Wireless not working on Knoppix 6.7.1

[Alphonsu]

Hi Klaus,

Thank you for your interest (ant anticipated help).

Reference: my OP

INTRO:
In the following I got some readings (based on your request, lspci ...) on
both discs (6.2.1, the "old", good one and 6.7.1, the "new". bad one)
In so doing I went a little beyond the call of duty in anticipation of maybe
further questions.
The results should by rights be sent in an attachment, but I don't know how
to do it here (if at all possible). I apologize for any inconvenience.

DISC 6.2.1 (the good one)

[]$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 12)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor PCI Express x16 Root Port (rev 12)
00:06.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Secondary PCI Express Root Port (rev 12)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82577LC Gigabit Network Connection (rev 06)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 06)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 06)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev 06)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev 06)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev a6)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 5 Series Chipset LPC Interface Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SMBus Controller (rev 06)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M98 XT [Mobility Radeon HD 4870]
02:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc HD48x0 audio
06:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation Device 4353 (rev 01)
08:00.0 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd Device e822 (rev 01)
08:00.1 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd Device e230 (rev 01)
08:00.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd Device e852 (rev 01)
08:00.3 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd Device e832 (rev 01)
ff:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture Generic Non-core Registers (rev 02)
ff:00.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture System Address Decoder (rev 02)
ff:02.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Link 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Physical 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)
ff:02.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)

[]$ lspci -vvnnks 06:00:0
06:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation Device [14e4:4353] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:000e]
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
Region 0: Memory at f0800000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+)
Status: D0 NoSoftRst+ PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=2 PME-
Capabilities: [58] Vendor Specific Information: Len=78 <?>
Capabilities: [48] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Address: 0000000000000000 Data: 0000
Capabilities: [d0] Express (v1) Endpoint, MSI 00
DevCap: MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <4us, L1 unlimited
ExtTag+ AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE+ FLReset-
DevCtl: Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
RlxdOrd- ExtTag- PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop-
MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 128 bytes
DevSta: CorrErr+ UncorrErr- FatalErr- UnsuppReq+ AuxPwr+ TransPend-
LnkCap: Port #0, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, ASPM L0s L1, Latency L0 <4us, L1 <64us
ClockPM+ Surprise- LLActRep+ BwNot-
LnkCtl: ASPM L0s L1 Enabled; RCB 64 bytes Disabled- Retrain- CommClk+
ExtSynch- ClockPM+ AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
LnkSta: Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive+ BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
Capabilities: [100 v1] Advanced Error Reporting
UESta: DLP- SDES- TLP- FCP- CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF- MalfTLP- ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
UEMsk: DLP- SDES- TLP- FCP- CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF- MalfTLP- ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
UESvrt: DLP+ SDES- TLP- FCP+ CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF+ MalfTLP+ ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
CESta: RxErr+ BadTLP+ BadDLLP+ Rollover- Timeout- NonFatalErr+
CEMsk: RxErr- BadTLP- BadDLLP- Rollover- Timeout- NonFatalErr+
AERCap: First Error Pointer: 14, GenCap+ CGenEn- ChkCap+ ChkEn-
Capabilities: [13c v1] Virtual Channel
Caps: LPEVC=0 RefClk=100ns PATEntrySize=0
Arb: Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128- 100ns- onfig- - - TableOffset=0
Ctrl: ArbSelect=Fixed
Status: InProgress-
VC0: Caps: PATOffset=00 MaxTimeSlots=1 RejSnoopTrans-
Arb: Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128- TWRR128- WRR256- Fixed- RR32-
Ctrl: Enable+ ID=0 ArbSelect=Fixed TC/VC=ff
Status: NegoPending- InProgress-
Capabilities: [160 v1] Device Serial Number 00-00-fe-ff-ff-94-c4-17
Capabilities: [16c v1] Power Budgeting <?>
Kernel driver in use: wl

[Alphonsu]

Hi Klaus (cont'd)

Disc 6.7.1 (the faulty one)

[]$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 12)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor PCI Express x16 Root Port (rev 12)
00:06.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Secondary PCI Express Root Port (rev 12)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82577LC Gigabit Network Connection (rev 06)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 06)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 06)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev 06)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev 06)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev a6)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 5 Series Chipset LPC Interface Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SMBus Controller (rev 06)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M98 XT [Mobility Radeon HD 4870]
02:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc HD48x0 audio
06:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 01)
08:00.0 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd MMC/SD Host Controller (rev 01)
08:00.1 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd Memory Stick Host Controller (rev 01)
08:00.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd Device e852 (rev 01)
08:00.3 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd FireWire Host Controller (rev 01)
ff:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture Generic Non-core Registers (rev 02)
ff:00.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture System Address Decoder (rev 02)
ff:02.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Link 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Physical 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)
ff:02.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)

[]$ lspci -vvnnks 06:00:0
06:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n [14e4:4353] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:000e]
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
Region 0: Memory at f0800000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+)
Status: D0 NoSoftRst+ PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=2 PME-
Capabilities: [58] Vendor Specific Information: Len=78 <?>
Capabilities: [48] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Address: 0000000000000000 Data: 0000
Capabilities: [d0] Express (v1) Endpoint, MSI 00
DevCap: MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <4us, L1 unlimited
ExtTag+ AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE+ FLReset-
DevCtl: Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
RlxdOrd- ExtTag- PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop-
MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 128 bytes
DevSta: CorrErr+ UncorrErr- FatalErr- UnsuppReq+ AuxPwr+ TransPend-
LnkCap: Port #0, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, ASPM L0s L1, Latency L0 <4us, L1 <64us
ClockPM+ Surprise- LLActRep+ BwNot-
LnkCtl: ASPM L0s L1 Enabled; RCB 64 bytes Disabled- Retrain- CommClk+
ExtSynch- ClockPM+ AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
LnkSta: Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive+ BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
Capabilities: [100 v1] Advanced Error Reporting
UESta: DLP- SDES- TLP- FCP- CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF- MalfTLP- ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
UEMsk: DLP- SDES- TLP- FCP- CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF- MalfTLP- ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
UESvrt: DLP+ SDES- TLP- FCP+ CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF+ MalfTLP+ ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
CESta: RxErr+ BadTLP+ BadDLLP+ Rollover- Timeout- NonFatalErr+
CEMsk: RxErr- BadTLP- BadDLLP- Rollover- Timeout- NonFatalErr+
AERCap: First Error Pointer: 14, GenCap+ CGenEn- ChkCap+ ChkEn-
Capabilities: [13c v1] Virtual Channel
Caps: LPEVC=0 RefClk=100ns PATEntryBits=1
Arb: Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128-
Ctrl: ArbSelect=Fixed
Status: InProgress-
VC0: Caps: PATOffset=00 MaxTimeSlots=1 RejSnoopTrans-
Arb: Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128- TWRR128- WRR256-
Ctrl: Enable+ ID=0 ArbSelect=Fixed TC/VC=ff
Status: NegoPending- InProgress-
Capabilities: [160 v1] Device Serial Number 00-00-fe-ff-ff-94-c4-17
Capabilities: [16c v1] Power Budgeting <?>
Kernel driver in use: bcma-pci-bridge

[]$ modprobe -v bcma-pci-bridge
FATAL: Module bcma_pci_bridge not found.

[]$ lsmod | grep bcma
bcma 9051 0

[]$ lspci -k | grep wl

[]$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

[]$ ifconfig
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:26:b9:fe:f9:63
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
Interrupt:20 Memory:f0e00000-f0e20000

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:2 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:2 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:100 (100.0 B) TX bytes:100 (100.0 B)

[klaus2008]

Hi, Alphonsu!

Now we know that you have got a Broadcom BCM43224 wireless network card. This card should be supported by the Linux kernel module brcm80211 as you can find out by reading the web page brcm80211 in the Debian wiki. But if you read the configuration file /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf of Knoppix 6.7.1 you will find that this module is blacklisted in order to avoid conflicts with other kernel modules.

I would suggest that you issue

modprobe -r wl
modprobe brcm80211
chvt 12

in a root terminal and examine carefully the last lines of kernel messages. You can switch back to the desktop environment by pressing the key comination Alt-F5.

If the kernel module was loaded properly you could issue

iwconfig

I hope this helps.

[Alphonsu]

Hi Klaus,

Thank you for your help.
As you can see from the following, I followed your suggestions but (still) no cigar.
IMHO, the 6.7.1 made some major changes in the way it deals with my wireless
card (thinking it would lead to progress) but failed in the process, as
evident in square one (bottom line, my OP).
If you don't mind, I made again a few extra tests (for progress? :).
I apologize for my constant "tardiness" but the authorities have been blocking my
replies for at least 12 hours, to check for cleanliness.
This also gives them a chance to allow utu to insert his insightful comments
during my "silence".
------

[]$ lsmod | grep wl
wl 1936903 0

[]$ modprobe -r wl
rmmod /lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/wl.ko

[]$ lsmod | grep wl

[]$ modprobe -v brcm80211
FATAL: Module brcm80211 not found.

[]$ ls -og /etc/modprobe.d/
-rw-r--r-- 1 4891 Aug 27 2010 aliases.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 281 Sep 6 2009 alsa-base-blacklist.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 1183 Jun 2 2010 alsa-base.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 41 Sep 16 2009 blacklist-capiutils.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 108 Aug 22 10:13 blacklist-cups-usblp.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 262 Jan 23 2011 blacklist-knoppix.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 622 Jul 12 2010 blacklist.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 249 May 16 2011 broadcom-sta-common.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 456 Jul 12 2010 fbdev-blacklist.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 30 Jul 3 15:56 hpsa.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 23 Oct 28 2010 i915-kms.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 25 Nov 11 2010 intelfb-knoppix.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 22 Apr 5 2009 kqemu-common.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 16 Sep 23 2009 libpisock9.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 41 Nov 4 2010 linux-sound-base_noOSS.conf ->
/lib/linux-sound-base/noOSS.modprobe.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 98 Apr 2 2009 mt-st.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 38 Jan 31 2011 nouveau-kms.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 21 Mar 31 2009 oss-compat.conf -> /lib/oss-compat/linux
-rw-r--r-- 1 51 Jan 14 2011 psb.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 26 Nov 5 2010 radeon-kms.conf

[]$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf
# wl module from Broadcom conflicts with ssb
# We must blacklist the following modules:
blacklist b44
blacklist b43legacy
blacklist b43
blacklist brcm80211
blacklist brcmsmac
blacklist ssb
install wl /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install wl $CMDLINE_OPTS

[]$ find /lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers -name "brcm*.ko"
/lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/brcmfmac/brcmfmac.ko
/lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/brcmsmac/brcmsmac.ko
/lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/util/brcmutil.ko

[]$ ls -ogR /lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/
/lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/:
drwxr-xr-x 2 2048 Sep 8 20:26 brcmfmac
drwxr-xr-x 2 2048 Sep 8 20:26 brcmsmac
drwxr-xr-x 2 2048 Sep 8 20:26 util

/lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/brcmfmac:
-rw-r--r-- 1 179484 Sep 8 03:38 brcmfmac.ko

/lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/brcmsmac:
-rw-r--r-- 1 568024 Sep 8 03:38 brcmsmac.ko

/lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/staging/brcm80211/util:
-rw-r--r-- 1 13100 Sep 8 03:38 brcmutil.ko

[]$ modprobe brcmfmac

[]$ lsmod | grep brcm
brcmfmac 129669 0
cfg80211 105480 1 brcmfmac
brcmutil 4463 1 brcmfmac

[]$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

[]$ modprobe brcmsmac

[]$ lsmod | grep brcm
brcmsmac 481998 0
mac80211 155646 1 brcmsmac
brcmfmac 129669 0
cfg80211 105480 3 brcmsmac,mac80211,brcmfmac
brcmutil 4463 2 brcmsmac,brcmfmac

[]$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

# For completeness, a quick:
[]$ ls /lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/net/wireless
adm8211.ko
airo.ko
airo_cs.ko
at76c50x-usb.ko
ath
atmel.ko
atmel_cs.ko
atmel_pci.ko
b43legacy
hostap
ipw2x00
iwlegacy
iwlwifi
iwmc3200wifi
libertas
libertas_tf
mac80211_hwsim.ko
mwifiex
mwl8k.ko
orinoco
p54
prism54
ray_cs.ko
rndis_wlan.ko
rt2x00
rtl818x
rtlwifi
wl.ko
wl1251
wl12xx
wl3501_cs.ko
zd1201.ko
zd1211rwbrcm*.ko

[klaus2008]

My next attempt would be based on the section Wheezy of the web page wl of the Debian wiki.

0. You need the Knoppix 6.7.1 DVD and a working internet connection.

1. Open a terminal and issue

sudo leafpad /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00knoppix

Find the line

APT::Default-Release "squeeze";

and change it to

APT::Default-Release "wheezy";

Save the file and exit leafpad.

2. Issue

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install broadcom-sta-common
sudo m-a prepare
sudo m-a a-i broadcom-sta

This will create and install the new package /usr/src/broadcom-sta-modules-3.0.4_5.100.82.112-4+3.0.4-10.00.Custom_i386.deb I would copy this file and /var/cache/apt/archives/broadcom-sta-common_5.100.82.112-4_all.deb to a USB stick for further usage. If you need these packages again you could install them by using the dpkg program.

3. Issue

sudo modprobe -r brcmfmac
sudo modprobe -r brcmsmac

if the kernel modules brcmfmac and brcmsmac are still loaded. Then issue

sudo modprobe -r wl
sudo modprobe wl
iwconfig

[Alphonsu]

Hi Klaus,

Thank you for the help.
Unfortunately, the new procedure failed as well.
I followed your instructions to the letter, but on the final (and critical) step,
iwconfig
there's still no output with a wireless device.

The procedure you recommended does create a new "wl.ko" module, size 2623850
but on loading, wl does not create a device /dev/wlan0 (or some such, like
/dev/eth1) as expected so iwconfig output remains empty of any wireless device.

Any other ideas? As I said, on 6.2.1 disc, "wl" works so smoothly (as it should)
in creating a wireless device.
With an unfortunate name to be sure, eth1, but what's in a name these days!

PS The Dell Alienware M17x product (and its wireless module) came out on the
market two years ago. I cannot imagine the driver for it bacame obsolete (and bad)
(in Linux, things work the other way around normally, two years might be
too _new_ for a device to have a driver for it yet! )

[klaus2008]

Hi, Alphonsu!

If you read http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta/README.txt you can find a list of the devices supported by the driver. Since your wireless card is on the list I do not understand why you did not succeed.

I would remaster Knoppix with the latest Linux kernel and repeat the two procedures. Be aware that compiling a new Linux kernel is really time consuming because you have to answer many questions. But if you do not have the time to do so I would suggest that you use the old Knoppix 6.2.1 until the next release of Knoppix.

[fongpwf]

This does not seem to work on 6.7.1. The b43 module seems to be missing.

sudo modprobe b43
FATAL: Module b43 not found.

In /lib/modules/3.0.4/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ there is b43legacy but not b43.

[Alphonsu]

Hi Klaus,

Now I finally understand why our elders (and some webmasters)
keep beating it into our heads, "RTFM".

As soon as I hit the link you gave me,
I noticed the "manual",

Broadcom Linux hybrid wireless driver
Version 5.100.82.1XX,

clearly states at some point,

<<
lsmod | grep "b43\|ssb\|bcma\|wl"

if any of these are installed, remove them
>>

Of those three, "bcma" happens to be up on this machine for some reason.
Once removed and "wl" reloaded, the wireless started humming
its sweet tune ("eth1". OK, maybe not so sweet after all,
but let's not be too picky).

Thank you very much for your time and invaluable help.

[tmq]

I note that I have 5.100.82.38-2 installed and it works ok for me, but that
5.100.82.112-4 is an available update for broadcom-STA-common on Synaptic.
You might also try that if you haven't already.

Do I understand you to suggest a broadcom driver update (for A's problem)? I ask because I've been unable to connect to a wireless network under 6.7.1. It tries, then it loops through & requests my pw again, and again, etc. In my case the machine is a Dell 1545 about 4-5 years old. I'd appreciate any help.