Zambayoni at 22:06, 19 February 2009

2009-02-19T22:06:18Z

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Sabayon with BCM43xx Howto

First check if you have a bcm43xx card using (in a root shell)

<pre>lspci -n | grep 14e4:43 </pre>

Supported Cards

Chip ID Bus Type Status
4303 PCI/Cardbus Supported
4306 PCI/Cardbus Supported
4309 PCI/Cardbus Unstable (802.11a unsupported, work in progress)
4311 PCI-E Unstable
4312 PCI-E Unstable (802.11a unsupported, work in progress)
4318 PCI/Cardbus Unstable (transmission power issues, work in progress)
4319 PCI/Cardbus Unstable (transmission power issues, 802.11a unsupported, work in progress)
43XG PCI/Cardbus Supported

You have two options you can use native drivers or ndiswrapper.

BCM43xx

1. Ensure you have the kernel sources by typing in root shell, '''emerge sabayon-sources -pv''' , if already installed go to next step otherwise type '''emerge =sabayon-sources-2.6.kernelversion''' (kernel version can be identified by typing '''uname -r''' or '''uname -a''')

2. Ensure that bcm43xx-fwcutter is installed by typing in root shell, '''emerge bcm43xx-fwcutter -pv''' , if already installed go to next step otherwise type '''emerge bcm43xx-fwcutter'''

3. You can use the Sabayon firmware , but it is usually best to use the firmware from http://boredklink.googlepages.com/wl_apsta.o.
First download this firmware and then install by typing '''bcm43xx-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware /path/to/firmware/file''' (still in a root shell)

4. Load the module by typing '''modprobe bcm43xx''' (still in a root shell)

5. Type '''iwconfig''' in root shell to identify the name of the card with wireless extensions. (eth0, eth1, eth2 etc)

6. You can either do a manual or automatic setup.

'''''Automatic Setup'''''
1.Ensure knetworkmanager is running if using KDE or nm-applet is running if using GNOME.(To start either of them press alt-f2 and type their names)
2.Left click on the appropriate system tray applet for your desktop environment.
3.Choose the wireless network you want to connect to.
4.Enter WEP or WPA key in dialog provided
5.Wait till progress bar reaches 100%.

'''''Manual Setup'''''
1.Type the following in a root shell (replacing # with number from step 5)
ifconfig eth# up
iwlist eth# scan
iwconfig eth# channel #
iwconfig eth# enc XXXX-XXXX-XX (Optional, for WEP)
iwconfig eth# essid "AP_ESSID"
dhcpcd eth#'''

7. Troubleshooting, you may need to reload the module using '''modprobe -r bcm43xx && modprobe bcm43xx''' or restart NetworkManager or HAL using '''/etc/init.d/hald restart''' or '''/etc/init.d/NetworkManager restart'''. Ensure your udev is less than 0.96 or greater 1.0.3

NDISWRAPPER (This ndiswrapper section will work for other cards as well as BCM43xx)

1. Ensure you have the kernel sources by typing in root shell, '''emerge gentoo-sources -pv''' , if already installed go to next step otherwise type '''emerge =gentoo-sources-2.6.kernelversion''' (kernel version can be identified by typing '''uname -r''' or '''uname -a''')

2. Ensure that ndiswrapper is installed by typing in root shell, '''emerge ndiswrapper -pv''' , if already installed go to next step otherwise type''' emerge ndiswrapper
'''
3. Type '''ndiswrapper -i /path/to/driver.inf''' (in root shell)(Make sure it is the correct inf file for your card and your architecture, The ndiswrapper website has a list of cards and inf files)

4. Type '''ndiswrapper -l''' (in root shell) and confirm it says hardware present, device present, If it does continue, If it doesn't ensure you have the correct inf file

5. Type '''ndiswrapper -m''' (in root shell) to run modules setup

6. Load the module by typing '''modprobe ndiswrapper''' (still in a root shell)

7. Type '''iwconfig''' in root shell to identify the name of the card with wireless extensions. (eth0, eth1, wlan0, wlan1 etc)

8. You can either do a manual or automatic setup.

Automatic Setup
1.Ensure knetworkmanager is running if using KDE or nm-applet is running if using GNOME.
2.Left click on the appropriate system tray applet for your desktop environment.
3.Choose the wireless network you want to connect to.
4.Enter WEP or WPA key in dialog provided
5.Wait till progress bar reaches 100%.

Manual Setup
1.Type the following in a root shell (replacing eth# with card name and number from step 7)
'''ifconfig eth# up
iwlist eth# scan
iwconfig eth# channel #
iwconfig eth# enc XXXX-XXXX-XX (Optional, for WEP)
iwconfig eth# essid "AP_ESSID"
dhcpcd eth#'''

9. Troubleshooting, you may need to reload the module using''' modprobe -r ndiswrapper && modprobe ndiswrapper''' or restart NetworkManager or HAL using '''/etc/init.d/hald restart''' or '''/etc/init.d/NetworkManager restart'''.

--[[User:Appleman1234|Appleman1234]] 04:44, 2 February 2007 (PST)
Edited and Updated by Dark-Mage

[[Category:Wireless|Using BCM43xx cards using bcm43xx or ndiswrapper with Sabayon]]

HOWTO: Using BCM43xx cards using bcm43xx or ndiswrapper with Sabayon - Revision history

Zambayoni at 22:06, 19 February 2009