iB::Topic::Broadcom native works with Puppy not with DSL?

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Topic: Broadcom native works with Puppy not with DSL?, BCM43xx configuration issue

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stevesr0

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Posts: 32
Joined: July 2007

Posted: Sep. 09 2007,01:42

I had given up using my laptop built in wireless under Linux, because it was such a pain to try to get it working with Ndiswrapper. I had exactly one success in "umpteen" tries with seven or eight distributions.

I recently downloaded the most recent versions of several distributions and tried again with several today. I succeeded with one (Puppy v.17.1) but not with DSL (v4 RC3) or Mepis (v7 beta 3).

I like DSL and would like to be able to use it. Have others gotten the Broadcom 4306 cards to work with native linux drivers? Appreciate advice. I have looked at my copy of the new Damn Small Linux book but don't see a clear explanation there.

I vaguely recall hearing that the 2.6 kernels have better native BCM43xx drivers or integrated "cutter" files and wonder if this is relevant (since DSL unlike Puppy [and Mepis] is using a 2.4 series kernel).

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Steve

Juanito

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Posted: Sep. 09 2007,03:40

According to this site the reverse engineered drivers are only for 2.6.x

stevesr0

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Joined: July 2007

Posted: Sep. 09 2007,21:49

Hmm; has anyone been able to use the driver with 2.4 kernel based distros (and/or in theory, can the driver be used with 2.4 kernels)?

Steve

Juanito

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Posted: Sep. 10 2007,05:52

You could try with dsl-n (2.6.12) and see if that works first?

stevesr0

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Posts: 32
Joined: July 2007

Posted: Sep. 10 2007,15:27

According to the developer site (berlios.de) for the linux bcm43xx driver, a requirement is for the 2.6.16-rc2 kernel or newer. I haven't found a discussion which would clarify this for a nontechie such as myself.

(There is also a confusing reference to b43 vs bcm43xx drivers, the former being newer and requiring a different fwcutter program.)

So, if I wanted to try DSL-N, I would still have to "upgrade" to 2.6.16-rc2 or higher. I have not done such ever...

Alternatively, I could try the ndiswrapper route with DSL 4 rc 3; maybe it won't be a pain <g>.

Thanks for comments.

Steve

16 replies since Sep. 09 2007,01:42

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