[SOLVED] Can I install Porteus on old 32bit laptop - w/ dualboot?

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Rava
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Can I install Porteus on old 32bit laptop - w/ dualboot?

Post#31 by Rava » 31 Jan 2023, 23:57

gotPortee wrote:
31 Jan 2023, 23:44
The other OS installed in the laptop is Puppy - and both the Ethernet and Wifi work with that OS.
Is Puppy a 64 bit system?
If so you can copy the firmware Puppy is using over to Porteus.

Or beny, can in case of firmware, can the firmware from a 32 bit Linux used in a 64 bit Linux as well?
Cheers!
Yours Rava

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Post#32 by beny » 01 Feb 2023, 00:09

no the driver are all in we have to search the location, is the kernel version that have issue, with puppy what is the version of the kernel and you have the kernel source with it...and the laptop model so we can search info

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Can I install Porteus on old 32bit laptop - w/ dualboot?

Post#33 by donald » 01 Feb 2023, 01:04

@gotPortee

Hmmm...you said the ISO is Porteus-MATE-v4.0-x86_64
and then:
~# ls -l /mnt/live/memory/images
000-kernel.xzm : Apr 21 2018
001-core.xzm : Apr 22 2018
002-xorg.xzm : Apr 22 2018
003-xfce.xzm : Apr 16 2018

however, -- wifi
boot into puppy and check which driver is used for wifi.
it might be the 'wl' (also named broadcom-sta) driver.
This one is not included in porteus-4, IIRC.
should be in /lib/modules/4.16.3-porteus/kernel/extra/wl.ko
..at least it is in my system.

another option to test is:
take a spare usb thumb drive and install porteus 3.2.2 which has the wl driver
> boot the drive and check if wifi works.

could be you need additional firmware if it does not work out of the box -- check
the log files for 'failed to load firmware'

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Can I install Porteus on old 32bit laptop - w/ dualboot?

Post#34 by gotPortee » 01 Feb 2023, 17:43

Well - it looks like I'm in a "no go" situation.
I was successful at inserting lib80211.ko

But failed to load cfg80211.ko - with the system returning "Unknown Symbol" as the result.
Also tried loading b43.ko with the same error.

I tried b43.ko because the other OS in the laptop (puppy) has a utility to search for the wifi adapter and perform its own insmod routine.
It ended up loading what it calls a b43xx module - and the wifi works with that.

I want to thank everyone for trying to help!!
My very sincere thanks!!

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Can I install Porteus on old 32bit laptop - w/ dualboot?

Post#35 by gotPortee » 01 Feb 2023, 17:51

Thank you Donald!
I didn't see your post here until after I made my last post.

The directions in the [NOW TO] fix a broadcom driver issue - instructs one to black-list the wl driver.
This is done by adding a config file.
And I created that.
When I perform a 'dmesg" in Puppy - it only displays the wifi broadcom driver as '43xx'
And Porteus does have a 43 module within its lib folders
But the system does not like that module either - indicating "Unknown Symbol" in response to insmod

Your idea about trying version 3.2.2 is very interesting!
I will do that!
Thanks! :-]

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Post#36 by beny » 01 Feb 2023, 18:07

try to load the rfkill module before cf80211 the kernel module link is like domino: take a look at depend line

Code: Select all

 ash-5.2# modinfo '/lib/modules/6.1.8-porteus/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/b43/b43.ko' 
filename:       /lib/modules/6.1.8-porteus/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/b43/b43.ko
firmware:       b43/ucode9.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode42.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode40.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode5.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode30_mimo.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode33_lcn40.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode29_mimo.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode26_mimo.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode25_mimo.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode25_lcn.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode24_lcn.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode16_mimo.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode16_lp.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode15.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode14.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode13.fw
firmware:       b43/ucode11.fw
license:        GPL
author:         Rafał Miłecki
author:         Gábor Stefanik
author:         Michael Buesch
author:         Stefano Brivio
author:         Martin Langer
description:    Broadcom B43 wireless driver
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev10*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev0F*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev0D*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev0C*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev0B*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev0A*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev09*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev07*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev06*
alias:          ssb:v4243id0812rev05*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev2Acl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev28cl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev1Ecl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev1Dcl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev1Ccl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev18cl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev17cl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev15cl*
alias:          bcma:m04BFid0812rev11cl*
depends:        cfg80211,mac80211,ssb,bcma,rng-core,led-class,cordic
retpoline:      Y
intree:         Y
name:           b43
vermagic:       6.1.8-porteus SMP preempt mod_unload 
sig_id:         PKCS#7
signer:         Build time autogenerated kernel key
sig_key:        13:62:13:C9:C7:50:E6:1D:F7:79:58:41:48:AA:F8:1D:23:CD:25:83
sig_hashalgo:   sha1
signature:      23:AF:F7:8C:FF:F7:7E:45:80:60:A9:EA:56:3D:5F:8D:02:43:FD:59:
		F4:63:F8:EF:05:37:B9:17:31:17:3F:23:7A:6F:24:01:BE:DF:66:7C:
		1D:C5:B5:DA:39:73:4B:B0:B7:2C:47:05:C1:28:28:4B:93:5D:8E:5A:
		FA:D6:48:C5:C3:D8:95:65:5E:0E:FA:B2:41:9A:3E:06:BA:7B:A7:FF:
		D3:12:4A:62:1E:E0:EC:DA:39:89:C4:DA:9B:29:43:F8:F0:BA:8B:98:
		6E:F5:9D:54:9F:2C:27:25:B9:8C:59:E9:14:59:B2:70:77:F7:AF:CF:
		F8:CC:D0:82:E6:B9:B9:3C:31:D5:4B:9E:25:F8:33:6E:10:96:C4:FA:
		00:04:C1:A7:3F:A7:E2:1D:C5:80:82:ED:36:76:D4:BB:DD:A1:41:68:
		61:1E:5A:C7:E8:DE:D0:BF:75:82:2F:E7:80:DA:B2:C0:8C:8B:19:65:
		38:A6:74:E9:E9:DC:C9:92:CA:F6:FF:66:C8:AC:49:32:34:6F:1E:DD:
		D8:E5:35:70:6F:B6:FE:22:51:91:97:F2:60:14:25:73:29:0A:DF:CE:
		F7:C6:10:43:88:D8:77:5B:ED:72:BA:E2:C1:9C:03:45:9C:C6:D9:B7:
		EC:CE:A2:51:A6:B5:33:6C:3F:4F:5D:FB:18:1C:4F:51:A3:26:D5:F5:
		78:91:E8:F4:1A:65:54:DD:6A:A4:D9:67:74:8A:9E:B5:CE:A5:B6:79:
		7B:A4:0F:9E:08:41:B0:B4:50:70:8E:1A:9A:FA:FA:68:14:F2:D3:D5:
		1E:9A:DD:9E:64:BE:9D:8D:2F:D0:97:40:26:A2:B9:44:68:83:F2:88:
		5F:B6:CA:0F:C4:F5:21:E1:B5:A9:ED:C8:47:92:CA:EB:C9:DC:0E:3E:
		CD:08:4B:F9:1F:AB:8A:6D:14:DF:66:BF:B3:26:46:CA:41:FC:17:9F:
		87:7E:74:B7:8F:D5:E7:E2:E6:CD:73:3B:74:B5:95:8F:6D:20:CE:24:
		42:38:2E:21:46:81:24:C9:A7:26:0F:77:80:7A:AF:BC:71:F1:EC:31:
		6B:9E:D2:05:93:72:69:9B:73:38:1C:35:F6:E9:D8:B3:A9:54:9C:D2:
		CC:F6:BE:21:AE:DB:9C:9E:EE:24:2F:6D:9D:F9:63:5A:B2:2F:2F:EF:
		BE:00:5C:91:A1:00:16:F6:CC:2C:AD:09:5A:B6:F2:9D:8A:75:1A:B5:
		A3:C9:40:AE:D3:D1:05:64:3F:6E:82:46:3A:A9:82:1E:5A:EC:62:12:
		7D:8F:91:2F:77:0B:87:F6:92:AD:90:CF:8D:70:91:D9:14:4F:38:DB:
		8B:A7:7F:CD:83:41:1B:DE:83:85:7B:80
parm:           bad_frames_preempt:enable(1) / disable(0) Bad Frames Preemption (int)
parm:           fwpostfix:Postfix for the .fw files to load. (string)
parm:           hwpctl:Enable hardware-side power control (default off) (int)
parm:           nohwcrypt:Disable hardware encryption. (int)
parm:           hwtkip:Enable hardware tkip. (int)
parm:           qos:Enable QOS support (default on) (int)
parm:           btcoex:Enable Bluetooth coexistence (default on) (int)
parm:           verbose:Log message verbosity: 0=error, 1=warn, 2=info(default), 3=debug (int)
parm:           pio:Use PIO accesses by default: 0=DMA, 1=PIO (int)
parm:           allhwsupport:Enable support for all hardware (even it if overlaps with the brcmsmac driver) (int)
bash-5.2# 

                                                                                                        

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Post#37 by gotPortee » 01 Feb 2023, 18:32

Hi Benny
After digging a little further in Puppy - I can see the actual driver file is "brcmsmac.ko"
So I tried to load this one also - and got the same error "Unknown Symbol"

I don't understand what your last post means?
I don't know what the "rfkill" Module is

Sincere thanks

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Post#38 by beny » 01 Feb 2023, 18:42

hi /lib/modules/6.1.9-porteus/kernel/net/rfkill/rfkill.ko need for this:description: RF switch support start and stop signal wireless and bluetooth i think...

Code: Select all

guest@porteus:~$ sudo rfkill
Password: 
ID TYPE      DEVICE      SOFT      HARD
 0 bluetooth hci0   unblocked unblocked
 1 wlan      phy0   unblocked unblocked

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Post#39 by gotPortee » 01 Feb 2023, 19:14

When I enter sudo rfkill

System response:
Cannot open /dev/rfkill no such file or directory

However - with "rfkill --help"
It does produce the help file.

So rfkill must be installed
It just doesn't respond to any command syntax I have tried.

I have a suspicion that rfkill is not initiated at bootup
Perhaps that is the reason why the rfkill list command fails?

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Post#40 by beny » 01 Feb 2023, 20:52

hi you have to load this module first rfkill and after cfg80211 and if you use the changes options you can load all the modules and at reboot you have all ready to use, Ed_P can help you for the changes storage options,i don't use it

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Post#41 by gotPortee » 01 Feb 2023, 22:52

Ok thanks Beny!
I'll wait to see if Ed can help me with the steps for this.
This is my first intro to device drivers and modules in Linux.
Thanks very much Beny

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Post#42 by Ed_P » 02 Feb 2023, 05:38

I'm not sure what beny is referring to gotPortee. Modules are stored in the /porteus/modules folder and changes are stored in the /changes folder which you specified on your kernel boot parm.

Making a module for a driver is simple enough. Here is the script I used to make a wifi driver module for my Porteus 5.0 system.

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh

# 5.18.8 WiFi files that support my new Dell.
# https://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?p=87701&sid=903ab5878a5498cdf4ef52468ff41249#p87701
# https://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?p=86386&sid=0ac300285a0bb779e3f2ae79ce934da5#p86386 
# https://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?p=88885#p88885
# 71.ucode chosen as a result of this command's output when using a Blaze all inclusive module.
# dmesg | egrep 'ucode|firmware|fail|error|wifi'

if [ `whoami` != "root" ]; then
   echo -e "Enter root's password\033[1;31m"
   su -c "sh $0 $1"; exit
fi
echo -e "\033[0m"; echo -en "\033]0;Make a Mod\a" 

#set -x;

if [ -d /tmp/mod/ ]; then
   rm -rf /tmp/mod
fi
mkdir -p /tmp/mod
#cp -a --parents /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-QuZ*-71.ucode          /tmp/mod/
cp -a --parents /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-QuZ-a0-hr-b0-71.ucode  /tmp/mod/
cp -a --parents /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-QuZ-a0-jf-b0-71.ucode  /tmp/mod/
ls -R                                                        /tmp/mod/
echo Press Enter to make the xzm module.
read
dir2xzm   /tmp/mod/                   /tmp/Dellwifi2.xzm
rm  -rf   /tmp/mod/ && echo && ls -sh /tmp/*.xzm
echo Copy the /tmp/*.xzm file to your modules folder. 
read

Obviously the firmware files will need to be changed to match the ones that work for you. And if I recall the broadcom wifi has some config and blacklist files associated with the drivers for it to work so they need to be included in the module.

I don't boot Porteus installed on ext drives, I boot the ISOs directly and as a result my system changes are stored in a save.dat file which may be what beny was referring to. But if your system is installed to a linux format drive you don't need one.
Ed

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Post#43 by gotPortee » 02 Feb 2023, 14:49

Very interesting!
I had no idea a module was a batch file.
So I have a couple of options.
I can do as Danny (previous post) suggested - and load Porteus version 3 into a live USB
And boot up with it to see if the wifi module (which I assume will be BRCMSMAC.ko) works without a problem with its Kernel.

Or perhaps I can pursue looking at BRCMSMAC.ko file
To see if I can figure out what is causing the "Unknown Symbol" error with the version 4 Kernel.

I think the easier of those two options would be for me to test the Porteus 3x first.
So how about I do that - and get back to you?

My sincere thank Ed!

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Post#44 by Ed_P » 02 Feb 2023, 16:02

gotPortee wrote:
02 Feb 2023, 14:49
I had no idea a module was a batch file.
A module is not not a batch file, but a module can be created by a batch file. In the case of a broadcom wifi module it will contain the drivers and maybe a text file or two needed to make the broadcom controller work. :) So when you run the Porteus 3 system and i's wifit works for you run a version of the "batch file"/bash script to make a module of it's files and copy it to a USB drive so you can add it to your 4.0 system's /porteus/modules folder.
Ed

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Post#45 by gotPortee » 02 Feb 2023, 18:10

Thanks Ed.
Boy do I have a lot to learn!!! :-]

So Ed - at this point I don't want to be a burden here!
So just let me know if you have bigger fish to fry.

However - isn't it the case that the Kernel-v3 may be different than the Kernel-v4 - such that the module compatible with Kernel-v3 may not be compatible with Kernel-v4 ?

Also, when I try to perform the insmod command on the cfg80211.ko file - and I get the error "Unknown Symbol" I'm wondering if Porteus developers have a debugging platform which gives them more precise information about that error?

There may also be the same driver file for ubuntu - and perhaps the Porteus developers have a utility which will convert a ubuntu module to make it compatible with a Porteus kernel?

At your convenience Ed!
Thanks

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