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Re: [OCLUG-Tech] Choosing a 64-bit Linux distro for my laptop

  • Subject: Re: [OCLUG-Tech] Choosing a 64-bit Linux distro for my laptop
  • From: Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca>
  • Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 09:12:44 -0400
On Wed, Jul 23, 2014 at 08:04:49AM -0400, Alex Pilon wrote:
> Let's get the PCI ID, then we can look at the kernel source, or some of
> the wireless.kernel.org pages for Broadcom drivers,
> 
>     http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43
>     http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/brcm80211
> 
> and only then can we make an informed decision.

Apparently you have a bcm4328.

    http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/wireless-internet/144041-help-setting-up-wireless-my-dell-inspiron-1501-a.html

There's no mention of that chip on either of the two wireless.kernel.org
pages, and the only other chip with that PCI ID is listed as partially
supported.

I found a few mentions in the kernel git repository,

    http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/log/?qt=grep&q=bcm4328

but they date from late 2010 and earlier.

Try something with a more modern kernel—not Ubuntu or Debian at least.
On 3.15.5, The module info does seem to indicate that it should be
supported too.

    $ modinfo /usr/lib/modules/3.15.5-2-ARCH/kernel/drivers/ssb/ssb.ko.gz 
    filename:       /usr/lib/modules/3.15.5-2-ARCH/kernel/drivers/ssb/ssb.ko.gz
    […]
    alias:          pci:v000014E4d00004328sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
                             ~~~~     ~~~~

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