Arch Linux

szympro

Member

Registered: 2011-02-13

Posts: 18

Wireless problem - Broadcom

It took me a long time to set everything up, as it (still not finished) IS my first own attempt to Arch. I have been using ArchOne before (which is Arch configured to work out of the box for Acer Aspire One).
I am having problems configuring wireless. I had to download drivers using the instructions from wireless.kernel.org . Those are b43 drivers. The "new" ones did't work for me, old one did. Did in a way, that I am finally able to detect wireless networks around me. But I can't connect. Then I try, using wicd, I get an error saying the password is wrong. When I turn password off on my router, I get an error of now being able to obtain an IP address. I am still new to Arch when it comes to difficult things.
What I have already done:
Everything that is said here: http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Dri … oned_above
Downloaded "b43 from older kernel" and followed all the instructions. I am able to scan for networks.

Maybe I should try the "wl" driver, but I don't know how to load it. When I add "wl" to /etc/rc.conf modules, lsmod still gives me wl not being loaded, and lspci -vnn tells me that the loaded driver is b43-pci-bridge.

I am using the kernel-netbook kernel.

Should I add anything more to make myself any clearer?

Strike0

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2011-09-05

Posts: 1,429

Re: Wireless problem - Broadcom

If you can scan for networks, I would leave the drvier for now. Maybe you can provide the exact network card you use (line from lspci -nn for the wireless device, fully quoted with device id, not like above) and also which module you finally use now (line from lsmod). Then someone might point you to which driver is best for your hardware.

I have not used Wicd on gnome3, but networkmanager asks for a password as well (in a pop up) and that is your root pw (not the wpa key). (just a suggestion in case wicd acts the same way).

As for troubleshooting, I found it very helpful to follow these manual steps to setup a connection:
  https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wi … nual_setup
Maybe you want to do that as well and provide output where you dont get further or see an error.

EDIT: adding info

Last edited by Strike0 (2011-11-21 21:07:37)

szympro

Member

Registered: 2011-02-13

Posts: 18

Re: Wireless problem - Broadcom

Ok, here we go

lspci -vnn

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Broadcom Corporation Device [14e4:04b5]
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
	Memory at f0200000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel driver in use: b43-pci-bridge
	Kernel modules: ssb

lsmod

Module                  Size  Used by
af_packet              16230  2 
ipv6                  175476  10 
mmc_block              11813  0 
uvcvideo               46206  0 
videodev               54627  1 uvcvideo
b43                   133564  0 
usbhid                 13046  0 
hid                    53516  1 usbhid
btusb                   7706  0 
bluetooth              95154  1 btusb
i2c_i801                6153  0 
ssb                    28096  1 b43
r8169                  30509  0 
jmb38x_ms               5437  0 
sdhci_pci               6253  0 
sdhci                  15682  1 sdhci_pci
memstick                4239  1 jmb38x_ms

So here are the specs

Whe I try to connect here is what I get:

When the network is unsecured I get an error saying that there is a problem obtaining IP.
When network is secured, I get a wrong password error.

When trying to connect using wpa_supplicant, this is what I do (changed passphrase to archlinux so that I don't have to change it everytime I paste something):

# wpa_passphrase pentHouse "archlinux" > /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

And then, as root to be sure there are no problems

]# wpa_supplicant -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf 
Trying to associate with d8:5d:4c:da:1e:22 (SSID='pentHouse' freq=2462 MHz)
Associated with d8:5d:4c:da:1e:22
WPA: Key negotiation completed with d8:5d:4c:da:1e:22 [PTK=CCMP GTK=TKIP]
CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to d8:5d:4c:da:1e:22 completed (auth) [id=0 id_str=]

It is said that it is connected (is it?) but I cannot ping or do anything.

...

Hmm, strange thing has just happened. After playing with wpa_supplicant I opened wicd. I got connected without the obtaining IP problem, but got disconnected a second later. After closing wpa_supplicant, wicd got me connected. I have rebooted, eveything works now. Don't really know what the problem was.

The thing is that I did play with wpa_supplicant a couple of hours ago, as I always read the wiki first. The only difference now and then were: different password and doing is as root.

Thanks anyway I will mark is solved if I don't get any error in a day or two, ok?

Strike0

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2011-09-05

Posts: 1,429

Re: Wireless problem - Broadcom

.. and you added a special char to the pw - sure thing. great you got it going that quick. Have fun.

Last edited by Strike0 (2011-11-21 23:13:40)