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Possible Duplicate:
How to Install Broadcom / STA Wireless card (BCM43XX)

I just managed to get ubuntu 12.10 installed (couldn't get 12.04 LTS to work) on my mac mini 3,1 (early 2009) but it's not able to connect to the internet. Mac Mini 3,1 instructions at the mactel ubuntu help pages say that for the the wireless/airport to work:

You should use the restricted driver, install from: System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers (if not shown there, install package broadcom-sta). Select the Broadcom STA driver you want and Activate.

I don't know what that means. In the "system settings" and "dash home" there's nothing like "Administration" or "Hardware Drivers" despite much searching. Googling "Broadcom STA driver" lead me to the 802.11 Linux STA driver page whose README page notes optimistically:

Some distros (Ubuntu and Fedora at the least) already have a version of this driver in their repositories precompiled, tested and ready to go. You just use the package manager to install the proper package.

Later it suggests: On Ubuntu, you will need headers and tools. Try these commands:

# apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-generic

# apt-get build-dep linux

Doing both leads to error messages

$ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-generic
[sudo] password for ungerb:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package build-essential
$ sudo apt-get build-dep linux
[sudo] password for ungerb:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: You must put some 'source' URIs in your sources.list

It then adds:

To check to see if you have this directory do this:

# ls /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build

When I type that in I get a nice list of directories but I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. The README continues with some Build instructions noting:

Example:

# mkdir hybrid_wl

# cd hybrid_wl

# tar xzf /hybrid-portsrc.tar or /hybrid-portsrc-x86_64.tar.gz

I could enter those commands but am not sure what path I should use. If you've followed along this far, may the Lord bless you and keep you. My questions are: 1) What do those error messages mean and how do I fix them? 2) In what directory (path) should I put the driver. 3) Is there an easier way with system settings or home dash to get my wireless working without using the terminal?

EDIT: Typing in $ lspci -nn produces:

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03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4321 802.11a/b/g/n [14e4:4328] (rev 05)
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.

Thanks a million in advance!

Community
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BenU
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    I've followed along and I would like to know for sure that you need the STA driver. Please edit your question to add the details learned when you run the terminal command: lspci -nn. Just include the wireless card details. Do you have your install CD handy? – chili555 Nov 26 '12 at 23:24
  • Thanks for reading, @chili555. I've edited my question. I can easily remake my ubuntu DVD and have the Mac mini OS X install DVD. – BenU Nov 26 '12 at 23:40
  • Read the answer here: http://askubuntu.com/questions/55868/how-to-install-broadcom-wireless-card-bcm43xx which includes your wireless card. – Luis Alvarado Nov 29 '12 at 13:47

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Your device, 14e4:4328, indeed requires the STA driver. It is available on the install DVD or CD at pool > restricted > b > bcmwl. You should be able to right click the package bcmwl-kernel-source and install it with Ubuntu Software Center. Then do:

    sudo modprobe wl

Post back any errors, warnings, etc.

chili555
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  • Definitely getting closer, @chili555. I was able to right-click and open bcmwl in the software center where I get the Error, Dependency is not satisfiable: dkms I did try to GTEM but failed... – BenU Nov 27 '12 at 00:28
  • Please try on the DVD, pool > main > d > dkms. GTEM?? – chili555 Nov 27 '12 at 00:36
  • Thanks, @chili555. Was able to follow your commands and right-click to open dkms in the software center. In the software center the install button is next to "Only install this file if you trust the origin" and is greyed out... "GTEM" stands for "google the error message" a time honored strategy. For my greyed install button, this Q/A suggests typing sudo stop network-manager in the terminal. I'm inclined to do that but don't want to really mess things up... – BenU Nov 27 '12 at 00:58
  • We certainly trust its origin. You might drag and drop it to your desktop and in a terminal do: cd Desktop then do sudo dpkg -i dkms.deb. As long as you're at it, do the same to bcmwl-kernel-source: sudo dpkg -i bcmwl.deb. – chili555 Nov 27 '12 at 01:03
  • Very cool, @chili555. Transferred files to Desktop and did both those commands at the terminal. dkms installed without any errors. bcmwl*.deb produced several like ERROR: Module b43legacy does not exist in /proc/modules \n ERROR: Module ssb is in use by ssb_hcd \n ERROR: Module bcm43xx does not exist in /proc/modules ... When I right-click on bcmwl-kernel-source and go to USC, it says "installed." I also typed $ sudo modprobe wl in the terminal per 1st instructions which didn't seem to do anything. Very grateful! Shoulld my internet be working? – BenU Nov 27 '12 at 01:25
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    The errors are because the install seeks to remove the often competing b43, ssb, et al. They were not loaded on your system, so it complained. NP. Your wireless should be working. If not, troubleshoot iwconfig and rfkill list all. – chili555 Nov 27 '12 at 01:34
  • Update: Internet started working with restart. Much positive karma sent to @chili555 – BenU Nov 27 '12 at 01:49
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    Karma much appreciated. Glad it's working. That was a lot easier than compiling from scratch, wasn't it? You will have helped some searchers,too. – chili555 Nov 27 '12 at 02:18
  • One more follow up question, @chili555, if you are still following. How did you know which files on the Ubuntu install disk to use? Is there some master directory someplace? You'd be "teaching a man to fish" with your answer. – BenU Nov 27 '12 at 14:15
  • Two ways: many years of experience and just poking around to see what I can see. One clue was a few years ago when someone commented that it worked on the live CD but not installed. Then, I reasoned, the files must be on the CD! As to which driver your device needs, I keep lots of notes. – chili555 Nov 27 '12 at 14:29