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I followed https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds to install kernel 3.4 and 3.5 from debs.

Unfortunately after booting I can't connect to the internet cause I have problems with my network device BCM43228. The proprietary driver cannot be activated.

Jockey logs have:

2012-07-08 22:13:06,796 DEBUG: BroadcomWLHandler enabled(): kmod disabled, bcm43xx: blacklisted, b43: blacklisted, b43legacy: blacklisted
2012-07-08 22:13:06,854 DEBUG: BroadcomWLHandler enabled(): kmod disabled, bcm43xx: blacklisted, b43: blacklisted, b43legacy: blacklisted
2012-07-08 22:13:06,873 DEBUG: BroadcomWLHandler enabled(): kmod disabled, bcm43xx: blacklisted, b43: blacklisted, b43legacy: blacklisted
2012-07-08 22:13:08,843 DEBUG: BroadcomWLHandler enabled(): kmod disabled, bcm43xx: blacklisted, b43: blacklisted, b43legacy: blacklisted
2012-07-08 22:13:12,818 WARNING: modinfo for module wl failed: ERROR: modinfo: could not find module wl

2012-07-08 22:13:12,819 WARNING: /sys/module/wl/drivers does not exist, cannot rebind wl driver

and trying to do:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall bcmwl-kernel-source

results in:

Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/1,151 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
(Reading database ... 314137 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace bcmwl-kernel-source 5.100.82.38+bdcom-0ubuntu6.1 (using .../bcmwl-kernel-source_5.100.82.38+bdcom-0ubuntu6.1_amd64.deb) ...
Removing all DKMS Modules
Done.
Unpacking replacement bcmwl-kernel-source ...
Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (5.100.82.38+bdcom-0ubuntu6.1) ...
Loading new bcmwl-5.100.82.38+bdcom DKMS files...
Building only for 3.5.0-030500rc6-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 3.5.0-030500rc6-generic
ERROR (dkms apport): kernel package linux-headers-3.5.0-030500rc6-generic is not supported
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.5.0-030500rc6-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/5.100.82.38+bdcom/build/make.log for more information.
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-030500rc6-generic

Is there any support for this driver in linux >= 3.4?

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1
  • For 16.04 all you need to do is make sure restricted drivers are checked in your software and updates sources and issue the command sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source
    – Elder Geek
    Sep 6, 2016 at 21:53

2 Answers 2

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3

If you read the wiki, might I draw your attention to this bit:

By definition the mainline kernel builds are made from virgin unaltered mainline kernel sources and therefore do not, and should not, include any Ubuntu patches or drivers. There are also no binary drivers for these kernels.

Rather than the mainline builds, you will usually have better luck with the kernels for the next alpha/beta version (in this case, 12.10 Quantal Alpha 2), which should have binary drivers available:

  1. Get the 12.10 bcmwl-kernel-source package from the below link and try installing it with dpkg:

    http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/restricted/b/bcmwl/bcmwl-kernel-source_5.100.82.112%2bbdcom-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb

  2. If that doesn't work on your mainline build, install the 12.10 3.5 kernel images/headers, and then try again:

    http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux/linux-headers-3.5.0-4_3.5.0-4.4_all.deb
http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux/linux-headers-3.5.0-4-generic_3.5.0-4.4_amd64.deb
http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux/linux-image-3.5.0-4-generic_3.5.0-4.4_amd64.deb
http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux/linux-image-extra-3.5.0-4-generic_3.5.0-4.4_amd64.deb

Note: Since you look like someone who should be fairly handy with this :), may I recommend you consider replacing the awful binary-only Broadcom card with one of the excellent Intel 6205 or 6300 half-mini-PCIe cards, which have fully open-source driver support in the vanilla kernel?

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  • izx, thanks for the excellent reply. I had no idea I could install quantal kernels in precise. I will try the quantal kernels.
    – Paulo Matos
    Jul 12, 2012 at 10:45
  • Also, I bought an Asus P8Z77-I motherboard which comes with the broadcom card. I can't replace it...
    – Paulo Matos
    Jul 12, 2012 at 10:46
  • @PauloJ.Matos: It's even easier in that case! I did the same on my Asrock Z68 mITX a while back. Please see this image; carefully remove the two cable connectors by hand/fingernail, remove the one screw, and the card pops out. Replace with one of these, put the screw back and pop the cable connectors on. :D
    – ish
    Jul 12, 2012 at 10:58
  • izx, interesting. Didn't notice the wifi cards was so easy to remove when I assembled the PC. Are these cards sold by retail stores or you can only find them on ebay (and related) from old parts?
    – Paulo Matos
    Jul 12, 2012 at 15:57
  • @PauloJ.Matos: I doubt you'll find them in retail brick-and-mortar stores, but they're available easily enough online, e.g. Amazon UK. Note that these are never packaged as retail, but sold as OEM, so even a new one will likely come in just a plastic shell/antistatic bag.
    – ish
    Jul 13, 2012 at 22:58
2

Had the same problem with the kernel package I downloaded from xorg-edgers. I then downloaded the quantal version of bcmwl-kernel-source from here, installed it and my wireless card worked immediately.

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