Wireless not working on Knoppix 6.7.1

[Alphonsu]

Hi Utu,

Let's eliminate case no 1., where by "flawed" I assume you
imply a _physical_ problem of some sort (manufacture, shipping, etc.)

I start with the machine down, the wireless router up and running OK.

A. I insert the 6.2.1. disk.

B. I boot the machine all the way.
I connect wireless without any problems.

C. I shut down the machine.

D. I remove the 6.2.1 disc from the machine.

E. I insert the 6.7.1 disk.

F. I boot the machine all the way.
I can NOT connect wireless no matter what I do.

G. I shut down the machine.

H. I remove the 6.7.1 disc from the machine

I. I go back to step A.

I repeat the above loop 20 times.

I stop to write my OP where I describe the possible _technical_ differences
between the two discs the best I can. In the process I'm hoping to convey the notion
that I have some idea about the Linux system workings, and technical acumen in general.

I then, repeat the loop (starting at A) until I'm blue in the face.

Then I pause and try to pass along the idea that 6.7.1. is not bad physically
but bad technically, which would make it possibility no 5 on your list.
Please note that in running the 6.7.1. for some other functions,
I haven't discovered any "flaw" that might make the disc suspect physically.
Other than the simple (but critical for me) wireless failure the disc appears
functional.

Your case no 2, is not applicable (as described in the "A" loop above).
I do not understand your case no 3 (name?), not that it matters much by now.

As for your case no 4, there's nothing "special" here and if there's any
"discovery", it's just that for an identical configuration the 6.7.1 disc
does not work at all (instead of just working like the 6.2.1 one,
without any "special" considerations). For 6.2.1., the configuration
I've been using is (and appears to be detected by 6.2.1. as) just
run-of-the-mill, nothing special about it.

Thank you for your interest and comments.

BTW, I don't know how/where to file a bug report.
Maybe you can help. Basically the 6.7.1. is worthless for me.
The point is for somebody to identify the technical problem and fix it.

[utu]

I start with the machine down, the wireless router up and running OK.

A. I insert the 6.2.1. disk.

B. I boot the machine all the way.
I connect wireless without any problems.

C. I shut down the machine.

D. I remove the 6.2.1 disc from the machine.

E. I insert the 6.7.1 disk.

F. I boot the machine all the way.
I can NOT connect wireless no matter what I do.

G. I shut down the machine.

H. I remove the 6.7.1 disc from the machine

I. I go back to step A.

I repeat the above loop 20 times.

.
My first test is always to look for thumbprints.
A greasy thumbprint is enough to cause a DVD to 'be flawed'.

You can usually see thumbprints on the shiny side of a DVD
if you hold the DVD up to the light at the right angle.
Clean this with isopropyl alcohol & kleenex.

If this doesn't clear things up, then maybe the DVD is flawed
in manufacture. If the DVD is flawed in manufacture it will
not pass MD5 tests, and the supplier should replace it.

Most folks I'm sure do the md5 test first. I'm lazy; almost
all my flawed DVDs turn out to be thumbprint problems, so I
check that first.

[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)

[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