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Artix Linux => Applications & Software => Topic started by: rdixitv on 09 January 2022, 07:54:15

Title: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 09 January 2022, 07:54:15
My laptop has a Broadcom BCM4360 wifi chip, and I need steps on how to set up drivers for this. It does not have an ethernet port, so I can't install with that. The Arch Wiki's instructions are very vague, and thay didn't solve the problem. I have used openSUSE and ArcoLinux in the past. Arco had the drivers preinstalled and on openSUSE, you had to transfer an RPM file on a USB. I couldn't find many useful instructions for Arch based distributions, though. Wifi worked just fine on the live environment, but when I restart, it stops working.

Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: qontinuum on 10 January 2022, 11:54:27
What have you tried, what didn't work?
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 10 January 2022, 14:09:01
The ArchWiki says,
Quote
you will need to first install the base-devel group during installation. Then, use another Internet-connected computer to download linux-headers and the driver tarball from the AUR, and install them in that order.

I don't know how to install base-devel group during installation. I also don't know where AUR downloads are stored.

I also tried installing this: https://github.com/antoineco/broadcom-wl, but make isn't installed by default so it couldn't build.

I tried following this forum post: https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,1657.0.html, but most of the replies linked the ArchWiki page. Some of the replies did mention this: https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/brcm80211#firmware_installation1, which I did not try, so I'll do that and get back to you.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: strajder on 10 January 2022, 14:25:14
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: qontinuum on 10 January 2022, 14:26:19
So you haven't tried to just install broadcom-wl that is in the repos?
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 10 January 2022, 17:40:47
So you haven't tried to just install broadcom-wl that is in the repos?

How would I do that without an internet connection?
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: strajder on 10 January 2022, 17:59:53

How would I do that without an internet connection?
For example, by downloading a package file (on a computer with Internet access, obviously) to a flash disk and doing
Code: [Select]
# pacman -U /path/to/package-file.pkg.tar.zst
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: qontinuum on 10 January 2022, 18:45:59
This or I guess you could use usb tethering
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: ####### on 10 January 2022, 21:39:28
On the base install iso you can use basestrap to install packages to the mounted target, this is using the wifi on the iso. Presumably you could do this with other iso's too, although I haven't tried those. There should be instructions on the Artix wiki in the base install section. You can still reboot using the iso and mount your installation in a fresh session  and drop some extra packages in if you find you are missing something when you have previously completed and shut down. When I did an install recently I got it all booting OK but then found I had forgotten some wifi stuff and a terminal so just basestrap'd them in afterwards.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: matt_ on 10 January 2022, 23:36:13

How would I do that without an internet connection?
I keep a USB wireless adapter on hand.  You can find them for sale at less than the cost of a typical USB thumb drive.  If you do a search on Amazon for "usb wifi linux", it will bring up many that are compatible and work with the current linux kernel.  A USB wifi device is great to have for rescue when the internal device isn't working for whatever reason.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 11 January 2022, 04:03:15
For example, by downloading a package file (on a computer with Internet access, obviously) to a flash disk and doing
Code: [Select]
# pacman -U /path/to/package-file.pkg.tar.zst

How would you download a package to a file to move it onto a flash disk, though?
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: strajder on 11 January 2022, 07:51:39
How would you download a package to a file to move it onto a flash disk, though?
For example, by downloading a package file (on a computer with Internet access, obviously) to a flash disk and doing
Code: [Select]
# pacman -U /path/to/package-file.pkg.tar.zst
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 11 January 2022, 10:54:44
I am asking where you get the package files from. Like, if you run
Code: [Select]
# pacman -S broadcom-wl
, where does the actual file go?
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: strajder on 11 January 2022, 11:18:19
I am asking where you get the package files from. Like, if you run
Code: [Select]
# pacman -S broadcom-wl
, where does the actual file go?
The file /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist contains a list of URLs of mirrors. You fill in the value for $arch and $repo and go to the resulting URL where you have Internet access.

Usually on PCs $arch will be x86_64.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 11 January 2022, 16:46:15
I went to a mirror close to me, and tried both the regular and the dkms version, but when I try to run pacman -U, I get an error saying some GPG key could not be looked up locally. I don't know much about this kind of stuff, so sorry if it is stupid.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: limotux on 11 January 2022, 16:54:08
My laptop has a Broadcom BCM4360 wifi chip, ..... It does not have an ethernet port, .... Wifi worked just fine on the live environment, but when I restart, it stops working.

Thanks for the help!
Hi @rdixitv
Let me assume you already have a system installed.
I would suggest that you try get internet through tethering with your mobile phone. It is worth the try to have Artix installed and running as honestly there is nothing in Linux like Artix.
Then
Code: [Select]
sudo pacman -S  broadcom-wl-dkms
and reboot.
I assume it should work. I've been there (Almost) https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,3150.msg20478.html#msg20478
I hope this helps. Please let me know.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: limotux on 11 January 2022, 16:59:18
I went to a mirror close to me, and tried both the regular and the dkms version, but when I try to run pacman -U, I get an error saying some GPG key could not be looked up locally. I don't know much about this kind of stuff, so sorry if it is stupid.
How did you go to a mirror? You are tethering your mobile phone?
I forgot to say, I uninstalled  as well
Code: [Select]
sudo pacman -R broadcom-wl
(just in case it is installed)
Then
Code: [Select]
sudo pacman -S  broadcom-wl-dkms

Just try it. But my situation was a bit different as I had WiFi but dead slow.
So hopefully this will install your driver.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 11 January 2022, 17:30:44
Quote
How did you go to a mirror?

I opened the website under my country in /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist. Then I downloaded the broadcom-wl tar.

Also, I think I am almost there with the driver installation, so I don't think mobile tethering is needed.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: limotux on 11 January 2022, 17:34:35
Just in case download the broadcom-wl-dkms as well.
This is the one that worked with me (mine is Broadcom as well)

I wish you good luck and you enjoy Artix.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: strajder on 11 January 2022, 18:03:21
I went to a mirror close to me, and tried both the regular and the dkms version, but when I try to run pacman -U, I get an error saying some GPG key could not be looked up locally. I don't know much about this kind of stuff, so sorry if it is stupid.
It is not, but the exact error would be more helpful of course. You might need to install the latest system/artix-keyring package first and do
Code: [Select]
sudo pacman-key --populate artix
as instructed when installing that package.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 12 January 2022, 09:29:12
Here is the error I get:
Code: [Select]
# pacman -U broadcom-wl-dkms-6.30.223.271-28-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

warning: database file for 'system' does not exist (use '-Sy' to download)
warning: database file for 'world' does not exist (use '-Sy' to download)
warning: database file for 'galaxy' does not exist (use '-Sy' to download)
loading packages...
:: Import PGP key FCF3C8CB5CF9C8D4, "Alexander Rødseth <[email protected]>"? [Y/n] Y
error: key "FCF3C8CB5CF9C8D4" could not be looked up remotely
error: required key missing from keyring
error: 'broadcom-wl-dkms-6.30.223.271-28-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst': unexpected error
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: ####### on 12 January 2022, 23:01:50
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman/Package_signing#Disabling_signature_checking (https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman/Package_signing#Disabling_signature_checking)
But be sure to put it back to standard when you no longer require that! (You should probably somehow try and verify the package is genuine and not some kind of malware first.) Shouldn't do any harm while you have no network connection. There might be better (safer) solutions to get that working though, and basestrap - the Artix equivalent of pacstrap which uses the pacman and wifi on the iso - would have avoided all of this too, but there are many ways to reach the desired result so whatever route you prefer is fine.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 13 January 2022, 17:58:01
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman/Package_signing#Disabling_signature_checking (https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman/Package_signing#Disabling_signature_checking)
But be sure to put it back to standard when you no longer require that! (You should probably somehow try and verify the package is genuine and not some kind of malware first.) Shouldn't do any harm while you have no network connection. There might be better (safer) solutions to get that working though, and basestrap - the Artix equivalent of pacstrap which uses the pacman and wifi on the iso - would have avoided all of this too, but there are many ways to reach the desired result so whatever route you prefer is fine.
I tried doing everything that the ArchWiki said, but none of it works. I get the same error.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: nous on 13 January 2022, 20:05:36
Code: [Select]
# pacman -U broadcom-wl-dkms-6.30.223.271-28-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
warning: database file for 'system' does not exist (use '-Sy' to download)
warning: database file for 'world' does not exist (use '-Sy' to download)
warning: database file for 'galaxy' does not exist (use '-Sy' to download)
This is the real error. Why don't you do as pacman instructs you? It appears your repo databases are missing. I bet archlinux-keyring (which contains key "FCF3C8CB5CF9C8D4") is missing too.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: ####### on 13 January 2022, 22:19:47
If you check back to the start of the thread nous, this is an install on a laptop with no ethernet port and although the iso had a wifi connection, the installation hasn't, so until the wifi drivers are installed any pacman ops that require a network connection won't work.
That's why I'd suggest booting the iso again, open a terminal if it's a graphical iso not a base one, (I'm assuming artools-base will be installed on those as well as the base iso) and doing something like these parts of the install guide: https://wiki.artixlinux.org/Main/Installation#Mount_Partitions (https://wiki.artixlinux.org/Main/Installation#Mount_Partitions)
Mount partitions, connect to internet (if it hasn't already) then:
Code: [Select]
basestrap /mnt  broadcom-wl (and any other missing packages if required)

And hopefully once the network connection is established it get's easier to proceed. Doubtless there are other approaches too, perhaps some are even simpler. The package can even be manually unpacked but that might give some pacman issues to sort out later with file already exists errors, and it might need some install hooks to be done manually too :D

But first if you want to continue with the pacman -U method, perhaps try strajders suggestion in reply #19 as it might clear the error, and perhaps the warning's will not stop pacman from installing the packages, and also the only part of the wiki page I was referencing was this:
If you are not concerned about package signing, you can disable PGP signature checking completely. Edit /etc/pacman.conf and uncomment the following line under [options]:

SigLevel = Never
and if you had done this correctly you shouldn't get the same error, uncomment means delete the # at the start of that line.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: nous on 13 January 2022, 23:01:08
I was only responding to his latest message; his setup seems completely off.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 14 January 2022, 13:47:39
This is the real error. Why don't you do as pacman instructs you? It appears your repo databases are missing. I bet archlinux-keyring (which contains key "FCF3C8CB5CF9C8D4") is missing too.

How would I refresh the repos without an internet connection?
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 14 January 2022, 13:49:11
Quote
If you check back to the start of the thread nous, this is an install on a laptop with no ethernet port and although the iso had a wifi connection, the installation hasn't, so until the wifi drivers are installed any pacman ops that require a network connection won't work.
That's why I'd suggest booting the iso again, open a terminal if it's a graphical iso not a base one, (I'm assuming artools-base will be installed on those as well as the base iso) and doing something like these parts of the install guide: https://wiki.artixlinux.org/Main/Installation#Mount_Partitions
Mount partitions, connect to internet (if it hasn't already) then:

I'll try that, thanks!
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: nous on 14 January 2022, 17:22:32
Oh, I jumped to conclusions. As @###### suggested, you should boot with the ISO that gave you a working connection, mount your root partition under, say, /mnt and artix-chroot /mnt - at that point you'd be working inside your installed system *and* have internet.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 15 January 2022, 07:34:55
I freshly installed Artix, this time, using basestrap, and it showed no errors, but it would not boot when I restarted.

I have Artix dual booted with another Linux distribution. When I boot Artix with its own bootloader, it shows a long liset of errors, and I get a grub prompt. I tried running all the commands that made sense to run, like 'exit', 'linux', and 'reboot', but they either just bring me back into the prompt or return an error saying some file could not be found.

If I load Artix through the other distribution's bootloader, it returns this:
Code: [Select]
error: could not find disks 'hd0,gpt'
error: linux must be loaded first
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: qontinuum on 15 January 2022, 16:05:02
You failed your installation, it has nothing to do with the original topic
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: calvinh on 15 January 2022, 16:49:08
Perhaps Manjaro is more suitable.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 17 January 2022, 13:13:08
I installed Artix with Calamares again.
I tried installing the tar file from a mirror, and this time, it worked, but the networks don't show up in Network Manager. When I run ping or pacman -Sy, it just stalls forever and doesn't show an error.
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: rdixitv on 17 January 2022, 17:28:01
Update: My Wifi seems to be working now, so thank you! I installed drivers through the tar. After installing that, I found out that the wifi was soft-blocked, so I ran
Code: [Select]
# rfkill unblock wifi
to unblock it.

But now, when I two to install something with pacman, it says
Code: [Select]
error: target not found: <package>
. When I run
Code: [Select]
# pacman -Syu
, I get a long list of errors where every line is something like:
Code: [Select]
<some_package>: /path/to/file exists in filesystem
. For example, one of them was this:
Code: [Select]
linux-formware: /usr/lib/firmware/amd/amdgpu/beige_goby_ce.bin exists in filesystem
. Also, before it shows the list of packages to update, it gives another long list saying
Code: [Select]
error: duplicated database entry '<package>'
.

Thank you for the help, once again!
Title: Re: How do I set up broadcom-wl drivers?
Post by: ####### on 18 January 2022, 03:32:31
You can (carefully) use the --overwrite option with pacman to overwrite files installed manually without using pacman, but read the warnings on and linked from this page, this is not something required frequently:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/pacman (https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/pacman)
In particular the section: "Failed to commit transaction (conflicting files)" error
There are various examples of this in use to be found searching around e.g.:
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/490949/pacman-filename-exists-in-filesystem (https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/490949/pacman-filename-exists-in-filesystem)
Not sure it will fix all the errors, but it could be a start if it runs without needing to fix anything else first.