FreeBSD 8.2 and Broadcom (Dell Vostro 3500)

Hello, help me, please. I have a laptop (Dell Vostro 3500) and it has "Broadcom WiFI network card". I have FreeBSD 8.2 Release. I have read many forum posts, but..bwn(4).

My /boot/loader.conf
Code:
wlan_load="YES"
wlan_amrr_load="YES"
firmware_load="YES"

bwn_load="YES"
if_bwn_load="YES"
siba_bwn_load="YES"

Code:
qb# kldstat
Id Refs Address    Size     Name
 1   27 0xc0400000 bd97b4   kernel
 3    1 0xc104f000 b1e0     if_wi.ko
 4    1 0xc89df000 1a000    snd_hda.ko
 5    2 0xc89f9000 4c000    sound.ko
 6    1 0xc8af4000 6000     snd_ich.ko
 7    1 0xc8afa000 33000    if_bwn.ko
 8    1 0xc8b2d000 9000     siba_bwn.ko
 9    1 0xc8b3c000 1b000    if_bwi.ko

Code:
qb# pciconf –lv
….
hdac1@pci0:1:0:1:    class=0x040300 card=0x04411028 chip=0x0be310de rev=0xa1 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'NVIDIA Corporation'
    class      = multimedia
    subclass   = HDA
none3@pci0:18:0:0:    class=0x028000 card=0x00101028 chip=0x472714e4 rev=0x01 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Broadcom Corporation'
    class      = network
re0@pci0:19:0:0:    class=0x020000 card=0x04411028 chip=0x816810ec rev=0x03 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Realtek Semiconductor'
    device     = 'Gigabit Ethernet NIC(NDIS 6.0) (RTL8168/8111/8111c)'
    class      = network
    subclass   = Ethernet

Code:
qb# ifconfig
re0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
    options=389b<RXCSUM,TXCSUM,VLAN_MTU,VLAN_HWTAGGING,VLAN_HWCSUM,WOL_UCAST,WOL_MCAST,WOL_MAGIC>
    ether f0:4d:a2:8a:b7:f5
    inet 192.168.1.2 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.1.255
    media: Ethernet autoselect (none)
    status: no carrier
lo0: flags=8049<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 16384
    options=3<RXCSUM,TXCSUM>
    inet6 fe80::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x2 
    inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128 
    inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000 
    nd6 options=3<PERFORMNUD,ACCEPT_RTADV>

I download broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5.tar.bz2 and b43-fwcutter-012.tar.bz2, but I do not know how to install.
FreeBSD 8.2 does not have an Internet connection. I cannot use ports.

Engaging in the development of FreeBSD in the Ukraine. :)
 
bwi(4) is used for older Broadcom cards, and bwn(4) is used for newer ones. Start with bwn(4). Please read those man page links, because both require firmware installed from ports. Use the wired re0 interface until you get the wireless working.
 
Yes, I thought about it.
But the wired re0 interface is also silent

Code:
qb# ifconfig
re0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
	options=389b<RXCSUM,TXCSUM,VLAN_MTU,VLAN_HWTAGGING,VLAN_HWCSUM,WOL_UCAST,WOL_MCAST,WOL_MAGIC>
	ether f0:4d:a2:8a:b7:f5
	inet 192.168.1.2 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.1.255
	media: Ethernet autoselect (100baseTX <full-duplex>)
	status: active
lo0: flags=8049<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 16384
	options=3<RXCSUM,TXCSUM>
	inet6 fe80::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x2 
	inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128 
	inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000 
	nd6 options=3<PERFORMNUD,ACCEPT_RTADV>

My /etc/rc.conf:
Code:
. . .
defaultrouter=”192.168.1.1”
ifconfig_re0=”inet 192.168.1.5 netmask 255.255.255.0”

Wanted to set up WiFi. I'm using FreeBSD only 5 days. Previously used Windows XP. Help me, please.

Does not help: [cmd=]# ifconfig re0 inet 192.168.1.5 netmask 255.255.255.0 up[/cmd]
 
I can not install:
Code:
# cd /usr/ports/net/bwn-firmware-kmod
# make install clean

...
Extracting v4/a0g0initvals5.fw
Extracting v4/b0g0bsinitvals5.fw
Extracting v4/b0g0initvals5.fw
/usr/bin/touch /usr/ports/net/bwn-firmware-kmod/work/bg/v4/ucode.fw
"/usr/share/mk/bsd.kmod.mk", line 12: "can't find kernel source tree"
*** Error code 1

How do I fix it?

My /boot/loader.conf have:
Code:
if_bwn_load="YES"
bwn_v4_ucode_load="YES"
 
Install the kernel source tree, /usr/src. The good way is to use csup(1), but use a supfile that matches the version of operating system you're running. See the examples in /usr/share/examples/cvsup/. The other way is to use sysinstall(8), but I forget the details and don't advise it anyway.
 
Thank you.
Tried to install via sysinstall - errors (twice tried - twice reinstalled FreeBSD).

Helped csup.

Code:
# mkdir /etc/csup

Code:
# cat /etc/csup/src-sys
*default host=cvsup3.ua.FreeBSD.org
*default base=/var/db
*default prefix=/usr
*default release=cvs tag=RELENG_6
*default delete use-rel-suffix
*default compress src-sys

Code:
# csup -g -L 2 /etc/csup/src-sys

And:
Code:
# cd /usr/ports/net/bwn-firmware-kmod/
# make install clean

All ok.

And
Code:
qb# cat /boot/loader.conf
wlan_load="YES"
if_bwn_load="YES"
bwn_v4_ucode_load="YES"
siba_bwn_load="YES"


I restarted my computer. And:
Code:
# pciconf -lv
...
none5@pci0:18:0:0:	class=0x028000 card=0x00101028 chip=0x472714e4 rev=0x01 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Broadcom Corporation'
    class      = network
...
None - not working.
-> not working

What else can you do?
 
doorways said:
Code:
# cat /etc/csup/src-sys
*default host=cvsup3.ua.FreeBSD.org
*default base=/var/db
*default prefix=/usr
*default release=cvs tag=RELENG_6
*default delete use-rel-suffix
*default compress src-sys

If you're really running 6-STABLE, bwn(4) is probably not going to work well, or possibly at all. But you might be running a newer release, and that's what I meant by "use a supfile that matches the version of operating system you're running".

If you're just reinstalling, get a recent snapshot of 8-STABLE. That link goes to the bootonly CD, which downloads everything over the net. The full CD is here.

Install that, and when it gives you a choice, pick Developer. That will include the source when installing.

For reference, here's an 8-STABLE supfile.
Code:
*default host=cvsup3.ua.FreeBSD.org
*default base=/var/db
*default prefix=/usr
*default release=cvs tag=RELENG_8
*default delete use-rel-suffix
*default compress
src-all
 
Hello again. Thank you for the correct script. I reinstalled my system FreeBSD 8.2. I rewrote this script:
Code:
...
*default prefix=/usr
*default release=cvs tag=RELENG_8
*default delete use-rel-suffix
...

And:
Code:
# csup -g -L 2 /etc/csup/src-sys
# cd /usr/ports/net/bwn-firmware-kmod/
# make install clean

All ok again. But:
Code:
none4@pci0:1:0:1:	class=0x040300 card=0x04411028 chip=0x0be310de rev=0xa1 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'NVIDIA Corporation'
    class      = multimedia
    subclass   = HDA
none5@pci0:18:0:0:	class=0x028000 card=0x00101028 chip=0x472714e4 rev=0x01 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Broadcom Corporation'
    class      = network

WiFI - not working.
Video Card (nvidia GeForce 310m) - not working, but I installed next ports:
Code:
cd /usr/ports/x11/nvidia-driver && make install clean
cd /usr/ports/x11/nvidia-xconfig && make install clean
cd /usr/ports/x11/nvidia-settings && make install clean

and added in /boot/loader.conf:
Code:
qb# cat /boot/loader.conf
if_bwn_load="YES"
bwn_v4_ucode_load="YES"

nvidia_load="YES"

(My WiFI and video card).

and rebooted the computer.

Ok. I downloaded a desired distribution FreeBSD-8.2-STABLE-201105-i386-bootonly.iso, Wrote it on DVD-RW 0. I tried to install - not start sysinstall. Then I re-image to other media (DVD-RW 1). I tried to install - will not start sysinstall, too.

I carried it last time: http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/install-choosing.html
>> Tried to install via sysinstall - errors (twice tried - twice reinstalled FreeBSD).
Then the system does not run. If I'm not doing this - the system is started.

God is with him, with this video - how to customize the WiFi?
 
Three possible things going on (assuming the radio switch is on):
1. The card is supported by bwi(4) instead of bwn(4).
2. The card is supported by bwn(4), but it doesn't recognize the PCI IDs and the driver needs to be updated.
3. The card is not supported by native FreeBSD drivers. In that case, try the Windows drivers with ndisgen(8).

For #2 and #3, please post to the freebsd-wireless mailing list.
 
Hi,

I installed Windows XP and EVEREST software. EVEREST showed me what my network is:
Code:
Broadcom DW1501 Wireless-N WLAN Half-Mini Card [14E4-4727] [NoDB]

bwn(4) or bwi(4) - does not support them.

I have one option - to use ndisgen(8)?

If you have other suggestions - I am happy to listen to them/
 
One of the native drivers might run that chipset in 802.11g mode. If it's compatible, and the PCI IDs are added... Broadcom recently open-sourced some of their drivers. I don't know if anyone is porting them yet. The mailing list is the best place for this kind of information.
 
Hi,

I reinstalled my OS again. Current OS: FreeBSD 8.2. I read the links that gave "btviana": http://allwindowshacks.blogspot.com/2011/01/bsd-tips-1.html

I.
I downloaded: hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz
Code:
# mkdir /usr/ports/x-files
# mkdir /usr/ports/x-files/first-version
# cp "/root/Downloads/hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz" /usr/ports/x-files/first-version
# cd /usr/ports/x-files/first-version
# tar -xvzf hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz
If I do: cd /usr/ports/x-files/first-version/hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz
I ahve a error: /usr/ports/x-files/first-version/hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz: Not a directory.
- /usr/ports/x-files/first-version/hybrid-portsrc_x86_32-v5_100_82_38.tar.gz: Not a directory.
Code:
# make && make install clean
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build M=`pwd`
make: chdir /lib/modules/8.2-RELEASE/build: No such file or directory
*** Error code 1

Stop in /usr/ports/x-files/first-version.
Ouch. What to do then? I'm new to the Unix. What is error: code 1?

II.
Ok. No panic. I downloaded: ndiswrapper-1.56.tar.gz
Code:
# mkdir /usr/ports/x-files/second-version
# cp "/root/Downloads/ndiswrapper-1.56.tar.gz" /usr/ports/x-files/second-version
# cd /usr/ports/x-files/second-version
# tar -xvzf ndiswrapper-1.56.tar.gz
# cd ndiswrapper-1.56
# make && make install
make -C driver
Error expanding embedded variable.
*** Error code 2

Stop in /usr/ports/x-files/second-version/ndiswrapper-1.56.
Error again. What doing?

III.
Ok
Code:
# ls
AUTHORS        README                ndiswrapper.spec
ChangeLog      driver                utils
INSTALL        loadndisdriver.8
Makefile       ndiswrapper.8

IV.
Oh, we have INSTALL file.
Code:
# sh INSTALL
....
If: not found
INSTALL: 39: Syntax error: "(" unexpected
Error again.

V.
Ok.
Code:
# cat README
....
Installation
============

See INSTALL for a short version of installation instructions. More
up-to-date instructions, as well as FAQ etc., can be found at
http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?Installation.
....

But: I'm sorry that I'm stupid in FreeBSD. The last eight years I have used Windows OS. I've used FreeBSD only single week.
 
Hello,
I have:
Code:
qb# cat /boot/loader.conf
ndis_load="YES"
wlan_load="YES"
wlan_wep_load="YES"
wlan_ccmp_load="YES"
wlan_tkip_load="YES"
wlan_wmrr_load="YES"
firmware_load="YES"

wlan_xauth_load="YES"

nvidia_load="YES"

And I work:
Code:
# mkdir /usr/src/ndis
I copied Windows binary files bcmwl5.sys and bcmwl5.inf in this directory.

Code:
# cd /usr/src/ndis
# ls -l
total 3584
-rwx------  1 root  wheel   918464 11 июн 16:05 bcmwl5.inf
-rwx------  1 root  wheel  2696448 11 июн 16:04 bcmwl5.sys

# ndisgen bcmwl5.inf bcmwl5.sys
Click <Enter>, <Enter>, ..., and <Enter> again.
Code:
# ls -l
total 6672
-rwx------  1 root  wheel   918464 11 июн 16:05 bcmwl5.inf
-rwx------  1 root  wheel  2696448 11 июн 16:04 bcmwl5.sys
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  3136932 11 июн 16:09 bcmwl5_sys.ko
We have bcmwl5_sys.ko file.

Code:
# cp bcmwl5_sys.ko /boot/modules/
# cd /boot/modules/
# ls -l
total 3108
...
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  3136932 11 июн 16:11 bcmwl5_sys.ko
...

# kldload ./bcmwl5_sys.ko
kldload: can't load ./bcmwl5_sys.ko: File exists
The bad. I thought all be work.

Code:
# kldstat
Id Refs Address    Size     Name
 1    1 0xc0400000 bd97b4   kernel

# reboot now
Run terminal, and.
Code:
# kldstat 
Id Refs Address    Size     Name
 1   16 0xc0400000 bd97b4   kernel
 2    1 0xc0fda000 f578     if_ndis.ko
 3    2 0xc0fea000 1f8f8    ndis.ko
 4    1 0xc100a000 1ed4     wlan_xauth.ko

# kldload /boot/modules/bcmwl5_sys.ko
kldload: can't load /boot/modules/bcmwl5_sys.ko: File exists
Error again. Ok, I work:
Code:
# echo 'bcmwl5_sys_load="YES"' >> /boot/loader.conf
# reboot now
Run terminal, and.
Code:
# kldstat
Id Refs Address    Size     Name
 1   16 0xc0400000 bd97b4   kernel
 2    1 0xc0fda000 f578     if_ndis.ko
 3    2 0xc0fea000 1f8f8    ndis.ko
 4    1 0xc100a000 1ed4     wlan_xauth.ko
Hm.
Code:
# pciconf -lv
...
none5@pci0:18:0:0:	class=0x028000 card=0x00101028 chip=0x472714e4 rev=0x01 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Broadcom Corporation'
    class      = network
...

I will continue to read the manuals. If you have something to say - say it.
 
What version of FreeBSD kernel source do you have?

You can not use different version of kernel source of the one you are already using - in other words you can not load modules compiled for different kernel versions.

ndiswrapper is linux only. You are using FreeBSD. FreeBSD have NDISulator aka Project Evil.
 
Hi,
I'm a little confused.

wblock
The card is not supported by native FreeBSD drivers. In that case, try the Windows drivers with ndisgen(8).

richardpl
FreeBSD have NDISulator aka Project Evil.

What to do?
Or something I did not understand?

I have a:
Laptop Dell Vostro 3500 and

Code:
# uname -a
FreeBSD  8.2-RELEASE FreeBSD 8.2-RELEASE #0: Fri Feb 18 02:24:46 UTC 2011
  root@almeida.cse.buffalo.edu:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/GENERIC  i386

I do not work:
Code:
# pciconf -lv
none1@pci0:0:27:0:	class=0x040300 card=0x04411028 chip=0x3b568086 rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Intel Corporation'
    class      = multimedia
    subclass   = HDA
none2@pci0:0:31:3:	class=0x0c0500 card=0x04411028 chip=0x3b308086 rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Intel Corporation'
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = SMBus
none3@pci0:0:31:6:	class=0x118000 card=0x04411028 chip=0x3b328086 rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Intel Corporation'
    class      = dasp
none4@pci0:1:0:1:	class=0x040300 card=0x04411028 chip=0x0be310de rev=0xa1 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'NVIDIA Corporation'
    class      = multimedia
    subclass   = HDA
none5@pci0:18:0:0:	class=0x028000 card=0x00101028 chip=0x472714e4 rev=0x01 hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Broadcom Corporation'
    class      = network

Get them set up!
If you do not use ndisgen (8). How do I configure it?


If the video card set up no problem, I think so.
How to configure broadcom WiFI?
 
The stuff in post #17 was for ndiswrapper, a Linux project which will not work in FreeBSD. ndisgen(8) is FreeBSD. So use ndisgen(8). I don't know what's causing the problem with that. Since you have 32-bit FreeBSD, use the 32-bit Windows driver files. The ones from XP, I think.

Another option is to remove the Broadcom card, smash it with a hammer, and replace with an Atheros or Intel card. (That's an exaggeration. Any suitable blunt instrument can be used.) This can be tricky, since the replacement has to be the right size and some of those cards aren't supported, either.

While all this is going on, you could post to the freebsd-wireless mailing list, where the guys who actually work on the wireless drivers read and respond. It might be an easy fix to get that card supported by one of the native drivers. It might not, but hard to say without asking.
 
@doorways: Get the right FreeBSD source for your installed FreeBSD version, you can not use modules compiled for CURRENT. You still did not answer my question.
 
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