problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

ajburch · 2012-04-21 16:18:34

I have been struggling for 2 days now getting things working with my wifi card. I have read dozens of posts, but I keep running into problems. First, I installed crunchbang 10 (x64) and ran the welcome-cb program installing everything. Usually this puts the new kernel on my machine, but I had to do that manually.

root@femdom:/home/aj/hybrid# uname -a
Linux femdom 3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64 #1 SMP Sun Mar 25 10:33:35 UTC 2012 x86_64 GNU/Linux

. So I have the 3.20.bpo-2-amd kernel and headers.

root@femdom:/home/aj/hybrid# dpkg --list | grep linux-headers
ii  linux-headers-2.6-amd64                  2.6.32+29                              Header files for Linux 2.6-amd64 (meta-package)
ii  linux-headers-2.6.32-5-amd64             2.6.32-41squeeze2                      Header files for Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64
ii  linux-headers-2.6.32-5-common            2.6.32-41squeeze2                      Common header files for Linux 2.6.32-5
ii  linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-all-amd64    3.2.12-1~bpo60+1                       All header files for Linux 3.2 (meta-package)
ii  linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64        3.2.12-1~bpo60+1                       Header files for Linux 3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64
ii  linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-common       3.2.12-1~bpo60+1                       Common header files for Linux 3.2.0-0.bpo.2
ii  linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-common-rt    3.2.12-1~bpo60+1                       Common header files for Linux 3.2.0-0.bpo.2-rt
ii  linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-rt-amd64     3.2.12-1~bpo60+1                       Header files for Linux 3.2.0-0.bpo.2-rt-amd64

My wireless card is b4322 so I know I need the wl drivers and not the b43 ones.
Now I am trying to run #m-a a-i broadcom-sta. It fails to build. Error is:

 Build the module
cd /usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64 && \
        make -C /lib/modules/3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64/build M=/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64
make[2]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'
  LD      /usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/built-in.o
  CC [M]  /usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/shared/linux_osl.o
  CC [M]  /usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o
/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:219: error: unknown field â€˜ndo_set_multicast_listâ€™ specified in initializer
/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:219: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c: In function â€˜_wl_set_multicast_listâ€™:
/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:1435: error: â€˜struct net_deviceâ€™ has no member named â€˜mc_listâ€™
/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:1435: error: â€˜struct net_deviceâ€™ has no member named â€˜mc_countâ€™
/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:1436: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:1442: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
make[5]: *** [/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o] Error 1
make[4]: *** [_module_/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta/amd64] Error 2
make[3]: *** [sub-make] Error 2
make[2]: *** [all] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'
make[1]: *** [binary-modules] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/modules/broadcom-sta'
make: *** [kdist_build] Error 2

From the article at http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/218, I tried method 3. I downloaded the source and tried to make it. However, I once again ran into issues. The make error message is:

root@femdom:/home/aj/hybrid# make clean
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd` clean
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'
Wireless Extension is the only possible API for this kernel version
Using Wireless Extension API
  CLEAN   /home/aj/hybrid/.tmp_versions
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'
root@femdom:/home/aj/hybrid# make
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd`
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'
Wireless Extension is the only possible API for this kernel version
Using Wireless Extension API
  LD      /home/aj/hybrid/built-in.o
  CC [M]  /home/aj/hybrid/src/shared/linux_osl.o
  CC [M]  /home/aj/hybrid/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o
/home/aj/hybrid/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:388: error: unknown field â€˜ndo_set_multicast_listâ€™ specified in initializer
/home/aj/hybrid/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:388: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
make[4]: *** [/home/aj/hybrid/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o] Error 1
make[3]: *** [_module_/home/aj/hybrid] Error 2
make[2]: *** [sub-make] Error 2
make[1]: *** [all] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'
make: *** [all] Error 2
root@femdom:/home/aj/hybrid#

I could use some help with this as it's taking me forever to work out. I realize I could buy a better wifi card as this one and Broadcom suck, but I am worried why I can't compile.

TitanMech · 2012-04-21 16:44:22

Broadcom STA is a binary-only device driver to support the following IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n wireless network cards: BCM4311-, BCM4312-, BCM4313-, BCM4321-, and BCM4322-based hardware.

According to this page, this is the debian package you need
http://packages.debian.org/squeeze/broadcom-sta-common

ajburch · 2012-04-21 16:47:55

That is the one I had, but m-a fails. Any suggestions?

root@femdom:/home/aj/hybrid# dpkg --list | grep broadcom
ii  broadcom-sta-common                      5.60.48.36-2                           Common files for the Broadcom STA Wireless driver

Last edited by ajburch (2012-04-21 16:49:48)

TitanMech · 2012-04-21 16:50:08

yes but you said you tried to compile from source, whereas this download is a debian package which means you wont have to compile it, and if there are any errors with that the program that opens debian packages will give you some hopefully more meaningfull feedback

Last edited by TitanMech (2012-04-21 16:50:56)

ajburch · 2012-04-21 17:05:00

I tried using m-a first. I moved to compiling when I could not get past the m-a error. I was able to install the broadcom-sta-common deb package without errors. Do you know why m-a fails? I am not sure what to do next.

TitanMech · 2012-04-21 17:14:47

Sorry i cant help you with the m-a fails bit.
Have you tried rebooting now you installed that debian package to see if it has worked?

ajburch · 2012-04-21 17:47:14

No go. Great laptop. Wish I would have paid more attention when ordering it. I know to stay clear of Broadcom. Guess I will put fatbuntu on it.

xaos52 · 2012-04-21 17:55:57

/home/aj/hybrid/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:388: error: unknown field â€˜ndo_set_multicast_listâ€™ specified in initializer

Check the file /home/aj/hybrid/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c
line 388 seems to contain some 'rubbish' - looks like a trademark.

Also post output of

lspci -knn

Last edited by xaos52 (2012-04-21 17:56:23)

ajburch · 2012-04-21 23:34:31

I did a reinstall to test some more things. Though I don't have the wireless card working yet, I found a forum issue that resembled mine with regards to modules-assistant. It seems there is a problem with the broadcom-sta-comm file in the repositories. Sometimes it won't run. I disabled all the sources and added the testing repository to download that file as addressed in http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … r-release/

I will let you know if I can get the rest working.

**********Update: I followed the rest of the procedure from the following article and it works. http://wiki.debian.org/wl#Squeeze

With all the issues these Broadcom cards are having, I am surprised that the m-a build was still an issue. Any reason why the regular repositories don't work? Thanks for keeping me hanging in there. I almost went to another OS. Glad it only took me 20 hours to get that straight!

Last edited by ajburch (2012-04-22 00:15:36)

damo · 2012-04-22 00:58:21

ajburch wrote:

.....Thanks for keeping me hanging in there. I almost went to another OS. Glad it only took me 20 hours to get that straight!

I did go to another OS for a while! But CB drew me back, and I got round broadcom issues with a cheap Asus usb antenna - I just connected with that smile Wireless is still a bit flakey on my Inspiron with a broadcom card,and on those occasions I just use the asus again because I can't be bothered spending even more hours googling and getting help from the ever-patient xaos52.

Every release of CB has improved things, and the last one was better than Mint or the U word regarding broadcom wireless out-of-the-box imo

CrunchBang Linux

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#1 2012-04-21 16:18:34

problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#2 2012-04-21 16:44:22

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#3 2012-04-21 16:47:55

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#4 2012-04-21 16:50:08

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#5 2012-04-21 17:05:00

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#6 2012-04-21 17:14:47

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#7 2012-04-21 17:47:14

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#8 2012-04-21 17:55:57

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#9 2012-04-21 23:34:31

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

#10 2012-04-22 00:58:21

Re: problems installing broadcom-sta with module-assistant

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