Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook [SOLVED]

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FA22raptero

Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook [SOLVED]

Post by FA22raptero »

Hello there Linux Community!

I am new here, and i'm pretty sure that one of the last things you guys needs is another newby walking around. But alas, I am here... and was hoping for some help from you lovely ladies and gentlemen of the operating system underworld! I've spent the last two hours looking for a solution to my problem. Essentially, I just installed Mint 14 MATE and the first thing i'm trying to do is connect to my house's wireless network. I have been able to connect to a Ethernet cable just fine, and I am using my own computer as I type this. I do, however, need to be able to connect wirelessly. I was hoping you could help me out!

To start, I realise that in using a Macbook, there are often firmware problems and often times we have to download Broadcom firmware packages for Linux to get things working. I have tried looking around for the last two hours, but have been unable to find which Broadcom chipset I have and whether I even need to download one. Despite this, I randomly tried a few terminal commands to download some packages, with no success.

Another question I have is even once I have downloaded the firmware, will the option to simply connect to wireless show up in the connection button on the toolbar. For instance, on OS X you just click the "airport" symbol and a list of close networks shows up. Simply enter the wassword and bam, you're connected. On windows, it's similar, where you can see a list of available networks and you connect by entereing a password. On Linux however, when I select the little "connection" button just to the left of the clock, the only options that I see are "wired network" and "VPN network". When I go to "configure VPN" I have the option to select the "wired" "wireless" Mobile broadband" "VPN" and "DSL" tabs. When I select the Wireless tab, I click Add and try to add all the information I know, such as SSID and WEP2 Personal password, I still can't figure out how to connect.

I really appreciate any and all help that I can get! Also, below is the network log you guys ask for. :D

P.S. my computer is a Macbook Pro 15 Incht that I purchased in 2011. I used to know where to find all the hardware information on my computer, but am no longer familiar. I'm guessing you will need to know my Broadcom number, so just let me know how to find it and I will do it ASAP!

-------------------------
* I. scanning WIFI PCI devices...
-- Broadcom Corporation BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 02)
==> PCI ID = 14e4:4331 (rev 02)
-------------------------
* II. querying ndiswrapper...
-------------------------
* III. querying iwconfig...
eth0 no wireless extensions.

lo no wireless extensions.

-------------------------
* IV. querying ifconfig...
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr c8:2a:14:30:7d:39
inet addr:192.168.0.29 Bcast:192.168.0.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::ca2a:14ff:fe30:7d39/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:35064 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:23965 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:38994381 (38.9 MB) TX bytes:3046970 (3.0 MB)
Interrupt:16

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:1989 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:1989 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:216279 (216.2 KB) TX bytes:216279 (216.2 KB)

-------------------------
* V. querying DHCP...
Rather than invoking init scripts through /etc/init.d, use the service(8)
utility, e.g. service smbd reload

Since the script you are attempting to invoke has been converted to an
Upstart job, you may also use the reload(8) utility, e.g. reload smbd
RTNETLINK answers: File exists
-------------------------
* VI. querying nslookup google.com...
Server: 64.59.144.91
Address: 64.59.144.91#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.5
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.8
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.7
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.6
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.0
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.2
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.1
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.14
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.4
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.3
Name: google.com
Address: 173.194.33.9
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
snison

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by snison »

sudo lspci
sudo lsusb

It should say network or wireless...
FA22raptero

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by FA22raptero »

Thanks a lot snipson. I entered the code and got the following (see below). My understanding from this information is that my Broadcom device is B43. I already have the fwcutter devices installed on my computer. With this, how do I see a list of available networks that exist? As I already posted, on windows/os x you can simply see a list of wireless networks that are in range. Is this possible with Linux? Or do I have to enter all of my information manually. In that case, any idea on how to locate my SSID? I am connected to the same home network, just through ethernet instead. Thanks again!

nicholas@nicholas-MacBookPro ~ $ sudo lspci
[sudo] password for nicholas:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port (rev 09)
00:01.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Universal Host Controller #5 (rev 05)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b5)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev b5)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev b5)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Universal Host Controller #1 (rev 05)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 05)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation HM65 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 4 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 05)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Caicos [Radeon HD 6400M/7400M Series]
01:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Caicos HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 6400 Series]
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe (rev 10)
02:00.1 SD Host controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM57765 Memory Card Reader (rev 10)
03:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 02)
04:00.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): LSI Corporation FW643 [TrueFire] PCIe 1394b Controller (rev 08)
nicholas@nicholas-MacBookPro ~ $ sudo lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:2513 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 05ac:8509 Apple, Inc. FaceTime HD Camera
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0424:2513 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0a5c:4500 Broadcom Corp. BCM2046B1 USB 2.0 Hub (part of BCM2046 Bluetooth)
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 05ac:0245 Apple, Inc. Internal Keyboard/Trackpad (ANSI)
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 05ac:8242 Apple, Inc. IR Receiver [built-in]
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 05ac:821a Apple, Inc. Bluetooth Host Controller
nicholas@nicholas-MacBookPro ~ $
snison

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by snison »

The icon in the date tray that looks like two cables connecting, you should be able to left click on it and it show you the wireless networks...

What does
sudo lshw -C network

give you?
FA22raptero

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by FA22raptero »

Hi snison,

I entered the command, please see the results below. As for the network connection shortcut by the clock, no, the option is not there (I already tried that). When I click it, I see:

Wired Network (greyed out, i'm assuming because i'm connected to a wired network)
Wired connection 1 (representing my ethernet connection)
Disconnect
VPN connections

I had this same problem on a windows computer once. Obviously it's not the same, but as far as I know this often happens when the right drivers aren't installed. Bellow is the information you requested!

Thanks a lot!

*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 10
serial: c8:2a:14:30:7d:39
size: 100Mbit/s
capacity: 1Gbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi msix pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=tg3 driverversion=3.123 duplex=full firmware=57765-v1.37 ip=192.168.0.29 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=100Mbit/s
resources: irq:16 memory:b0400000-b040ffff memory:b0410000-b041ffff
*-network
description: Network controller
product: BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
version: 02
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=bcma-pci-bridge latency=0
resources: irq:17 memory:b0600000-b0603fff
FA22raptero

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by FA22raptero »

So I put this "iwlist wlan0 s" into terminal and it says that "Interface doesn't support scanning"
snison

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by snison »

If you get an Interface doesn't support scanning message then try the following 2 options:

Test if your interface is UP: sudo ifconfig wlan0 up

Try adding sudo when doing the scan: iwlist wlan0 s
FA22raptero

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by FA22raptero »

When I type sudo ifconfig wlan0 up , I get wlan0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device. When I write sudo iwlist wlan0 s it just repeats "Interface doesn't support scanning".
FA22raptero

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by FA22raptero »

Should i post this in the Newbie part of the forum?
snison

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by snison »

Check PM.
tropicaline

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook

Post by tropicaline »

Hi guys
I was having the exactly same problem, though using an Aspire One 786, not a Mac, and I was following up the discussion, but it suddenlly ended...
snison, what do you mean by "check PM" ?
FA22raptero, did you managed to get connected?

Thanks!
FA22raptero

Re: Connecting to Wireless Network on Macbook [SOLVED]

Post by FA22raptero »

Hey, so if you read this far no fix, just know that as much as the suggestions by (the guys helping me out) were super awesome and I appreciate it, they didn't seem to help. However, whether because of his help or something else, after a week I gave up... then I just restarted my computer and everything worked fine and I could see all my internet connections. Anyways, hoope I don't annoy anyone with "solved" but something fixed it. Thanks for all the help!
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