Mageia forum

How can I install all of the WiFi drivers without Internet access?

Situation: I have a PC tower without built-in WiFi. The Mageia system did not have any WiFi drivers, or other support software. I have moved to a hotel without hard-wired (Cat5, ethernet) access to the Internet. The hotel does have WiFi.

I bought a USB WiFi adapter, and plugged it into the system. The "lsusb" command has the following output:

ID 0846:9020 NetGear, Inc. WNA3100(v1) Wireless-N300 [Broadcom BCM43231]

The link https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Setup_wireless_networking has a lot of great information about the software I need.

I do have access to a Mageia 5 Install DVD, and a laptop with Mageia 5 installed and access to the internet.

Given a package I need to install, how do you recommend I get it to the tower?

This might work:

I believe the package you need is this one
https://madb.mageia.org/package/show/ap ... re-install

which also requires
https://madb.mageia.org/package/show/ap ... 3-fwcutter

but you could also try the open driver
https://madb.mageia.org/rpm/show/applic ... /t_media/3



if your Mageia version is 32bit, download those packages from

https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/mageia ... 5.i586.rpm
https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/mageia ... noarch.rpm

and if your Mageia version is 64bit, then download those instead

https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/mageia ... x86_64.rpm
https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/mageia ... noarch.rpm

install by right clicking and selecting "open with package install" (or "software install", not sure which is better), first the fwcutter, then the firmware, maybe a reboot is needed (or maybe not)...


or you may try the open driver, which is for 32bit:
https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/mageia ... noarch.rpm

or for 64bit:
https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/mageia ... noarch.rpm


As for getting the files to the tower, you would need to write them on a usb key or a cd.

I hope this helps

Thank you petedan10 for the assistance.

But in addition to the Linux packages, and kernel specific packages,I seem to also need a Windows device driver. The driver file name is bcmwlhigh6.inf for the 64 bit version. Maybe, I am just not holding my tongue right. There are sites saying a lot about the file, but do not have a downloadable file.

Like many systems, all but one file is not useful.

The file should exist on a Windows system, if I install the drivers for the hardware on a Windows system.

ndiswrapper says it wants Windows XP drivers. If I do the installation on a different Windows OS, will those drivers work?

hi,
No, ndiswrapper is for Windows XP drivers only. If the drivers given by petedan10 are the right ones, you don't need ndiswrapper.

I think I must plead ignorance. I tried to use the Mageia Control Center to install a wireless internet interface, and it seemed to be asking me for a driver file. So I was asking for/about a windows driver that other distros seem to want.

One of the packages recommended earlier is b43-firmware-install. Its description says:

This package contains script, that automatically downloads precompiled proprietary broadcom-wl driver and extracts firmware from it using b43-fwcutter.

There are no any proprietary components in package itself. Driver will be downloaded after installation, so you need working Internet connection. You can also install firmware later by running b43-firmware-install as root.

It seems like the following process is required:
1. Install the Linux Mageia packages: b43-firmware-install-..., b43-fwcutter-..., and b43-openfwwf-...
P.S. b43-openfwwf-... does not have any files listed in it. Is it a meta-package?
2. run b43-firmware-install (from package of same name) (But it requires functional internet access.)
3. run b43-fwcutter (from package of same name)
P.S. 32-bit package has descriptions and files listed. 64-bit package has NO description, and NO files listed.
P.P.S. The driver should be available now.
4. Run the MCC to install the WiFi interface.

Am I understanding the process correctly?
Do I need the USB WiFi Adapter plugged into the box to complete any of the steps?

I am going to jury rig an Ethernet access to the WWW, and try the above, with or without the USB WiFi Adapter.

Unfortunately, I can't see BCM 43231 here:
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43

At https://wikidevi.com/wiki/List_of_Wi-Fi_Device_IDs_in_Linux I did find:

USB_0846_9043 v4.3 2015-11-02 NetGear WNA1000Mv2 802.11bgn (Realtek RTL8188CUS?) rtl8192cu

which implies kernel module rtl8192cu does something for us.

What?

which implies kernel module rtl8192cu does something for us.

What?

Nothing.
That device has a Realtek chip, yours has Broadcom chip.

You could set up the laptop to share the internet connection. WiFi in and Lan out to the desktop machine.

hankivy wrote::?: I think I must plead ignorance. I tried to use the Mageia Control Center to install a wireless internet interface, and it seemed to be asking me for a driver file. So I was asking for/about a windows driver that other distros seem to want.

I am not sure I understood but you did install the rpm files and then just plugged the usb dongle or you followed some other procedure?

The procedure I used was:
1. Hook tower up to the internet. (I had temporary access.)
2. Use Mageia Control Center, MCC, to install software.

3. Return to the hotel. ( And lose the internet. )
4. The installed packages named b43-* are:
b43-firmware-install
b43-fwcutter

The NOT installed packages named b43-* are:
b43-openfwwf
b43-tools

I regret my minuscule notes on running b43-firmware-install and b43-fwcutter.
But the folder /lib/firmware/b43 has 117 files.

I had no success, using MCC, Network & Internet, (with either "Network Center", nor "Set up a new network interface".
So I tried using MCC, Hardware, "Browse and configure hardware".

Under "Scanner", there is the Broadcom Remote Download Wireless Adapter" With the correct Vendor and Device IDs. Below the information sub-window, there is a "Run config tool" button.

I clicked the "Run config tool" button. A "Confirmation" window pops up. The window says "Broadcom Remote Download Wireless Adapter is not in the scanner database." And asks, "configure it manually?"
I selected "yes", and the next window asks asks me which printer/photoscanner device is most like what I have.

I cancel all of these choices.
I will poke around more, and get back to you.

I regret that my notes on my installation process is minuscule.

My tower currently has the following installed.
Package Version Release Architecture
b43-firmware-install 0.1 2.mga5.nonfree noarch
b43-cutter 018 3.mga5 x86_64
b43-openfwwf 5.2 6.mga5 noarch
b43-tools 017 5.mga5 x86_64

---
From memory, the first two packages were installed using MCC while the system was on the internet.
The third package was installed from a Mageia 5 installation DVD.
The fourth package was installed from an rpm file on a Mageia 5 installation/update mirrored web site.

---
On MCC, the "Hardware", "browse and configure hardware" still thinks the WiFi USB Adapter is some kind of printer/scanner.

---
On MCC, the "Network & Internet", "Set up a new network interface", offers kinds of connections.
I select "Wireless (WiFi)", and click "Next". That opens a "Set up a new network interface" window.
This new window has three lines of text.

• Wireless
• Select the network interface to configure:
• : Use a Windows driver (with ndiswrapper)

There is a single checked radio button in front of the third line. There are NO other buttons or check boxes in this window.
There are the usual "Cancel", "Previous", and "next" buttons at the bottom of the window.
The only way to go forward is to select the "Next" button"
That opens a window titled "Please select the correct driver".
It wants a "Windows driver description file .inf file" OR a corresponding driver file .dll or .o .

I do not see how to move forward.

hankivy wrote:ID 0846:9020 NetGear, Inc. WNA3100(v1) Wireless-N300 [Broadcom BCM43231]

Does not seem to even resemble Broadcom's vendor ID, let alone to be supported by the b43 driver according to https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/use ... f_hardware
It's listed specifically under another free broadcom driver as unsupported: https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/use ... rted_chips

From the missing replies in viewtopic.php?f=25&t=4371 and viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2535 I'd say this is currently not supported by any linux driver, not even the proprietary wl one. Only working solution seems to be using a windows driver with ndiswrapper, altough no N-band support and no dualband then. See https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2221251 or https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/WLAN/Karten/Netgear/

I'd suggest to replace that thing, maybe try to get some Atheros chipset which is supported out of the box by the kernel directly? Way less hassle, and it's just a dozen bucks or so.

I am looking for the libpscslite1 package, 64 bit.
I found the 32 bit version using MCC, but 64 bit was unavailable.

Why I am asking. --

I tried to find a USB WiFi using the Atheros chipset, as advised, by doktor5000. His advice is always very good.
The largest electronic store within several hundred miles did not have one.

I got TP-Link Wireless USB Adapter, model TL-WN822N, Ver. 3.0.
The following is the dmesg output after plugging it in.

Code: Select all

[  314.601797] usb 4-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 4 using ehci-pci
[  314.688719] usb 4-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=8178
[  314.688724] usb 4-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[  314.688727] usb 4-1.3: Product: USB WLAN
[  314.688729] usb 4-1.3: Manufacturer: Realtek
[  314.688732] usb 4-1.3: SerialNumber: 00e04c000001
[  315.810623] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
[  315.867826] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
[  315.867829] cfg80211:  DFS Master region: unset
[  315.867830] cfg80211:   (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp), (dfs_cac_time)
[  315.867833] cfg80211:   (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm), (N/A)
[  315.867835] cfg80211:   (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz, 92000 KHz AUTO), (N/A, 2000 mBm), (N/A)
[  315.867836] cfg80211:   (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm), (N/A)
[  315.867838] cfg80211:   (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 80000 KHz, 160000 KHz AUTO), (N/A, 2000 mBm), (N/A)
[  315.867839] cfg80211:   (5250000 KHz - 5330000 KHz @ 80000 KHz, 160000 KHz AUTO), (N/A, 2000 mBm), (0 s)
[  315.867841] cfg80211:   (5490000 KHz - 5730000 KHz @ 160000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm), (0 s)
[  315.867842] cfg80211:   (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 80000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm), (N/A)
[  315.867843] cfg80211:   (57240000 KHz - 63720000 KHz @ 2160000 KHz), (N/A, 0 mBm), (N/A)
[  315.890247] rtl8192cu: Chip version 0x11
[  315.966848] rtl8192cu: MAC address: 18:a6:f7:0f:51:1f
[  315.966855] rtl8192cu: Board Type 0
[  315.967093] rtl_usb: rx_max_size 15360, rx_urb_num 8, in_ep 1
[  315.967124] rtl8192cu: Loading firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw_TMSC.bin
[  315.977774] ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'rtl_rc'
[  315.977979] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu
[  315.995970] rtl8192cu 4-1.3:1.0 wlp0s29u1u3: renamed from wlan0
[  316.037720] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: US
[  316.040013] cfg80211: Regulatory domain changed to country: US
[  316.040017] cfg80211:  DFS Master region: FCC
[  316.040018] cfg80211:   (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp), (dfs_cac_time)
[  316.040020] cfg80211:   (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 3000 mBm), (N/A)
[  316.040022] cfg80211:   (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 80000 KHz, 160000 KHz AUTO), (N/A, 2300 mBm), (N/A)
[  316.040024] cfg80211:   (5250000 KHz - 5330000 KHz @ 80000 KHz, 160000 KHz AUTO), (N/A, 2300 mBm), (0 s)
[  316.040026] cfg80211:   (5490000 KHz - 5730000 KHz @ 160000 KHz), (N/A, 2300 mBm), (0 s)
[  316.040027] cfg80211:   (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 80000 KHz), (N/A, 3000 mBm), (N/A)
[  316.040028] cfg80211:   (57240000 KHz - 63720000 KHz @ 2160000 KHz), (N/A, 4000 mBm), (N/A)
[  316.074225] rtl8192cu: MAC auto ON okay!
[  316.107143] rtl8192cu: Tx queue select: 0x05
[  316.537060] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlp0s29u1u3: link is not ready

Then I opened MCC, Selected "Hardware", "Browse & configure hardware".
The Hardware window announced "wpa_supplicant" package needed.
I tried to install wpa_supplicant-2.3-3.mga5.x86_64
rpm reported that libpscslite1.so.1 (64 bit) was needed and unavailable.
The library file is part of the libpscslite1 package.
I found the 32 bit version using MCC, but 64 bit was unavailable.

Hankivy please use code tags when you paste output from terminal for better readable,explained in that link thanks.
ftp://ftp5.gwdg.de/pub/linux/mandriva/m ... e_tags.ogv

hankivy wrote:I am looking for the libpscslite1 package, 64 bit.
I found the 32 bit version using MCC, but 64 bit was unavailable.

Yep, because that would be named lib64pcsclite1 - see e.g. http://ftp.snt.utwente.nl/pub/os/linux/ ... x86_64.rpm
You can easily search in package names via urpmf -f --name -m "part_of_packagename"


Just try:

Code: Select all

urpmf -f --name -m "pcsclite"
urpmq --sources -y "pcsclite"

doktor5000, you are correct. I am still learning.

P.S. My overall problem is fixed.

My Linux tower is on line at the hotel. The TP-Link product described above is working. I will provide more details later.