Broadcom Wireless Set-Up w/out a Wired Connection F16

[godless_too]

Try as I might, I cannot get my wireless working without a wired connection. Been trying for three weeks, using many DuckDuckGo methods only to end in dependency hell and doing a fresh install. A system update and added repos with a wired connection normally fixed my problems in the past but that is not an option as both my condo and work are now strictly wireless.

The card is recognized, the drivers installed and eth0 up (renamed p1p2) but no wlan0 in sight. I have tried installing kmod manually but it always ends in disaster. Can someone point to a place that has clear instructions on overcoming this problem? My laptop is in dire need of a fresh install but I am loathe to do it without first getting around this problem with my wife's "practice" computer; Dell Vostro 3500.

I do have access to the internet if downloads are required but do not have access to a wired connection. Since more and more of the world is going wireless a clear explanation of surmounting this problem would help a lot of people me thinks.

Posted from Malaysia.

lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 12)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor PCI Express x16 Root Port (rev 12)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset HECI Controller (rev 06)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 06)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 06)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev 06)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev 06)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev 06)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev a6)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 5 Series Chipset LPC Interface Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SMBus Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.6 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Thermal Subsystem (rev 06)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [GeForce 310M] (rev a2)
01:00.1 Audio device: nVidia Corporation High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)
12:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 01)
13:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)
ff:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture Generic Non-core Registers (rev 02)
ff:00.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture System Address Decoder (rev 02)
ff:02.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Link 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Physical 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)
ff:02.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)

ifconfig
lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:298 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:298 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:33753 (32.9 KiB) TX bytes:33753 (32.9 KiB)

p1p2 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr A4:BAB:AD:E8:6F
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
Interrupt:46 Base address:0xa000

lsmod
Module Size Used by
ppdev 6899 0
parport_pc 18302 0
lp 7646 0
parport 29655 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
fuse 60799 3
lockd 67393 0
rfcomm 53179 4
bnep 12509 2
coretemp 5366 0
ip6t_REJECT 3946 2
nf_conntrack_ipv6 7101 2
nf_defrag_ipv6 7759 1 nf_conntrack_ipv6
ip6table_filter 1283 1
nf_conntrack_ipv4 7530 2
ip6_tables 11164 1 ip6table_filter
nf_defrag_ipv4 1173 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
xt_state 1022 4
nf_conntrack 64156 3 nf_conntrack_ipv6,nf_conntrack_ipv4,xt_state
btusb 13992 2
bluetooth 204772 23 rfcomm,bnep,btusb
uvcvideo 58462 0
videodev 83008 1 uvcvideo
media 10319 2 uvcvideo,videodev
wl 2434512 0
lib80211 4418 1 wl
arc4 1141 2
brcmsmac 523526 0
mac80211 250536 1 brcmsmac
brcmutil 4093 1 brcmsmac
intel_ips 11680 0
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 23621 4
joydev 7780 0
dell_laptop 7623 0
dell_wmi 1381 0
snd_hda_codec_idt 56263 1
snd_hda_intel 23025 2
snd_hda_codec 84779 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 5396 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_seq 48285 0
snd_seq_device 5441 1 snd_seq
i2c_i801 8657 0
iTCO_wdt 10460 0
r8169 41032 0
dcdbas 6464 1 dell_laptop
iTCO_vendor_support 2203 1 iTCO_wdt
mii 4091 1 r8169
sparse_keymap 3290 1 dell_wmi
snd_pcm 74013 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_timer 17660 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd 55194 13 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel ,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,sn d_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 5892 1 snd
microcode 11746 0
cfg80211 156593 2 brcmsmac,mac80211
rfkill 14452 5 bluetooth,dell_laptop,cfg80211
crc8 1072 1 brcmsmac
cordic 954 1 brcmsmac
snd_page_alloc 6769 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
sunrpc 191650 2 lockd
uinput 5946 0
xts 1987 4
gf128mul 7032 1 xts
dm_crypt 13952 1
nouveau 688327 3
ttm 51896 1 nouveau
drm_kms_helper 26252 1 nouveau
drm 173005 5 nouveau,ttm,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit 4724 1 nouveau
i2c_core 23599 6 videodev,i2c_i801,nouveau,drm_kms_helper,drm,i2c_a lgo_bit
mxm_wmi 1395 1 nouveau
wmi 8357 2 dell_wmi,mxm_wmi
video 10744 1 nouveau

kernel: 3.1.5-6.fc16.i686.PAE

[sea]

Tried this yet?
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=274429

[godless_too]

I solved my wife's problem by installing LinuxMINT from a live CD as she was growing frustrated with my hijacking her laptop for my learning curve. Mint actually uses the wireless connection you have on the live CD to download all the files you need to maintain the connecton before you reboot after the install.

After spending quite a few frustrating hours trying to get wireless working on a new install on my Dell, I had to admit defeat and beg my friend to allow me to use his wired connection to get my machine back in order. I followed the instructions on the provided link (or at least tried my level best) but apparently it was over my rather non-techie head.

Sorry to have woosied out but there came a point where tilting at windmills loses priority to having a working unit. I'm sure I'll have another go when Fedora 17 is released.

[sea]

Weird i have no kmod installed.
Just iw and/or wicd.
Curious that the Fedora live Medias didnt help you, as for me they work just the same as Mint seems to be doing for you.
(working wifi 'out of the box' if activated during install).

[bbfuller]

Hello godless_too

Just to point out that you don't have a realtek wireless card as this thread header claims. Your lspci output identifies the wireless as:

12:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 01)

Just for your information. If you do a straightforward installation of Fedora 16 it is possible to download three packages on a remote machine, transfer them to the machine in question and do a "yum localinstall" with them. The wireless should then work.

If you have access to a wired connection though and can do a system update after install, then at some time since F16 was released, a driver for that particular chipset and a few others has been included directly in the kernel and the card just works.

So if you decide to stick with what you have now, but felt like experimenting once F17 comes out, then wireless should just work on that machine

[godless_too]

I am still running Fedora 16 on my Dell Vostro with my wife's having Mint. It is an upgrade from Fedora 15 and in a sorry state which is why I would like to do a clean install but fear losing my wireless connection. I prefer a bad Fedora to a good anything else.

I could donwload the packages to Home, do a fresh install of FC16 and then load the 3 packages. Could you name the 3 packages just to be sure I load the right ones?

The internet here is still in the dark ages, 4GB max download @ 2Mbps max speed (I actually have to pay a high premium for these rates which are called "blazingly fast" on the ISPs website), so I would prefer installing from the DVD instead of from a live CD.

I would still like someone to give step-by-step instructions for installing Fedora without a wired connection since this seems to becoming the norm for a lot of countries who do not have the capital to invest in wired infrastructure. Everything I've found via search has been rather convoluted and too "techie' for an old fart like me; or, the discussion ended without any real resolution.

Thanks

[bbfuller]

Hello godless_too

You don't need an internet connection to install Fedora, but you do need one to get it as I'm sure you know.

At this stage of Fedoras life cycle you will find there are an awful lot of updates required after install - unless you decide to turn off the updating mechanism - which will eat into your monthly allowance.

As to the wireless card, IF you are sure we have the right device, a broadcom 43224 and not the realtek that the thread header specifies, then there are ways but there are complications.

There is a new broadcom driver that works with that chipset.

It wasn't included in the kernel that is on the distribution dvd/cd but it did come included later. It's called "brcmsmac". However, even if you installed Fedora and updated by a wired connection it wouldn't help because it's broken in the latest kernel.

So your best bet until F17 comes along is the broadcom-wl driver from rpmfusion.

On any machine with internet access go to:

http://mirror.liberty.edu/pub/rpmfusion/nonfree/fedora/releases/16/Everything/i386/os/

Download three packages:

kmod-wl-5.100.82.112-1.fc16.i686.rpm

kmod-wl-3.1.0-7.fc16.i686-5.100.82.112-1.fc16.i686.rpm

broadcom-wl-5.100.82.112-1.fc16.noarch.rpm

Note how the middle of those three packages is specific to your kernel.

Transfer them to a folder on your machine where there are no other rpm's stored.

Let's assume that is your Downloads folder.

Use the command:

su -

in a terminal to gain root privileges over the whole machine and give your root password when prompted. Note that's a space and a minus sign after the su.

Use the "cd" command to change into that folder. On this machine that would be:

cd /home/bbfuller/Downloads

There is a space between the cd and the forward slash.

Issue the command:

rpm -ivh *.rpm

and the three packages should install.

Reboot the machine and see if you have wireless then.

That should work on an F16 install that hasn't been updated at all and is 32 bit.

If your system is 64 bit then you have to go to the equivalent rpmfusion repository and get similar packages.

If your system has been updated before you do the wireless then it's yet a different repository for the packages and note that the middle of the three is specific to the actual kernel you have running when you do this wireless setup and the other two packages have to be the right ones in relation to that.

If you are 64 bit and/or updated, if you want to post back the results of:

uname -r

which identifies your running kernel, I'll be more specific.

Ask questions if any of the above is not clear.

[godless_too]

I'll give it a shot today. One way or another I will do a fresh install. Might mean going back to my friend's and begging for wired access but I really need to fix my many broken bits plus I need to see if I can do this for FC17 and beyond.

Thanks everyone. I'll let you know how it works out.

PS: Is there any way to change the title of this thread so no one gets led astray should they discover it on search? Remove the "Realtek" from the title maybe?

[bbfuller]

Hello godless_too

If you do get access to a wired connection for this, life is much simpler.

Once you have your system installed, updated or not, do an Internet search for "rpmfusion".

Their site will tell you how to install those repositories.

Once you have those installed, as root, issue the command:

yum install kmod-wl

and that should do it.

As to thread title, I thought as owner of the thread you had the opportunity to change the title in thread tools. If not, just send a personal message to a moderator and ask them to fix it.

[godless_too]

I installed from a Live CD and, after rebooting, expect to install the kmod-wl files manually. Lo and behold, I already had a wireless connection. I had done the same thing on my wife's Dell Vostro 3500, same model purchased on the same day, and never could get it working. Cue eerie music. I set up my DVD copy as a repo to minimize the hit on my meagre bandwidth allotment so life is good.

It avoids my original question of installing Fedora without a wired connection but that will have to wait until Fedora 17 I guess. No need to mess with success. Once my wife lets me near her laptop again I might give it another try. I am curious about the difference between the Live CD and the DVD though. Why does the Live CD give me a wirelss connection while installation from the DVD does not? Is there a difference in Broadcom support between the two?

Thanks everyone for your help.

[bbfuller]

Hello godless_too

I'm pleased your install worked along with the wireless. I'm just a little surprised about the latter.

What it boils down to is that there are about four ways of driving a broadcom card, some ways work with some chipsets, some with others. In the life of F16 there appears to have been a change in which one is assumed to be default.

At the beginning of F16 the b43 driver was set as default with some open firmware that supported a few cards. You could either add the proprietary firmware for extra chipset support or go to broadcom-wl if that supported your card.

At some stage of F16 kernel development the "brcmsmac" driver was included in the kernel, supplanting the b43 and supporting a different, small, range of broadcom chipsets.

It looks like you chipset is one of those supported by the b43 driver with open firmware unless the "brcmsmac" got included earlier than I thought.

The upshot of that is, it's possible that if you update that installation wireless will stop working until you do one of the above - unless the "brcmsmac" driver that got broken in one of the recent kernel updates has been fixed again.

As to the difference between the LiveCD and the DVD, goodness knows. The kernel is supposed to be the same, if anything you would expect the DVD to support a greater range of hardware, having more room onboard for a bigger range of firmware/drivers.

Enjoy the wireless.

By the way, if you'd like to know what driver that card is using - and I'd be interested to know as well - run the command:

lspci -k

That'll list devices, driver in use and alternative drivers for each device in the machine.

[sea]

I'd guess the (litttle) diffrence is that the live media loads more drivers, and installs them along.
Where the DvD just installs what you select, or whats the 'default' of the selected packages (mind, you can select sub-cathegories of any package: eg: Gnome DE beeing 1 package with.. dunno.. 200 subs?)