OK! Here goes!
I have a Dell netbook which has a Broadcom wireless in it. I installed Salix, but cannot get the wireless to work. I've read some of the posts about fixing the problems, but to be honest, I haven't the foggiest idea about what is being described. Can someone give me very simple instructions or an idea of how to get the wireless to work? I have only a tiny bit of experience with computers, but have tried a couple of the different Linux programs like Ubuntu, Mint, Puppy, and Zenwalk. On my old desktop all of them worked fine (though Ubuntu and Mint seemed slow) but the desktop is dead and I'm trying to use the netbook now. I'm 67 years old and not as sharp as you young folk, so I need things a bit simplified at times.
Another problem with wireless.
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Grampa Bear
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 28. May 2010, 14:39
- Location: Missouri Ozarks, USA
Re: Another problem with wireless.
Did you install salix normally or did you have to go through using the noudev boot option and blacklisting the b43 and ssb modules as mentioned in other threads? I'm guessing that it was installed without any extra tweaking on your part, but please confirm. I'm also guessing that you have managed to connect the laptop to the internet by using a wired connection.
It would be nice if you could provide some more information. Open a terminal window, run su to become root, by using your root password and then run lspci and lsmod and copy-paste the output of each command here, so we can see which card it is that you have exactly and what drivers are already loaded, if any.
It would be nice if you could provide some more information. Open a terminal window, run su to become root, by using your root password and then run lspci and lsmod and copy-paste the output of each command here, so we can see which card it is that you have exactly and what drivers are already loaded, if any.
Re: Another problem with wireless.
This might help you. I've posted my slkbuild's for the b43-fwcutter and firmware here [link] for another forum member. You can find out more more information about it at http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43.
Re: Another problem with wireless.
Well, it's kind of like this. For your wireless to work you need to have support for your wireless device in the kernel. Presumably you know Linux has a kernel which makes the whole thing go? Then you also need some firmware to be present so the wireless device can wake up and say I'm a wireless interface and this is what I do. The firmware is usually found in /lib/firmware. In my case I have an intel wireless card. I look in /lib/firmware and see some files called ipw2200 and know I'm good to go. That's after I've run a command called lsmod in a terminal session which tells me the kernel knows about my intel card.
That's the first part. No kernel support and/or no firmware, no joy. Now it just so happens Broadcom tends to be one of the more problematic manufacturers. But some Broadcom devices are usually supported out of the box nowadays.
If you have the essential preconditions mentioned above then the rest should be easy. Just run wicd and do what it tells ya to do.
Remember, man is your friend. That's the man command. Man for manual. Sometimes you just have to read the manual. In this case the manual for iwconfig will be useful. Man ifconfig could help as well.
There is also a command called dmesg. This shows you what the kernel is up to during the boot process.
Try dmesg | more in a terminal and scroll through. You may well see some information about the Broadcom device. It could indicate for example that the kernel knows about your wireless but the firmware still has to be installed. Good luck.
That's the first part. No kernel support and/or no firmware, no joy. Now it just so happens Broadcom tends to be one of the more problematic manufacturers. But some Broadcom devices are usually supported out of the box nowadays.
If you have the essential preconditions mentioned above then the rest should be easy. Just run wicd and do what it tells ya to do.
Remember, man is your friend. That's the man command. Man for manual. Sometimes you just have to read the manual. In this case the manual for iwconfig will be useful. Man ifconfig could help as well.
There is also a command called dmesg. This shows you what the kernel is up to during the boot process.
Try dmesg | more in a terminal and scroll through. You may well see some information about the Broadcom device. It could indicate for example that the kernel knows about your wireless but the firmware still has to be installed. Good luck.
Re: Another problem with wireless.
I came back to provide a better explanation regarding my b43 slkbuild's but gnomic seams to have beaten my to it...for example that the kernel knows about your wireless but the firmware still has to be installed
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Grampa Bear
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 28. May 2010, 14:39
- Location: Missouri Ozarks, USA
Re: Another problem with wireless.
Well.. It looks like I've jumped into it way over my head. This is probably a foolish question, but would it be better for me to find a shop that has the wireless hardware that will work and have them install it in the netbook? If it is better to do so, what brand or type do I need to look for?
I've never used the terminal program, to be honest I'm worried about messing something up. I did that a lot when I was learning to use Windows. With the Linux programs I just usually install the programs and use them. If they don't work, I just try something else. Looks like I have a whole lot of learning to do. Guess this will keep me busy for quite a few evenings.
Thanks for everybody's help and I'm sorry if I'm a pain in the neck. I have a tendency to jump into things with both feet, instead of testing with my toes first.
I've never used the terminal program, to be honest I'm worried about messing something up. I did that a lot when I was learning to use Windows. With the Linux programs I just usually install the programs and use them. If they don't work, I just try something else. Looks like I have a whole lot of learning to do. Guess this will keep me busy for quite a few evenings.
Thanks for everybody's help and I'm sorry if I'm a pain in the neck. I have a tendency to jump into things with both feet, instead of testing with my toes first.
Re: Another problem with wireless.
Hi there,
Using the terminal is an essential part of the Linux experience. You're missing out if you don't get at least some slight knowledge of using the command line. Open up a terminal and type 'top' sans the commas. This shows you what processes are running on your machine. Just sitting and watching the changing output (it alters as various applications take priority) can teach you about Linux as an operating system. Then if you get really brave type 'mc' and get a file manager like some that you might once have used with DOS such as XtreeGold or Norton Commander. Look through directories such as bin, sbin, and usr/bin, and get an insight to what goes on under the hood, where the executables are that run when you click on an application in the graphical user interface.
Turning to your wireless problem, you could get yourself a USB wireless stick. However the problem is that unless you get one which is well supported in Linux you may not be any further ahead. Unfortunately the manufacturers don't usually provide information which is easily accessible to the consumer about what the chips are that they are using. Sometimes what is ostensibly the same model may have several different chips inside as various batches were produced. One will be easy to use with Linux, another problematic.
You could look at http://linuxwireless.org/, and see whether you can identify a model known to work with Linux which you can buy locally. See the Wireless hardware device list on that site which is comprehensive. You could try visiting retailers to see whether any have some Linux expertise. The most likely kind of place is a small store rather than the big chains. Perhaps try to find out whether there is a Linux user group in your area, if so a member will likely be able to help you get your wireless going. A look at http://hardware4linux.info/ might be useful.
Looks like you have two options. Find someone to hold your hand to get the Broadcom going - or get a USB wireless stick after determining that driver and firmware come with Salix. I guess using what you have seems the most desirable option even if it takes a bit of effort. Hope this helps.
Using the terminal is an essential part of the Linux experience. You're missing out if you don't get at least some slight knowledge of using the command line. Open up a terminal and type 'top' sans the commas. This shows you what processes are running on your machine. Just sitting and watching the changing output (it alters as various applications take priority) can teach you about Linux as an operating system. Then if you get really brave type 'mc' and get a file manager like some that you might once have used with DOS such as XtreeGold or Norton Commander. Look through directories such as bin, sbin, and usr/bin, and get an insight to what goes on under the hood, where the executables are that run when you click on an application in the graphical user interface.
Turning to your wireless problem, you could get yourself a USB wireless stick. However the problem is that unless you get one which is well supported in Linux you may not be any further ahead. Unfortunately the manufacturers don't usually provide information which is easily accessible to the consumer about what the chips are that they are using. Sometimes what is ostensibly the same model may have several different chips inside as various batches were produced. One will be easy to use with Linux, another problematic.
You could look at http://linuxwireless.org/, and see whether you can identify a model known to work with Linux which you can buy locally. See the Wireless hardware device list on that site which is comprehensive. You could try visiting retailers to see whether any have some Linux expertise. The most likely kind of place is a small store rather than the big chains. Perhaps try to find out whether there is a Linux user group in your area, if so a member will likely be able to help you get your wireless going. A look at http://hardware4linux.info/ might be useful.
Looks like you have two options. Find someone to hold your hand to get the Broadcom going - or get a USB wireless stick after determining that driver and firmware come with Salix. I guess using what you have seems the most desirable option even if it takes a bit of effort. Hope this helps.
Re: Another problem with wireless.
Alternatively do a search on ebay for AR5BXB63. It's the model number for an Atheros Mini-PCIE wifi card that should fit your netbook and you should be able to pick up one for next to nothing.
It takes five minutes to fit (if you take it to a shop they should be able to do it there and then), the card is fully supported by the linux kernel (no firmware to compile) and bug free.
I'm swapping two Intel N cards for these because they just work.
It takes five minutes to fit (if you take it to a shop they should be able to do it there and then), the card is fully supported by the linux kernel (no firmware to compile) and bug free.
I'm swapping two Intel N cards for these because they just work.
Re: Another problem with wireless.
Changing the wireless chipset in a netbook is not easily done. It would probably cost more than the netbook is worth to do it.Grampa Bear wrote:Well.. It looks like I've jumped into it way over my head. This is probably a foolish question, but would it be better for me to find a shop that has the wireless hardware that will work and have them install it in the netbook?
OK, I'm probably going to take some flack for saying this, but... SalixOS is not designed to be easy for the Linux newcomer. A newcomer who wants to learn can master SalixOS pretty quickly but, as others have pointed out, you are not going to do that without using the command line.
There are some newbie-friendly distros that detect and support Broadcom chipsets out of the box, including those requiring the proprietary chipset. They will detect which you have and offer to install the correct driver. If you don't want to get under the hood and learn then I would respectfully suggest that you would be better off with Mandriva, LinuxMint or Ubuntu. Any of those should just work with your hardware.
I have written a how-to article that explains the steps you probably will need to take with your netbook if you stick with SalixOS. See: http://broadcast.oreilly.com/2010/06/av ... books.html You will note that this involved downloading and compiling your own driver at the command line.
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Grampa Bear
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 28. May 2010, 14:39
- Location: Missouri Ozarks, USA
Re: Another problem with wireless.
Hello again gentlemen,
Well, I took my first try at the command program. I really toasted everything, my Salix won't start up now.
I drove into town to the only open computer shop for 45 miles around. I got pretty lucky, the young fella behind the counter was a youngster that I allowed to hunt on my farm when he was a teenager. He sold me a wireless card that he said should work with most forms of Linux. It is a Intel Pro ABG wireless card. I paid $10 for it and he installed it for me for free. Thought that was pretty nice of him. I also bought a used external USB DVD-ROM from him for $ 20. He said he would warranty everything for 30 days, he was honest as a kid, so I feel OK about the purchases.
I tried to re-install the Salix from the cd but when I click on the install icon it asks for a user and password. I don,t have a user name or password. How do I get past this? So if I sound like an idiot, but everyone has to start somewhere.
Well, I took my first try at the command program. I really toasted everything, my Salix won't start up now.
I drove into town to the only open computer shop for 45 miles around. I got pretty lucky, the young fella behind the counter was a youngster that I allowed to hunt on my farm when he was a teenager. He sold me a wireless card that he said should work with most forms of Linux. It is a Intel Pro ABG wireless card. I paid $10 for it and he installed it for me for free. Thought that was pretty nice of him. I also bought a used external USB DVD-ROM from him for $ 20. He said he would warranty everything for 30 days, he was honest as a kid, so I feel OK about the purchases.
I tried to re-install the Salix from the cd but when I click on the install icon it asks for a user and password. I don,t have a user name or password. How do I get past this? So if I sound like an idiot, but everyone has to start somewhere.