According to the Gentoo Wiki and the driver db at http://kmuto.jp/debian/hcl/, I should be able to configure brcmsmac in the kernel to operate this hardware, but it doesn't work when I use it. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Hardware present: 44:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 01) 2. Compile brcmsmac (softmac) as a module. Actual Results: No wireless and card not detected. Expected Results: Card detected, working wireless. Kernel config in question at http://audiodef.com/3.6.11-rt23-fresh.config Not sure where to get a log. less /var/log/messages | grep 43224 or "Broadcom" has no results.
You probably want to use net-wireless/bcm43xx-fwcutter for that.
I have looked into bcm43xx-fwcutter, and I have read and followed all instructions on that at http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43#other_distros, but it is simply not working. I have done more than these instructions said I should do and played around with it. No dice. I notice that the linked page states: "On 09/09/2010, Broadcom released an open driver for their SSB-less chipsets. However, it only supported three chips (bcm4313, bcm43224, bcm43225). The driver is merged into kernel 2.6.37 under brcm80211. More information is available on this release at http://lwn.net/Articles/404248/." I am still at a loss and it still looks like there might be a bug somewhere. I have one of the exact chips mentioned, the bcm43224. It seems to me that this should "just work", given this information. If I can provide more technical info so a possible bug can be tracked down, I will gladly post it. FYI, regarding the text I quoted, there is no BRCM80211 symbol in kernel 3.6.11. Was it included but subsequently discarded? I did notice that I can now boot with a 3.6.11 kernel and my wireless card is turned on, but it does not find any wireless networks.
I meant to say that no matter what file I tried to use bcm43xx-fwcutter on, I got "Sorry, the input file is either wrong or not supported by bcm43xx-fwcutter".
This has nothing to do with fwcutter or anything else in net-wireless. If the chip is supported by brcmsmac then it doesn't need fwcutter to extract firmware it should just work afaik. I'd suggest google or #linux-wireless on freenode. here is a free starter link: http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/brcm80211
I have followed all the instructions, selected and loaded all the correct kernel modules, and read that entire page. I have the supported hardware and it does not work for me. Perhaps the bug is that something in the instructions are missing? Either way: 1. I have the supported hardware. 2. I followed the instructions for making it work. 3. It does not work. I will be happy to post logs, strace, whatever. I just need to know what it needed to determine what is causing this not to work.
*what IS needed*
I have to take back what I said earlier. Starting with a fresh kernel config from Pappy's Kernel Seeds, and again following all relevant instructions, the card is not detected and the card's laptop LED does not even turn from orange (off) to blue (on). I don't know how it happened with my previous config and I'm unable to intentionally duplicate it. I have tried turning things on and off in the kernel and configuring things built-in and as modules - all to no avail.
I don't mean to be rude but a kernel module not working isn't a gentoo bug, it's an upstream bug. Please, linux-wireless mailing list or bug tracker are much better places to get help than here.
