[plug] HP/Compaq NX5000 Broadcom BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX NIC problem

[Bret Busby]

On Fri, 24 Oct 2008, Lucas van Staden wrote:

>     problem
> 
> Gregory Orange wrote:
>> Bret Busby wrote:
>>> After some searching on the Internet, I found a web page at 
>>> http://downgra.de/x20/ , which showed that that author apparently got the 
>>> NIC operational, by using the manufacturer's driver.
>>> 
>>> So, after a bit if searching, I found a web page apparently for the NIC 
>>> driver, at http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/4401.php , from 
>>> which I downloaded the Linux(i386) driver, which I think is a g.zip file.
>>> 
>>> What do I need to do, to install it and get it going, so that I can 
>>> continuously operate the network card?
>> 
>> Sorry for the late input...
>> 
>> I used an nx5000 (Part ID: PM151PA#ABG) for a couple of years with Ubuntu 
>> Dapper Drake 6.06, and never had any trouble with the NIC. I've just pulled 
>> the last working one out of the cupboard and booted it up with an Ubuntu 
>> Hard Heron 8.04 CD. It's a Broadcom BCM4401-B0, works straight from boot.
>> 
>> In other news, I remember having to use ndiswrapper to get the bcm43xx wlan 
>> card working well - the bcm43xx native driver gave very poor range and 
>> performance.
>> 
> I just replaced my RT based card (see other posts where the RT (d-link) based 
> card caused system crashes.) with an Asus branded card based on the b43 
> chipset, and it also just NEARLY worked out the box. I used the 'restricted 
> drivers' setup, and that installed b43fwcutter and the firmware without any 
> hassle. The ONLY issue I had was with kernel 2.6.24-16-generic, in which the 
> card did not work (dmesg gave errors about 'timeout authenticating to ap'). 
> This is a known bug on that kernel with the b43 drivers, and is solved from 
> 2.6.24-21-generic.  The b43 drivers replace the bcm43xx drivers, which has 
> been deprecated. (http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43)
>
> I am very happy with the card, and no more system crashes.
>
> -Lucas
>
>> HTH,
>> Greg.
>

The BCM43XXX is the wireless card, I think, and I only use wired 
communications.

I think, from the above, that the B44xxx issue, appears to be a 
defective driver in Debian 4, and the Ubuntu drivers working better.

Regarding the previous posting about the README.TXT file stating that 
the driver is already in the 2.6x kernel, I figured that, if it is 
already installed within the kernel, there would be no point in 
reinstalking what is already installed.

I think that this goes to the issue of Ubuntu being more able to run 
Linux, than Debian, which is unfortunate, as I have (mostly) found 
Debian to be to my liking.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
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   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992

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