wl module not present after kernel upgrade

[MexicanGeek]

Hello,

I'm a new XM Linux user, and I recently installed Wildflower onto a MacBookPro9,2. I updated the kernel to 5.10.0-21-amd64 using the native GUI update utility, and everything (including the integrated Broadcom BCM4331 wifi adapter) worked fine.

inxi -n output running 5.10 kernel:

Code: Select all

Network:   Device-1: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3 
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: a8:20:66:49:51:1c 
           Device-2: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n driver: wl 
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: 00:23:12:10:4c:94

Relevant Quick System info running 5.10:

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System:    Kernel: 5.10.0-21-amd64 [5.10.162-1] x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 10.2.1 
           parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.10.0-21-amd64 
           root=UUID=<filter> ro 
           Desktop: Xfce 4.18.1 tk: Gtk 3.24.24 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm 4.18.0 vt: 7 
           dm: LightDM 1.26.0 Distro: MX-21.3_x64 Wildflower January 15  2023 
           base: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
Network:   Device-1: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3 v: kernel 
           port: efa0 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:16b4 class-ID: 0200 
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Apple AirPort Extreme driver: wl 
           v: kernel modules: bcma port: efa0 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4331 class-ID: 0280 
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>  

I then installed to 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 using MX Package Installer, but the wl driver/module is no longer available after the upgrade to 6.1. I tried modprobe, but it looks like the module might not have be automatically complied via the (dkms?) process. Quick system info when attempting to run 6.1:

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System:    Kernel: 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 [6.1.7-1~mx21+1] x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 10.2.1 
           parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-2mx-amd64 
           root=UUID=<filter> ro 
           Desktop: Xfce 4.18.1 tk: Gtk 3.24.24 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm 4.18.0 vt: 7 
           dm: LightDM 1.26.0 Distro: MX-21.3_x64 Wildflower January 15  2023 
Network:   Device-1: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3 v: kernel 
           port: efa0 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:16b4 class-ID: 0200 
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Apple AirPort Extreme driver: N/A 
           modules: bcma port: efa0 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4331 class-ID: 0280 

I have a basic understanding of kernels, dkms, and manually loading modules, but it's been a while since tinkering with things. Can someone help point me in the right direction on what I may be missing with this issue?

Thanks in advance!

[Huckleberry Finn]

/var/log/mxpi.log

Probably it gave an output like:

" ... Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 (x86_64) Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6...../build/make.log for ... "


Generally newest kernels need some time for Nvidia, Broadcom, Realtek, VirtualBox ...

[j2mcgreg]

@MexicanGeek wrote:

Device-2: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Apple AirPort Extreme driver: wl
v: kernel modules: bcma port: efa0 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4331 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>

Thar's a pretty old card and because the default kernel in MX did not pick it up, I think that you should move to the older 4.19 kernel that can be installed via MXPI.

[MexicanGeek]

/var/log/mxpi.log

Probably it gave an output like:

" ... Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 (x86_64) Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6...../build/make.log for ... "


Generally newest kernels need some time for Nvidia, Broadcom, Realtek, VirtualBox ...

I do not see these errors, but I do recall seeing them when installing the kernel. I am running 5.10 as a workaround. How can I tell when support has been added to the newer kernel, and will I have to manually do anything (i.e. dkms --autoinstall?) at that time?

Thanks Again!

[dolphin_oracle]

wl is not in the kernel.

You probably need to install broadcom-sta-dkms from the Ahs repo. The one in main won’t build on kernels beyond 5.10.

[MexicanGeek]

@MexicanGeek wrote:

Device-2: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Apple AirPort Extreme driver: wl
v: kernel modules: bcma port: efa0 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4331 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>

Thar's a pretty old card and because the default kernel in MX did not pick it up, I think that you should move to the older 4.19 kernel that can be installed via MXPI.

I don't know if this is applicable. In my original post, I indicated that I am running 5.10.0-21-amd64 without issues. I am using 5.10.0-21-amd64 as workaround while working out a solution.

Thanks.

[Huckleberry Finn]

https://mxrepo.com/mx/repo/pool/ahs/b/b ... +1_all.deb

(Right-click on it: "Install Deb Files" or "Open with Deb-installer")

[j2mcgreg]

@MexicanGeek wrote:

Device-2: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Apple AirPort Extreme driver: wl
v: kernel modules: bcma port: efa0 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4331 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>

Thar's a pretty old card and because the default kernel in MX did not pick it up, I think that you should move to the older 4.19 kernel that can be installed via MXPI.

I don't know if this is applicable. In my original post, I indicated that I am running 5.10.0-21-amd64 without issues. I am using 5.10.0-21-amd64 as workaround while working out a solution.

Thanks.

Sorry. I misread the thread.

[Huckleberry Finn]

Yep, I did the same for myself just now, that works here.

Installed 6.1:

Code: Select all

Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more information.

Then installed the deb from AHS, rebooted and I'm writing these... :

System: Kernel: 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 [6.1.7-1~mx21+1] x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 10.2.1
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-2mx-amd64
root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet nosplash
Desktop: Xfce 4.18.1 tk: Gtk 3.24.24 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm 4.18.0 vt: 7
dm: LightDM 1.26.0 Distro: MX-21.3_x64 Wildflower October 20 2021
base: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)

Network: Device-1: Broadcom BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: wl
v: kernel modules: ssb port: 6000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4315 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>

[MexicanGeek]

wl is not in the kernel.

You probably need to install broadcom-sta-dkms from the Ahs repo. The one in main won’t build on kernels beyond 5.10.

Can confirm issue is resolved, and adding the ahs repo was the key. Over the last day or so, I did a lot of weird stuff after my initial install, so after verifying adding the ahs repo (and installing the version of broadcom-sta-dkms from the ahs repo) fixed the issue, I did a clean install. (This wasn't necessary, but I did so since I wanted a clean system. - Here is the rough order I did everything right after a clean install in case this helpful to anyone:

[*]Performed clean install (MX-21.3).
[*]Used wired connection at first. Went ahead and configured wireless network via the Advanced Network Configuration GUI tool at this point. Verified that everything worked - Added the ahs repo via MX repo manager. Ran apt-get update. Installed updates when prompted via package management GUI.
[*]Rebooted (to 5.10.0-21-amd64 at this point).
[*]Installed 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 (via MX Package Installer). dkms automatically ran during this and compiled/installed the wl module at this point.
[*]Booted into 6.1.0-2mx-amd64 without an issue. Wireless works fine.

Thanks for everyone's help.