- Boot Linux Not Windows - Ben Lingenfelter
Booting up Linux for the first time can be nerve-wracking, especially if Microsoft Windows(r) was thrown away during the installation. (A dual-boot situation is easier, by the way.) But with it already gone, there's nothing worse than finding out that pieces of hardware no longer work, especially the wireless card.
New users, once plugged into a corded network, soon learn that in order to make their wireless work again, they have to learn to code. They learn to open their "terminal" or "konsole"; then, following various threads from forums, they try loading items like "ndiswrapper" and using strange-sounding codes to load "bcm43xx-fwcutter" and other various items, maybe even a new wireless network manager like "wicd." In the end, many get discouraged with linux and wonder why anyone ever said Linux worked well.
The B43xx Does Work with Some Linux Distributions OotB
According to linuxwireless.org,
"The Broadcom wireless chip needs software, called "firmware", that runs on the wireless chip itself during operation. This firmware is copyrighted by Broadcom and it must be extracted from Broadcom's proprietary drivers. To get such firmware on your system, you must download the driver from a legal distribution point, as noted below. Then you must extract the firmware from that Broadcom driver by using b43-fwcutter (or bcm43xx-fwcutter) and install it in the special directory for firmware - usually /lib/firmware."
And though this explanation makes a sort of sense, it's not very helpful to the new linux user, often not to the experienced user, either.
Many linux sites claim to offer good explanations and suitable "workarounds," but the real issue is that these solutions don't always work, and as a result, Linux loses too many potential proponents. The good news is that some distros have noticed and developed solutions that work right Out of the Box (OotB). Here is a list of several that work:
- xPUD is a small linux distro that works like magic with the B43xx. The interface has a modern look with great functionality.
- gOS (Good OS) Gadgets also picks it right up. Gadgets is over a year old, but it offers a clean look and seamless functionality with Google Gadgets.
- Crunchbang is quite new. It runs on the OpenBox platform and is a very minimalist distribution. It's a new derivative of Ubuntu, but it looks different, and it's very fast. Crunchbang works with almost any wireless device.
- JULinux (Just Use Linux) is a distro that portrays itself as an easy step from Microsoft Windows(r). It has menus and windows that look and act the same as those on XP. Its start menu is situated in the same place, and many icons for software resemble those from Microsoft Windows(r). It also picks up the b43xx almost immediately.
- Mundus, another Ubuntu variant, works perfectly too. It really is just Ubuntu with a few extras, and claims to be able to load software from Windows and other linux distros and DMG's from Macs. It loads smoothly and finds the wireless without a hitch.
- Linux Mint has been finding the b43xx consistently since version 6 (they're at 8 now). It forces a "restricted" driver (STA) download that usually works. Other Ubuntu 9.10 variants should also work, but with the number of forum requests on the issue, it must not be foolproof.
- Spri Linux is another Ubuntu variant that works. It uses the IceWM window manager and the WICD network manager. Whatever else it uses, it's fast and connects to wireless networks automatically.
- Surprisingly, PCLinuxOS works perfectly OotB. Most KDE Linux distros seem to struggle with the b43xx, but this one does not.
- Jolicloud, an Ubuntu-based netbook OS works ootb. It's still in pre-beta, but it's a pretty stable pre-beta.
- Knoppix 6.2 works immediately OotB. It uses Iceweasel and Epiphany browsers, and has a clean, simple LXDE desktop environment. Knoppix is an excellent distro for both newbies and more experienced users.
- Elive works.
- PC-OS, another Ubuntu variant, picks it up immediately.
- Vector Linux works well with the b43xx. This is interesting, since Vector uses the XFCE desktop environment, and uses the WICD network manager. WICD has improved in the past year.
- Masonux, an XFCE distro, works with the BCM43xx, but only after loading the extra Ubuntu software listed Here.
Distros That Don't Work with the Broadcom Wireless Card
There are distros that should work with the b43xx; many offer forum help and extra downloads that supposedly make it work just fine. In reality, however, new linux users should really just steer clear of them. Becoming accustomed to linux is much easier when things work easily, and these distributions, although great operating systems, don't always offer ease when it comes to the b43xx.
- OpenSuse
- Fedora and its variants, like Omega
- Puppy Linux and variants won't work with the b43xx card.
- Slax won't pick up the b43xx.
- Damn Small Linux (DSL) won't find b43xx.
- Sabayon won't, at least not easily. After updating (which itself is a little complicated and takes forever) and the rebooting, Sabayon seems to then find the b43xx, but then the network manager and wicd try to operate at the same time, causing multiple password prompts and a real mess. It's certainly not for the new linux user, and definitely not smooth, even to an linux veteran.
- Easy Peasy
- GoblinX doesn't work, which shouldn't be a surprise, coming from Slackware roots.
Be Smart and Safe with the First Install of Linux
Some of these, especially some variants of Ubuntu 9.10, seem to "almost" work. Searching Ubuntu forums yields lots of questions, and lots of answers. Installs off USB are especially problematic for Ubuntu (or Kubuntu, Xubuntu).
The distro does recognize the hardware, but users have to know enough to immediately update the installation, and then they have to know enough to go to "Applications"-->"System"-->"Hardware Drivers" for the prompt to load the "restricted" STA driver. It's all a bit much for the normal computer-user interested in finding out more about linux.
And of course this list is certainly not comprehensive, but it's a start. It will be continually updated as new distros are released and tested. For new users, use a dual boot with windows or one of the working distros. Many (if not most) of the new distros have a graphical partitioner (see pics below) that makes splitting the hard drive in two very easy.
Most distributions tested for this article were downloaded ISOs installed to a USB Flash Drive with unetbootin. This is the one of the cheapest and easiest methods of testing, but not without error. Some distributions do not load well onto USB with unetbootin. Several of these distros were tested with live DVDs. Comments are welcome.
The Broadcom 43xx Wireless card not working can really be a turn-off for new linux users. Try the tested distributions above, and use a second "test" partition/system to try others out. Make a flash/USB drive to boot from and to repartition the hard drive of the laptop if there are problems. Linux is too good to give up on if just b43xx is the problem.
Ben Lingenfelter - As an intinerant writer, I've found freedom to write and learn about a variety of topics. That fits me perfectly. I've been an English ...
