Problem with BCM4312 802.11b/g [14e4:4315]

Larry Finger Larry.Finger at lwfinger.net
Sat Aug 21 14:04:02 EDT 2010


On 08/21/2010 12:46 PM, Cyrille wrote:
> 
> Thanx !
> 
>> You should put it in b43, not b43-open - b43-open is only for
>> OpenFWWF. (It is not actually "specific to BLAG" - all distros can use
>> it to house OpenFWWF.) And OpenFWWF doesn't support LP-PHY.
> 
> 
> but even with b43 i had same errors.
> 
> 
> I try this http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43#device_firmware_installation
> (Section : You are using the b43 driver with an LP-PHY card (e.g. BCM4312))
> but don't work.
> 
> 
> What method recommends you to install this driver?

If you want to use open software for everything, there is no way to operate the
BCM4312 802.11b/g card with a PCI ID of 14e4:4315. The open-source driver b43
needs the firmware extracted with fwcutter, and that firmware is not open
source. The Broadcom hybrid driver is the only other option; however, it is
worse as the driver code and the firmware are both closed source.

If you want to use the card, you will need to find a way to relax the
restriction on closed-source firmware or find another distro.

I do not like the idea of having to use closed-source firmware, but at least it
cannot cause your kernel to go crazy and destroy your file system the way a
closed-source driver could.

Larry




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