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How to install Broadcom 43xx wireless driver in linux

February 15, 2011 Leave a comment Go to comments
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Broadcom is a real nag. I was in a rush and careless when I was buying laptop. If I remembered to ask, would never-ever bought any device with Broadcom wireless. But things usually don’t go smoothly in life. Especially if you DO NOT have wired ethernet nearby and wireless is all you get.

Following is tested on openSUSE 11.3, 11.4 RC, Mint 10 Julia, Ubuntu 10.x,Kubuntu 10.x and LMDE.

1. download the official driver for your device from official site. Names are usually “hybrid-portsrc_x86*****.tar.gz”.

2. unpack it (with command “tar xzvf hybrid[PRESS TAB]“), and KEEP THIS DIRECTORY IN BACKUP

3. compile it (with command “make”. Before you can do that, you need basic development package installed, and kernel headers/source)

4. now you need to be root and follow the commands:
cp wl.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r’/kernel/net/wireless
insmod wl.ko
depmod -a
modprobe wl

(if last command fails, try before it : modprobe lib80211)

that is it… you can use wireless immediately

On openSUSE, module will be loaded on boot. In Mint/Ubuntu/Kubuntu/LMDE I needed to add it manually in /etc/modules file

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  1. Alan
    March 27th, 2011 at 02:32 | #1
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  2. 789
    April 15th, 2011 at 15:30 | #2
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    Thank you much for your work !

    I committed the same hastiness; but now I am online (Slax 6.1.2, kernel 2.6.27.27; Presario CQ56)

  3. Braden
    December 2nd, 2011 at 13:10 | #3
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    I have been having problems trying to install my wireless broadcom driver to ubuntu KDE. But I will try this, and if this works, I will eternally love you.

  4. Emil Beli
    December 2nd, 2011 at 13:24 | #4
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    if you can’t I will send you files by e-mail

  5. Braden
    December 2nd, 2011 at 15:03 | #5
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    I am unfortunately stuck on step 3. I get this:

    WARNING: Symbol version dump /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.39.4/Module.symvers
    is missing; modules will have no dependencies and modversions.

    CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
    Using CFG80211 API
    LD /root/built-in.o
    CC [M] /root/src/shared/linux_osl.o
    CC [M] /root/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o
    CC [M] /root/src/wl/sys/wl_iw.o
    CC [M] /root/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.o
    /root/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.c: In function ‘wl_inform_single_bss’:
    /root/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.c:1817: error: too few arguments to function ‘ieee80211_channel_to_frequency’
    make[2]: *** [/root/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.o] Error 1
    make[1]: *** [_module_/root] Error 2
    make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-source-2.6.39.4′
    make: *** [all] Error 2

  6. Emil Beli
    December 2nd, 2011 at 15:08 | #6
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    Yea, that driver doesnt compile anymore.

    However, it became easier.

    way 1:
    connect to wired, with synaptic or whatever, install firmware for brcm, then broadcom driver from the list. If this doesn’t work, deinstall driver

    way 2:
    go to broadcom site, download newest firmware and wl (hybrid) driver sources. Make and install firmware, then wl driver do the same. issue depmod command and modprobe wl

    sand me an e-mail to beli0135 AT gmail, will send you files.. just tell me is your system 64 or 32 bit

  7. Poojan
    February 6th, 2012 at 22:08 | #7
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    What do you mean by basic development package installed, and kernel headers/source?

    I have right linux headers

    and still I am not able to get wl.ko file.

    I get error:
    KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd`
    make[1]: Entering directory `/lib/modules/2.6.39.4/build’
    make[1]: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.
    make[1]: Leaving directory `/lib/modules/2.6.39.4/build’
    make: *** [all] Error 2

  8. Poojan
    February 6th, 2012 at 22:10 | #8
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    And something showed up in dmesg:

    [ 3715.300331] cfg80211: (2402000 KHz – 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
    [ 3715.300335] cfg80211: (2457000 KHz – 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
    [ 3715.300338] cfg80211: (2474000 KHz – 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
    [ 3715.300342] cfg80211: (5170000 KHz – 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
    [ 3715.300345] cfg80211: (5735000 KHz – 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
    [ 4762.296101] wl: version magic ’2.6.38-11-generic-pae SMP mod_unload modversions 686 ‘ should be ’2.6.39.4 SMP mod_unload ELAN ‘

  9. Emil Beli
    February 7th, 2012 at 04:50 | #9
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    This post is a bit obsolete now. New drivers emerged and kernel 3.x already have them inside. I really forgot now what would be new procedure. I am sure now compat drivers wouldn’t work but new hybrid drivers from their site.

  10. Poojan
    February 9th, 2012 at 09:58 | #10
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    @Emil Beli
    I am using Backtrack 5.1 R which is having this 2.6.39.4 Kernel thats why I need that driver .
    I installed ubuntu 11.10 which is having this driver .

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