Wifi driver for BCM4311 issues.

Rediixx

Hi, I installed the broadcom sta driver and it works, I have internet but the connection is bad, most of the times it just goes up and down with the speed but some other times it just does not load any page and I have to restart the laptop. So I was researching and I see that my Wifi Card works very well with the B43 driver but I don't know how to install it in Solus, can someone help me fix this issue pls?

DrunkenAlcoholic

do you have a file called broadcom-wl.conf in /etc/modprobe.d ? if so open and see if b43 is blacklisted

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic Hi, it is blacklisted.

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic Should I remove or comment that line?

DrunkenAlcoholic

remove b43 and ssb line,
then try
sudo modprobe -r wl sudo modprobe ssb sudo modprobe b43

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic Already did it, how can I know if it worked?

DrunkenAlcoholic

reboot, if that fails to make a connection on next reboot then add them back in the blacklist and do a
lspci -vmm -d 14e4: and post the output if any

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic Everytime I reboot it uses the wl. Because everytime I reboot the connection ends when using modprobe -r wl

Rediixx

Here is the output:
`Slot: 01:00.0
Class: Ethernet controller
Vendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
Device: NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe
SVendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
SDevice: NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe
Rev: 10

Slot: 01:00.1
Class: SD Host controller
Vendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
Device: BCM57765/57785 SDXC/MMC Card Reader
SVendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
SDevice: BCM57765/57785 SDXC/MMC Card Reader
Rev: 10
ProgIf: 01

Slot: 02:00.0
Class: Network controller
Vendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
Device: BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n
SVendor: Apple Inc.
SDevice: AirPort Extreme
`

DrunkenAlcoholic

do you have any output for lspci -vmm -d 14e4: ? if you then goto https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43#list_of_hardware and see if your device is listed

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic
Slot: 01:00.0
Class: Ethernet controller
Vendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
Device: NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe
SVendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
SDevice: NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe
Rev: 10

Slot: 02:00.0
Class: Network controller
Vendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
Device: BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n
SVendor: Apple Inc.
SDevice: AirPort Extreme

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic It is listed

DrunkenAlcoholic

I think you might need to remove broadcom sta driver or blacklist wl, but I did also think you need the firmware for b43 installed for the kernel driver to work correctly, i'll have to go and look it up for you

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic I blacklisted wl and it does not work, b43 is only listed on lsmod when using sudo modprobe b43. Same for ssb. I only have wifi when using wl.

DrunkenAlcoholic

Rediixx reading the arch wiki they say that particular model can have issues with latest firmware, pretty much what you describing with slow connection and random disconnects, looking on the b43-firmware-classic package from AUR which supports that model they use a firmware downloaded from http://www.lwfinger.com/b43-firmware/broadcom-wl-5.100.138.tar.bz2 and place it in /usr/lib/firmware
However Solus OS doesn't use /usr/lib/firmware , so probably better for one of the developers to chime in and guide you on the right path, sorry I couldn't help you, I don't have any computers with braodcom wifi so it makes it hard to test things before suggesting solutions to you.
@DataDrake
@JoshStrobl

here are some reference material you can read through for more information
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=238180
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=241927
https://askubuntu.com/questions/55868/installing-broadcom-wireless-drivers/60395#60395
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Broadcom_wireless
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43

Rediixx

DrunkenAlcoholic Thanks for the help dude, I actually found a way to install the B43 driver (I don't know if it's safe thought, would you know if it is?), here is the guide: https://www.zealfortechnology.com/2018/09/install-solus-on-old-mac-mini-late-2009.html