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Comment: ToDo: broadcom-sta-source is back in unstable.
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 ToDo: Document broadcom-sta-source (like in [[http://wiki.debian.org/wl?action=diff&rev2=5&rev1=4|this previous page]]. The package have a new maintainer, who packaged a new version ([[DebianBug:543888#15]]).
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(!) ?Discussion


Broadcom 4311, 4312, 4321, 4322 devices (wl)

This page describes how to enable support for WiFi devices based on Broadcom 4311/4312/4321/4322 chipsets - using Broadcom's hybrid device driver - on Debian systems.

Not supported by Debian

This driver was previously packaged for Debian (never part of a stable release). It has since been removed from the archive, see Debian bug 551364. Support is no longer provided.

Some Broadcom wireless LAN chipsets are unsupported by the reverse-engineered b43 and b43legacy drivers at this time, including:

  • BCM4312 low-power variant (PCI-ID: 14E4:4315)

    • Also known as "BCM 4310 USB"
    • Initial support is available in wireless-testing/compat-wireless-2.6, to be released with kernel 2.6.32.

  • BCM4321 (PCI-IDs: 14E4:4328, 14E4:4329)
  • BCM4322 (PCI-ID: 14E4:432B)

Support of these chipsets is possible using a driver (wl) made available by the vendor, which includes a binary-only component targeted for the x86 or x86-64 architecture. The vendor driver was previously packaged for Debian in non-free. It was removed from the archive in October 2009 to resolve Debian bug 551364.

{i} An alternate method of support for your device may be possible using NDISwrapper.

<!> The vendor driver depends on the x86 or x86-64 architecture (Debian i386 and AMD64 ports respectively) at this time.

Installation

Lenny, Squeeze

  1. Install the build-essential, relevant linux-headers and and wireless-tools packages:

    $ su
    # aptitude update && aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) wireless-tools
    # exit
  2. Acquire the driver applicable for your architecture from Broadcom's website, for example:

    • 32-bit driver (i386):

      $ wget http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta/hybrid-portsrc-x86_32-v5.10.91.9.3.tar.gz

      or 64-bit driver (amd64):

      $ wget http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta/hybrid-portsrc-x86_64-v5.10.91.9.3.tar.gz
  3. Extract and compile the vendor driver:

    $ mkdir hybrid_wl && cd hybrid_wl
    $ tar xvf ../hybrid-portsrc*
    $ make
  4. Install the kernel module:

    $ su
    # mkdir -p /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/extra/wl && cp wl.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/extra/wl
    # depmod -a -F /boot/System.map-$(uname -r) $(uname -r)
  5. Ensure the b43 and ssb modules are unloaded prior to loading the wl module:

    # echo 'install wl /sbin/modprobe -qr b43 ssb; /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install wl $CMDLINE_OPTS' >> /etc/modprobe.d/local.conf
  6. Load the wl module:

    # modprobe wl
    If not already performed, connect the device to your system.
  7. Add wl to the list of kernel modules to load at boot:

    # echo wl >> /etc/modules
  8. Verify your device has an available interface:

    # iwconfig
  9. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

    # ifconfig wlan0 up
  10. Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

Known Issues

Refer to http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta/README.txt.

Supported Devices

The page HowToIdentifyADevice/PCI explains how to identify a PCI device.

The following list is based on the alias fields of modinfo wl as of driver version 5.10.91.9.3:

  • PCI: 14E4:4311 Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN
    PCI: 14E4:4312 Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11a/b/g
    PCI: 14E4:4313 Broadcom Corporation BCM4310 Ethernet Controller
    PCI: 14E4:4315 Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g
    PCI: 14E4:4328 Broadcom Corporation BCM4328 802.11a/b/g/n
    PCI: 14E4:4329 Broadcom Corporation BCM43XG
    PCI: 14E4:432A Broadcom Corporation (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 14E4:432B Broadcom Corporation BCM4322 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller
    PCI: 14E4:432C Broadcom Corporation (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 14E4:432D Broadcom Corporation (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 14E4:4353 Broadcom Corporation (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 14E4:4357 Broadcom Corporation (Device name unknown)

See Also



CategoryHardware | CategoryWireless