Written on September 2, 2010 at 4:41 pm by

Fedora – Install WLAN drivers.

Filed under Fedora, Linux, SystemAdmin {6 comments}

After installing Fedora, you might find your WLAN is not detected. Even with the latest Kernel you may not be able to use WIFI.
This is where sites like http://wireless.kernel.org/ are most useful.

Even today Laptop manufacturer does not consider providing drivers for Linux OS.
While installing Fedora 13 on following laptops wifi was not working.
Dell 1525
HP 6710b

To install drivers either you find a device using lspci command, and google it for driver download. OR use message logs.
Following error in message logs has complete url for driver download & procedure to install it.

NetworkManager[1281]: (wlan0): supplicant manager state: down -> idle
NetworkManager[1281]: (wlan0): device state change: 2 -> 3 (reason 0)
kernel: b43 ssb0:0: firmware: requesting b43/ucode15.fw

kernel: b43 ssb0:0: firmware: requesting b43-open/ucode15.fw
kernel: b43-phy0 ERROR: Firmware file “b43/ucode15.fw” not found
kernel: b43-phy0 ERROR: Firmware file “b43-open/ucode15.fw” not found
kernel: b43-phy0 ERROR: You must go to http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43#devicefirmware and download the correct firmware for this driver version. Please carefully read all instructions on this website.

If you have broadcom wireless device, you may use following procedure.

yum install b43-fwcutter -y

wget http://downloads.openwrt.org/sources/broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5.tar.bz2
tar xjf broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5.tar.bz2
cd broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5/driver
b43-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/ wl_apsta_mimo.o


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Article by Dhaval Thakar

Hi, I am Linux Admin. You'll find my articles small & without much descriptions.
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  • Mihai T. Lazarescu

    Thanks! Exactly what I needed.

  • Krishna Kumar

    how to find the device name to installed..

    • http://www.linuxreaders.com/ Dhaval Thakar

      try lshw or dmesg

  • Chuki Sangalugembe

    I have install fedora-13 in my laptop(dell) with pre-installed Window-7, but in Linux environment LAN is not detected, please I need a help to resolve this problem.

    • http://www.linuxreaders.com/ Dhaval Thakar

      why not try fedora 15?
      with latest kernel, it should be able to detect most of hardware.

  • Robert Sumner

    I just bought a 150 Mbps USB wireless networking adapter from GearXS for $9.99 and it has a linux driver on its installation minidisc. Just thought readers would like to know.

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