Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

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dlclark

Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

Post by dlclark »

Not able to detect this device in Device Manager; research seems to indicate that the 'brcmsmac' driver is appropriate per
https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kerne ... /brcm80211
(WIKI)
Here is the config:

Code: Select all

dlclark@Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y ~ $ sudo /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintWifi/mintWifi.py
[sudo] password for dlclark: 
-------------------------
* I. scanning WIFI PCI devices...
-------------------------
* II. querying ndiswrapper...
-------------------------
* III. querying iwconfig...
eth0      no wireless extensions.

lo        no wireless extensions.

-------------------------
* IV. querying ifconfig...
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:23:54:75:ff:19  
          inet addr:192.168.1.141  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::223:54ff:fe75:ff19/64 Scope:Link
          inet6 addr: fd66:9745:f23c:0:25d0:707:a6ae:dea5/64 Scope:Global
          inet6 addr: 2601:444:2:43ed:223:54ff:fe75:ff19/64 Scope:Global
          inet6 addr: fd66:9745:f23c:0:223:54ff:fe75:ff19/64 Scope:Global
          inet6 addr: 2601:444:2:43ed:25d0:707:a6ae:dea5/64 Scope:Global
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:49703 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:34316 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:46557172 (46.5 MB)  TX bytes:4436318 (4.4 MB)

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:22432 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:22432 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:1351560 (1.3 MB)  TX bytes:1351560 (1.3 MB)

-------------------------
* V. querying DHCP...
RTNETLINK answers: File exists
-------------------------
* VI. querying nslookup google.com...
Server:		75.75.76.76
Address:	75.75.76.76#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.101
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.99
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.98
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.105
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.104
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.102
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.103
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.97
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.110
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.100
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.46.96
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
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karlchen
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Re: Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

Post by karlchen »

Hello, dlclark.

Could we please have the screen output of the commandline

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz
(capital F, lowercase xz)
as well. Will be more enlightening than the output of mintWifi.

Cheers,
Karl
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dlclark

Re: Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

Post by dlclark »

Code: Select all

dlclark@Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y ~ $     inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y Kernel: 3.19.0-32-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.2)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.6 (Gtk 3.10.8~8+qiana)
           Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine:   System: HP-Pavilion product: NC689AA-ABA s3700y
           Mobo: PEGATRON model: Acacia v: 1.02
           Bios: Phoenix v: 5.19 date: 10/17/2008
CPU:       Dual core AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 svm) bmips: 4000
           clock speeds: max: 2600 MHz 1: 1000 MHz 2: 1000 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430] bus-ID: 00:0d.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1440x900@59.9hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on NV4C
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.5.9 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card NVIDIA MCP61 High Definition Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:05.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.19.0-32-generic
Network:   Card-1: NVIDIA MCP61 Ethernet
           driver: forcedeth port: ec00 bus-ID: 00:07.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Linksys AE2500 802.11abgn Wireless Adapter [Broadcom BCM43236]
           usb-ID: 001-003
           IF: null-if-id state: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 820.2GB (16.9% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sdb model: ST3320813AS size: 320.1GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sda model: USB_3.0_Cable size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 290G used: 9.7G (4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.16GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdb5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 178 Uptime: 2:18 Memory: 1758.5/3825.8MB
           Init: Upstart runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111) inxi: 2.2.28 
dlclark@Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y ~ $
Last edited by karlchen on Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: added [code] tags around inxi screen output
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karlchen
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Re: Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

Post by karlchen »

Hello, dlclark.

I assume that this USB attached wifi adapter will only work using ndiswrapper plus the appropriate Windows driver. - At least searching for "Linksys USB Broadcom BCM43236" on this internet search engine with the capital G in its name has not returned any hint that "Linksys USB Broadcom BCM43236" can be persuaded to co-operate with any genuine Linux driver.
Please, have a closer look at this Askubuntu thread:
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 13b1:003a Linksys AE2500 802.11abgn Wireless Adapter [Broadcom BCM43236] driver
Actually, it may be a good approach to search the Ubuntu forums, too:
(1) After all Mint 17.x is based on Ubuntu 14.04
(2) This guy chili555 who posted in the Askubuntu thread as well seems to be the Ubuntu forum network guru.

Your system uses the Linux kernel "3.19.0-32-generic x86_64", i.e. the default 3.19.0-xx series. There is the slight chance that a newer kernel from the 4.2.0-xx series supports USB attached Linksys Broadcom BCM43236 wifi adapters without resorting to ndiswrapper and the Windows driver. No promise though. I have not read the changelogs for any kernel 4.x.

HTH,
Karl
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dlclark

Re: Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

Post by dlclark »

Appreciate the assistance.
Could you comment on the info I found at the LINUX WIKI:

Not able to detect this device in Device Manager; research seems to indicate that the 'brcmsmac' driver is appropriate per
https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kerne ... /brcm80211
(WIKI)

Found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compariso ... ss_drivers

refers to:

https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kerne ... /brcm80211
as being the correct driver; and perhaps how to determine if the kernel supports it?

I found the libs for them as follows:

dlclark@Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y ~ $ sudo su
[sudo] password for dlclark:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for dlclark:
Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y dlclark #
Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y dlclark # find /usr/lib -name brcm80211 -print
Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y dlclark # find / -name brcm80211 -print
/usr/src/linux-headers-3.19.0-32/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211
/lib/modules/3.19.0-32-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211
Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y dlclark # find / -name brcmfmac -print
/usr/src/linux-headers-3.19.0-32/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmfmac
/usr/src/linux-headers-3.19.0-32-generic/include/config/brcmfmac
/lib/modules/3.19.0-32-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmfmac
Mint-NC689AA-ABA-s3700y dlclark #
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karlchen
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Re: Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

Post by karlchen »

Hello, dlklark.

Happy New Year!

It is interesting that you draw the conclusion the driver "brcmsmac" were the right one for your Broadcom chip BCM43236.
If you look at the webpage that you linked to closely again, then you should find this:

Code: Select all

Driver Family 	 Driver 	 	Chipset
brcm80211 	brcmfmac 	Broadcom 4329, 4330, 4334, 43235, 43236, 43238 	 Yes (since 3.2) 	Yes 	ISC 	Written by Broadcom
brcm80211 	brcmsmac 	Broadcom 4313, 43224, 43225 	 	 	 	 		 Yes (since 3.2) 	Yes 	ISC 	Written by Broadcom
It names driver "brcmfmac" for your Broadcom chip BCM43236, not "brcmsmac"

Yet, I am not sure whether making your system load brcmfmac instead of brmsmac will really make a difference.

This webpage that you will have come across as well, brcm80211 list the BCM43236 adapter as especially problematic, because
BCM43231 and BCM43236 (rev ⇐ 2) have another architecture and can't be easily supported by brcmfmac. They have less memory on the chip and can't run full MAC firmware, so they require implementing some extra code in the Linux driver. On the other hand they are not standard soft MAC devices, so they can't be supported by brcmsmac or b43.
In effect this page tells that BCM43236 will not be supported by driver brmfmac (due to lack of on chip memory), brmsmac or b43.
To me this reads like there is no suitable generic Linux driver at all at the moment.

The inxi output that you posted, section "Network" seems to confirm the installed driver may be of little use:

Code: Select all

Card-2: Linksys AE2500 802.11abgn Wireless Adapter [Broadcom BCM43236]
           usb-ID: 001-003
           IF: null-if-id state: N/A mac: N/A
As far as I had understood from the Askubuntu thread, Chili555 tells that currently "Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB" will only work on Linux using the genuine Windows driver software plus ndiswrapper. - ndiswrapper is needed in order to enable Linux to use a Windows driver.

I am afraid that there is no better advice that I can give. I have got no "Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB". I have got no USB attachd wifi adapter of any kind here. So my expertise on making USB attached wifi adapters work is very limited. And the best that I can do is what I did, googling for "Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB" and hope that Chili555 is right in what he suggests.

Regards,
Karl
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The people of Alderaan have been bravely fighting back the clone warriors sent out by the unscrupulous Sith Lord Palpatine for 762 days now.
Lifeline
dlclark

Re: Linksys - Broadcom BCM43236 Wireless USB

Post by dlclark »

Karl,
Thanks for taking the time to explain your recommendation, I did mistype the driver; did not find the other information you referred to prior to your post. I will follow the <NDIS> example in your recommendation; mostly for the experience. Long term, I will look for a wireless adapter that is supported long term by the distribution.

What I was really trying to understand is what is a GENERIC approach for loading drivers and determining the proper incantations. Just loaded LINUX MINT for the first time in the past week; but have been a software engineer for many years and mostly in the UNIX environment.

Regards and thanks again (did not mean to appear to be questioning your advise, just trying to get a deeper understanding of the OS),

Daryl
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