6.33.3

¡Saludos!

maciuszek · 11-05-2010, 08:02 PM

Hey i managed to get broadcom-sta working with kernel 2.6.33.4, not sure if this thread is considered solved since the last reply was a solution using b43-fwcutter although at first with broadcom-sta i was experiencing the same problems, it was able to build and wl was able to load although no wireless interface was created.

My solutions: thanks to gentoo forums

I rebuilt the kernel with CONFIG_B43 , CONFIG_SSB and CONFIG_MAC80211 set to N in .config, CONFIG_SSB wasent giving me the options to set to N untill i commented out everything to do with B44 in .config and running a make oldconfig i set B44 to yes, then i got to options to set Config_SSB to no ( not sure why that was to only way to set CONFIG_SSB to N this but it worked ( been playing with config options and got lucky

)) .

The problem i expierenced after was a kernel panic. So i got a little worried but fixed this by using the exact same process i mentioned above, although using the slackware generic-smp kernel config, and a initrd.gz, rather than huge-smp kernel config.

After recompiling the kernel, i rebuilt the broadcom-sta using the slackbuild from slackbuilds.org and reinstalled it. Upon my next boot i noticed the wl modules was already loaded and the wireless interface existed.

( The reason i mentioned my entire process was to you would understand why i had to use the generic kernel config )

AlvaroG · 11-07-2010, 06:49 PM

Hi maciuszek,
I had forgotten about this thread, I am not using Slackware anymore (although the distro I ended up using will soon be replaced with Slackware again ;-)) so I think it can be considered as a resolved issue.
Thanks for your suggestion anyway, but the b43 driver is good enough for my needs and now I don't have any reason to change.

Regards