BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

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rationalunicorn

BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

I've tried following the directions here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2214110 - no success (I used the package for 14.04). After that, I went to the driver manager and tried getting it to install the driver for the wireless card... It says it's done so, but no wifi networks show up ("wireless" isn't even an option under network settings). So, still no success.

I've tried looking for a solution here and under hardware in the community... It looks like I need the STA driver, but I don't know why either that didn't install under the driver manager or else why it did install but didn't work..? Help would be much appreciated. :)

The requested printout:

* I. scanning WIFI PCI devices...
-- Broadcom Corporation BCM4321 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 03)
==> PCI ID = 14e4:4328 (rev 03)
-------------------------
* II. querying ndiswrapper...
-------------------------
* III. querying iwconfig...
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

-------------------------
* IV. querying ifconfig...
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:23:ae:0b:fb:07
inet addr:192.168.1.7 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::223:aeff:fe0b:fb07/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:32292 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:22448 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:38243439 (38.2 MB) TX bytes:3093401 (3.0 MB)
Interrupt:16

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:65536 Metric:1
RX packets:888 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:888 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:95764 (95.7 KB) TX bytes:95764 (95.7 KB)

-------------------------
* V. querying DHCP...
-------------------------
* VI. querying nslookup google.com...
Server: 192.168.1.1
Address: 192.168.1.1#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.201
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.206
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.192
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.193
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.194
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.195
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.196
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.197
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.198
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.199
Name: google.com
Address: 74.125.224.200
JeremyB
Level 21
Level 21
Posts: 13771
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:17 am

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by JeremyB »

Strange that the info on ubuntuforums didn't help did you do the

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source
before installing linux-firmware-nonfree and reboot after?

Code: Select all

wget -N -t 5 -T 10 http://dl.dropbox.com/u/57264241/wireless_script && chmod +x wireless_script && ./wireless_script
Attach the wireless-info file the script creates to your next post
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

I haven't installed 17 yet. I've been testing via live usb to check for issues prior to install (did that with the 13 install and found it to be immensely helpful).

I didn't run the purge because at that point I hadn't (explicitly) installed the bcmwl kernel source package. Here is exactly what I did:

1) Boot Mint 17 Cinnamon 32 bit via live usb
2) Open terminal
3) Code 'sudo apt-get update' (wait for completion)
4) Code 'sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-nonfree' (for 14e4:4328)
5) Close terminal
6) Open driver manager
7) Select option to use wireless card (appeared to be correctly identified)
8) Hit OK or Apply Changes or whatever the button was labelled to start using the wireless card.

I will try purging the bcmwl package... But I don't understand how it would have been applied unless that was included as part of the update? The instructions indicate that the purge is only necessary if you've made configuration changes other than just the update (which I didn't do).
**NOTE** The actual return on 14e4 was '14e4:4328 rev 3'. Could this be part of the issue?
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

Ok. I'm back on the 17 live usb now. Ran the purge just in case, it wasn't necessary because it wasn't installed.

Ran the updates and installed nonfree. Then ran the code you mentioned, here are the results.
--2014-07-25 20:48:46-- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/57264241/wireless_script
Resolving dl.dropbox.com (dl.dropbox.com)... 23.21.184.120
Connecting to dl.dropbox.com (dl.dropbox.com)|23.21.184.120|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 FOUND
Location: http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5726 ... ess_script [following]
--2014-07-25 20:48:46-- http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5726 ... ess_script
Resolving dl.dropboxusercontent.com (dl.dropboxusercontent.com)... 54.235.147.68, 54.235.161.178, 54.235.253.107, ...
Connecting to dl.dropboxusercontent.com (dl.dropboxusercontent.com)|54.235.147.68|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 FOUND
Cookie coming from dl.dropboxusercontent.com attempted to set domain to dropbox.com
Cookie coming from dl.dropboxusercontent.com attempted to set domain to dropbox.com
Location: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/572 ... ess_script [following]
--2014-07-25 20:48:46-- https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/572 ... ess_script
Connecting to dl.dropboxusercontent.com (dl.dropboxusercontent.com)|54.235.147.68|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 4352 (4.2K) [text/plain]
Saving to: ‘wireless_script’

100%[======================================>] 4,352 --.-K/s in 0s

Last-modified header missing -- time-stamps turned off.
2014-07-25 20:48:46 (177 MB/s) - ‘wireless_script’ saved [4352/4352]


Results archived in "wireless-info.tar.gz", as they exceed the 19.5 kB size limit for .txt files on the Ubuntu Forums.
Does that yield any new information?
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

Ok... I just looked more closely at the driver manager and I think I see (part of?) the problem. My options are to select "bcmwl-kernel-source" or "do not use this device".

I don't know if this is an issue unique to the live usb (it doesn't help that I can't effectively reboot)... It looks like the system believes that bcmwl is the solution but (clearly) that doesn't work? Am I supposing correctly that I'll need to do a proper install (rather than live usb) to troubleshoot this issue?
JeremyB
Level 21
Level 21
Posts: 13771
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:17 am

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by JeremyB »

rationalunicorn wrote:Ok. I'm back on the 17 live usb now. Ran the purge just in case, it wasn't necessary because it wasn't installed.

Ran the updates and installed nonfree. Then ran the code you mentioned, here are the results.
--2014-07-25 20:48:46-- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/57264241/wireless_script
Resolving dl.dropbox.com (dl.dropbox.com)... 23.21.184.120
Connecting to dl.dropbox.com (dl.dropbox.com)|23.21.184.120|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 FOUND
Location: http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5726 ... ess_script [following]
--2014-07-25 20:48:46-- http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5726 ... ess_script
Resolving dl.dropboxusercontent.com (dl.dropboxusercontent.com)... 54.235.147.68, 54.235.161.178, 54.235.253.107, ...
Connecting to dl.dropboxusercontent.com (dl.dropboxusercontent.com)|54.235.147.68|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 FOUND
Cookie coming from dl.dropboxusercontent.com attempted to set domain to dropbox.com
Cookie coming from dl.dropboxusercontent.com attempted to set domain to dropbox.com
Location: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/572 ... ess_script [following]
--2014-07-25 20:48:46-- https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/572 ... ess_script
Connecting to dl.dropboxusercontent.com (dl.dropboxusercontent.com)|54.235.147.68|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 4352 (4.2K) [text/plain]
Saving to: ‘wireless_script’

100%[======================================>] 4,352 --.-K/s in 0s

Last-modified header missing -- time-stamps turned off.
2014-07-25 20:48:46 (177 MB/s) - ‘wireless_script’ saved [4352/4352]


Results archived in "wireless-info.tar.gz", as they exceed the 19.5 kB size limit for .txt files on the Ubuntu Forums.
Does that yield any new information?
No I need the file it created, this should work

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install pastebinit

Code: Select all

 tar -xf wireless-info.tar.gz

Code: Select all

pastebinit wireless-info.txt
and post the url after the last command

If you have downloaded/installed the linux-firmware-nonfree since the last reboot, this might get it to work

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe -rv wl
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

URL requested: http://pastebin.com/R7rdHxP9

I tried the last thing you mentioned - no luck. "FATAL: Module wl not found."
JeremyB
Level 21
Level 21
Posts: 13771
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:17 am

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by JeremyB »

rationalunicorn wrote:URL requested: http://pastebin.com/R7rdHxP9

I tried the last thing you mentioned - no luck. "FATAL: Module wl not found."
Not worried about the Module wl not found but the pastebin link says it has been removed. Well there still should be a wireless-info.txt file you should be able to attach from your home folder
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

Sorry - I'm still fairly new to this. How do I do that? I see the text file (and I even opened it and looked at it)... But I don't understand exactly what it is or how to use it. I did notice that there were a number of 14e4 listings & found the one specific to my computer. For that card, it states "Kernel driver in use: b43-pci-bridge". Does that mean that is the driver that I should be using (and, presumably, I should code "sudo apt-get install b43-pci-bridge") or does that mean that my system is currently using said driver (and it's not working)?

Sorry for the noob questions and thanks for your help.
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

Also, I just found this: http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/218
It's for LMDE & I gather it draws from the debian testing repositories... Any idea if that might jive with Cinnamon?
PatH57

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by PatH57 »

Hi,

I have a couple of laptops with the b43 flavor of broadom, I'm way to lazy to get up and connect a network cable everytime I try a new OS. So for linux I have done my own thing and have the files on a usb key.
Follow the process don't worry about error messages and it should work.


copy the attachement to the desktop or modify your procedure according to your saved path and extract the files you should see a new folder called b43

Code: Select all

sudo mkdir /lib/firmware/b43

Code: Select all

sudo cp Desktop/b43/* /lib/firmware/b43

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f b43

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f ssb

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f wl

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe b43
wait a minute...
b43.zip
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

PatH57 wrote:Hi,

I have a couple of laptops with the b43 flavor of broadom, I'm way to lazy to get up and connect a network cable everytime I try a new OS. So for linux I have done my own thing and have the files on a usb key.
Follow the process don't worry about error messages and it should work.


copy the attachement to the desktop or modify your procedure according to your saved path and extract the files you should see a new folder called b43

Code: Select all

sudo mkdir /lib/firmware/b43

Code: Select all

sudo cp Desktop/b43/* /lib/firmware/b43

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f b43

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f ssb

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f wl

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe b43
wait a minute...
b43.zip
I followed the instructions above... Unfortunately, the error messages seemed to be quite relevant. First it refused to make the directory on the grounds that the directory already existed. Then it refused to execute most of the subsequent commands because the file "does not exist" (since it wasn't possible to create the directory and all). The final code froze the computer. Had to do a hard boot... I'm back in LM 13 because my back was aching due to the constraints of my wired connection.

I hope you'll understand that I'm very grateful for your help, but I'm starting to think it might be time to look for a new distro. (Hopefully not a new computer... I just don't have the funds!) :(
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

I think I may have found a solution - will find out later this evening when I have a little more free time. V2 of LM17 should handle the firmware problems.
"Driver Manager didn’t handle missing firmwares correctly" is one of the specific issues V2 is supposed to correct. Source: http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2662

Nope... Still broken. My download *is* v2.
PatH57

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by PatH57 »

well you did try to install drivers and there must be someleft over so we should try to remove the files first and then try the procedure again

Code: Select all

rm -rvf /path/to/directory 
rationalunicorn

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by rationalunicorn »

LM17 hasn't been installed - I'm committed to resolving the issues while running live usb prior to install. Consequently I can get a fresh start at any point by rebooting (and can still operate in LM13 when I need to get something done). Worst case scenario, LM13 is supported until 2017 (which is still infinitessimally better than MS support).

What I'd like to accomplish here is a step-by-step solution that anyone else with this wifi card can follow upon install (I will post a link or directions in my hardware on the community as well), and hopefully have something useful for Mint developers to include in future updates.

So... Now what? I will happily start at the beginning. Again - thank you!
PatH57

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by PatH57 »

that may be difficult did you do a persistant usb stick?
If not all the changes you make will be lost at reboot.

now as I suggested wipe the existing b43 folder and try the manual installation again. I never did it on a live usb but I've done it a couple of times on installed Mint17, Ubuntu 14.04 and opensuse.
doneda

Re: BCM4321 problems for Mint 17 Cinnamon

Post by doneda »

PatH57 wrote: Sat Jul 26, 2014 4:27 am Hi,

I have a couple of laptops with the b43 flavor of broadom, I'm way to lazy to get up and connect a network cable everytime I try a new OS. So for linux I have done my own thing and have the files on a usb key.
Follow the process don't worry about error messages and it should work.


copy the attachement to the desktop or modify your procedure according to your saved path and extract the files you should see a new folder called b43

Code: Select all

sudo mkdir /lib/firmware/b43

Code: Select all

sudo cp Desktop/b43/* /lib/firmware/b43

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f b43

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f ssb

Code: Select all

sudo rmmod -f wl

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe b43
wait a minute...
b43.zip
As I'm trying to make use of an old macbook for my wife, that uses this wireless card, I thank you, sir, for your help.
I created an account and joined the forum just to say thank's!
Installed Linux Mint 19.3 and the broadcom driver that the driver manager suggested didn't work, so looking for solutions on Google I got here and it finally worked.
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