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bcm43xx issues an error message every minute

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Georg Heinrich

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May 26, 2007, 11:50:11 AM5/26/07
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Hello,

I get the following error messages about every minute on the console:

bcm43xx: PHY connected
bcm43xx: Microcode "bcm43xx_microcode5.fw" not available or load failed
bcm43xx: core_up for active 802.11 core failed (-2)

The HW is:
Apple PowerBook G4 12" (PowerBook 6,8) 1,5 GHz
Airport Extreme, Firmware version 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)

What do I have to do to solve the error?
What can I do to stop those error messages showing up every minute until
the error is solved?

Any hint is welcome.
Thanks in advance,

G. Heinrich

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Sudev Barar

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May 26, 2007, 1:00:11 PM5/26/07
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On 26/05/07, Georg Heinrich <georg.h...@gh-blue.de> wrote:
> I get the following error messages about every minute on the console:
>
> bcm43xx: PHY connected
> bcm43xx: Microcode "bcm43xx_microcode5.fw" not available or load failed
> bcm43xx: core_up for active 802.11 core failed (-2)
>
> The HW is:
> Apple PowerBook G4 12" (PowerBook 6,8) 1,5 GHz
> Airport Extreme, Firmware version 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)
>

This means that your machine has broadcom wireless card and normally
this will not work without ndiswrapper.
First as root (or sudo) edit the file /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist and
add at the bottom on a line by itself:

blacklist bcm43xx

This will ensure that next time around when you boot the machine this
driver will not be loaded. Now you need to download ndiswrapper and
ndiswrapper utilities. You will also need to download and extract in
to a directory the windows driver for your card and then use
ndiswrapper to install this driver for wireless to work.


HTH
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Regards,
Sudev Barar


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Mumia W..

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May 26, 2007, 1:20:06 PM5/26/07
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On 05/26/2007 10:42 AM, Georg Heinrich wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I get the following error messages about every minute on the console:
>
> bcm43xx: PHY connected
> bcm43xx: Microcode "bcm43xx_microcode5.fw" not available or load failed
> bcm43xx: core_up for active 802.11 core failed (-2)
>
> The HW is:
> Apple PowerBook G4 12" (PowerBook 6,8) 1,5 GHz
> Airport Extreme, Firmware version 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)
>
> What do I have to do to solve the error?

I have no idea. My WAG is that you don't have the non-free section in
your sources.list, so you weren't able to download the proprietary data
needed for one of your devices.

> What can I do to stop those error messages showing up every minute until
> the error is solved?
>

Depending upon the logging level for that message, "dmesg -n4" might
stop them from coming to the console. Read "man dmesg". The "setterm"
command can also stop those messages (man setterm).

> Any hint is welcome.
> Thanks in advance,
>
> G. Heinrich

I hope I helped at least a little. You're welcome.


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Linas Žvirblis

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May 26, 2007, 1:40:11 PM5/26/07
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Sudev Barar rašė:

>> bcm43xx: PHY connected
>> bcm43xx: Microcode "bcm43xx_microcode5.fw" not available or load
>> failed
>> bcm43xx: core_up for active 802.11 core failed (-2)

[...]

> This means that your machine has broadcom wireless card and normally
> this will not work without ndiswrapper.

No, ndiswrapper is not the only choice.

bcm43xx driver is not really stand-alone. It needs firmware to work,
which it reports cannot find. Grab "bcm43xx-fwcutter" package to get
firmware.

Also read documentation of "bcm43xx-fwcutter". Some cards work only with
specific (that usually means older) firmware, and you may need to
install it manually with the tools it provides.

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Andrew J. Barr

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May 26, 2007, 3:20:10 PM5/26/07
to
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Sat, 26 May 2007 17:42:54 +0200
"Georg Heinrich" <georg.h...@gh-blue.de> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I get the following error messages about every minute on the console:
>
> bcm43xx: PHY connected
> bcm43xx: Microcode "bcm43xx_microcode5.fw" not available or load
> failed bcm43xx: core_up for active 802.11 core failed (-2)
>
> The HW is:
> Apple PowerBook G4 12" (PowerBook 6,8) 1,5 GHz
> Airport Extreme, Firmware version 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)
>
> What do I have to do to solve the error?

1) Connect to the Internet (via Ethernet or Bluetooth or whatever).
2) Install the bcm43xx-fwcutter pacakge.

Alternately, read the bcm43xx-fwcutter package documentation for
information on how to install the firmware off line.

> What can I do to stop those error messages showing up every minute
> until the error is solved?
>
> Any hint is welcome.
> Thanks in advance,
>
> G. Heinrich
>
>
>


- --
Andrew J. Barr
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Ronald Reagan: America's answer to Inspector Clouseau
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