you probably have two problems: 1) the bcm43xx kernel module isn't worth it's weight in poop, but the newer b43 and b43legacy kernel modules are. 2) b43 and b43legacy are dependent on the kernel module ssb, which is completely broken in linux kernel 2.6.24 (this is a known problem). Since Hardy Heron is built on 2.6.24, you will have to do some fixing to make this work.
Here is roughly what worked for me (your results may vary, I might have left out some steps, and depending on your kernel and whether or not god is with you, this may or may not work. Don't come running to me. I tried to help): # just be root for this - almost every one of these commands requires it sudo su # update your package manager apt-get update # get the b43 firmware cutter package apt-get install b43-fwcutter # use it to download and install the firmware /usr/share/b43-fwcutter/install_bcm43xx_firmware.sh # get the packages you need to build kernel modules apt-get install build-essential apt-get install kernel-package apt-get install linux-source # extract the kernel source cd /usr/src tar xvjpf linux-source-2.6.24 # remove the symbolic link from 'linux' -> the headers directory if it exists rm linux # make a symbolic link from 'linux' to our souce directory ln -s linux-source-2.6.24 linux # enter our source directory cd linux # download the patch that fixes ssb, b43, b43legacy, and b44 wget http://linuxwireless.org/download/b43/patch_2.6.24_for_4311_2 # try a dry run on the patch patch -p1 --dry-run <patch_2.6.24_for_4311_2 # if it worked with no errors, do it again (for real this time) patch -p1 <patch_2.6.24_for_4311_2 # copy the config for your current kernel into this directory cp -a /boot/config-2.6.24-generic .config # update the .config based on your current source make oldconfig # prepare your source build make prepare # screw building the whole kernel, we just want a few kernel objects that match our current kernel (ssb, b43, b43legacy, and b44) make drivers/ssb/ssb.ko make drivers/net/wireless/b43/b43.ko make drivers/net/wireless/b43legacy/b43legacy.ko make drivers/net/b44.ko # unload any modules that may interfere modprobe -r bcm43xx modprobe -r b44 modprobe -r b43legacy modprobe -r b43 modprobe -r ssb # disable the deprecated bcm43xx driver mv /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/bcm43xx/bcm43xx.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/bcm43xx/bcm43xx.ko.ignore # disable the older versions of the kernel modules we just compiled mv /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/ssb/ssb.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/ssb/ssb.ko.ignore mv /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/b43/b43.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/b43/b43.ko.ignore mv /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/b43legacy/b43legacy.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/b43legacy/b43legacy.ko.ignore mv /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/b44.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/b44.ko.ignore # copy our new kernel modules to the proper locations cp -a drivers/ssb/ssb.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/ssb/ssb.ko cp -a drivers/net/wireless/b43/b43.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/b43/b43.ko cp -a drivers/net/wireless/b43legacy/b43legacy.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/b43legacy/b43legacy.ko cp -a drivers/net/b44.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/b44.ko # load the new modules modprobe ssb modprobe b43 Here are the real bugs: 1) bcm43xx shouldn't even be in Hardy Heron. It's deprecated. b43 and b43legacy are the replacements, and they are also included in Hardy Heron. 2) ssb is broken in 2.6.24, with no plans to fix it in 2.6.24 (it should be fixed in 2.6.25). If we are lucky, maybe some of the Ubuntu developers will apply the patch shown above into these modules, and we all will be happy. If we are not so lucky, it might be working in Ubuntu 8.10 (see you in October). The instructions I gave above got my 4311 working again. On Gutsy Gibbon, I had to do something very similar. bcm43xx never worked, the ndiswrapper was flaky, and difficult to find WinXP drivers for the card (Vista drivers used NDIS 6.0, and NDIS 5.0 drivers are required for ndiswrapper), and I had to apply a compatibility patch to the Gutsy Gibbon kernel just to be able to compile and make ssb and b43 work. I will likely avoid broadcom wireless cards like the plague on future laptops. ** Also affects: linux-source-2.6.24 (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New -- Hardy Heron Beta Dell 1390 wireless scans but does not connect to networks https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/206261 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
