Broadcom drivers in latest 32 bit porteus release

Post here if you are a new Porteus member and you're looking for some help.
mrlovaxrovax
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Distribution: Proteus3.2.2
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Broadcom drivers in latest 32 bit porteus release

Post#1 by mrlovaxrovax » 23 May 2017, 13:21

Hello,
I'm still having issues getting porteus to work properly with WiFi. I've had to revert to the 32 bit install to be compatible with another laptop I have. Using this install I now don't have any WiFi connectivity (though it can see the card and see the networks it just won't connect).. in the 64 bit install it worked but was very slow, and took ages to connect to a page (see other post)..

Do I need to update the broadcom drivers (presumably there​ are more recent ones than bundled with 3.1).. how would I do this? Or is there a way to troubleshoot my problem.. thanks..

The card is this:
root@porteus:/home/guest# lspci -nn -d 14e4:
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM43142 802.11b/g/n [14e4:4365] (rev 01)

donald
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Distribution: Porteus 3.2.2 XFCE 32bit
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Re: Broadcom drivers in latest 32 bit porteus release

Post#2 by donald » 24 May 2017, 04:35

Hello mrlovaxrovax

Just to let you know you are not being ignored. :)

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guest@porteus:~$ find /var/log/packages/ -iname broadcom*
/var/log/packages/broadcom-sta-6.30.223.271_4.9.0_porteus-i486-1jay
I could not find a newer version than already included.(3.2.2)

regarding 3.1
Compare the version number with the one shipped with porteus 3.1
If it is an older version, try USM (the package manager) to get/compile a newer one.

Code: Select all

guest@porteus:~$ su
Password: 
root@porteus:/home/guest# usm -u all
............
root@porteus:/home/guest# usm -s broadcom
If it has to be compiled, the "05-devel.xzm" + "crippled-sources.xzm" modules
must be activated first. (They may no longer be available)

The sources/patches can also be found at:
http://slackbuilds.org/repository/14.2/ ... adcom-sta/

In general, "broadcom" chips are the most problematic in linux...
...how about purchasing a (really cheap nowadays) linux compatible wifi dongle?

mrlovaxrovax
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Distribution: Proteus3.2.2
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Re: Broadcom drivers in latest 32 bit porteus release

Post#3 by mrlovaxrovax » 24 May 2017, 07:53

Thanks for the response.

I've got version /var/log/packages/broadcom-sta-6.30.223.248-i486-1ftm which is not quite the latest

If I do usm -s broadcom it downloads but I get:

FATAL ERROR!
sbo_build 97
md5sum mismatch: README_6.30.223.271.txt

I can't find 05-devel.xzm with the USM manager - i tried searching for keyword/package and library with different strings.

However the card has now just started working... which is a bit frustrating! If the card is on and it can see networks, but it is not connecting - is there anyway to diagnose the problem? Any log files or anything.. I could buy a new wifi dongle, but it's a shame that this one works completely fine in Windows 10...

donald
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Distribution: Porteus 3.2.2 XFCE 32bit
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Re: Broadcom drivers in latest 32 bit porteus release

Post#4 by donald » 24 May 2017, 12:40

Hi mrlovaxrovax

the devel module: -- porteus 3.1 32 Bit
http://ftp.nluug.nl/os/Linux/distr/port ... -devel.xzm
download and activate it.

Building the driver didn't work..good, because there are some hurdles..
In 3.1 the driver (wl.ko) is located in
/lib/modules/3.17.4-porteus/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/wl.ko
whereas the new one would go into
lib/modules/3.17.4-porteus/kernel/extra/wl.ko

Do you still want to test the newer version?

(not so) quick and dirty...download
hybrid-v35-nodebug-pcoem-6_30_223_271.tar.gz and broadcom-sta.tar.gz from
http://slackbuilds.org/repository/14.2/ ... adcom-sta/
into the downloads folder > rightclick in this folder > open terminal here

Code: Select all

guest@porteus:~/Downloads$ tar -xf broadcom-sta.tar.gz
guest@porteus:~/Downloads$ cp ./hybrid-v35-nodebug-pcoem-6_30_223_271.tar.gz broadcom-sta
guest@porteus:~/Downloads$ cd broadcom-sta
guest@porteus:~/Downloads/broadcom-sta$ su
Password: 
root@porteus:/home/guest/Downloads/broadcom-sta# ./broadcom-sta.SlackBuild
ignore the warnings..if any.
now look in tmp/SBo/package-broadcom-sta/lib/modules/3.17.4-porteus/kernel/extra/
if there is a wl.ko file
if yes, check if the old one is loaded

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root@porteus:/home/guest# lsmod
if there is a wl module in the list unload it

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root@porteus:/home/guest# rmmod wl
check again..now rename the old one (so you can revert back) and copy the new one
into the same/old location.
(/lib/modules/3.17.4-porteus/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/wl.ko)
load the new one with

Code: Select all

root@porteus:/home/guest# modprobe wl
give it a minute (or reboot if saving changes) and test if does work any better.

===============================================
the better/correct way (IIRC) + correcting the .txt file error message:

Code: Select all

guest@porteus:~/Downloads$ tar -xf broadcom-sta.tar.gz
guest@porteus:~/Downloads$ cp ./hybrid-v35-nodebug-pcoem-6_30_223_271.tar.gz broadcom-sta
guest@porteus:~/Downloads$ cd broadcom-sta
guest@porteus:~/Downloads/broadcom-sta$ mv README README_6.30.223.271.txt
guest@porteus:~/Downloads/broadcom-sta$ su
Password: 
root@porteus:/home/guest/Downloads/broadcom-sta# ./broadcom-sta.SlackBuild
............
root@porteus:/home/guest/Downloads/broadcom-sta# rmmod wl
root@porteus:/home/guest/Downloads/broadcom-sta# cd /tmp
root@porteus:/tmp# upgradepkg broadcom-sta*.tgz
root@porteus:/tmp# depmod -a
root@porteus:/tmp# modprobe wl
(or reboot if saving changes)
exit
=================================================
Have fun... :wink:

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Re: Broadcom drivers in latest 32 bit porteus release

Post#5 by brokenman » 25 May 2017, 02:19

The version in Porteus-v3.2.2 is the latest broadcom-sta driver. It is compiled against the kernel so I am not sure if the slackware one will work for you.

Please search the forum on how to get the broadcom driver working. You will at the very least have to blacklist other drivers.
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