File fedora.readme of Package broadcom-wl
This file provides some basic information about Broadcom STA wireless
driver configuration files on Fedora with RPMFusion packages.
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Version 0.1 - Tue Nov 06 2012 - initial release
Version 0.2 - Wed Jun 19 2019 - Added NetworkManager configuration to
disable random MAC address while
scanning for AP
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Table of content
0. Cautions
1. Choosing between WEXT or CFG80211 API
2. Initramfs configuration file usage
3. NetworkManager configuration file usage
4. Support
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0. Cautions
===========
The files mentioned in this document should not be used in a wireless
operational system. Only failing wireless system should give a try to
these files and the proposed solutions.
Use them at your own risk and only if your system could not boot
properly or if your Broadcom wireless device doesn't work correctly.
1. Choosing between WEXT or CFG80211 API
========================================
Some configurations require the user to choose between the WEXT API or
CFG80211 API in order to get Broadcom STA wireless driver properly
loaded, and correctly usable by third-party softwares.
Since this driver cannot be configured on-the-fly, the only solution is
to use RPMFusion akmod-wl package only and set the
/etc/akmods/akmod-wl/api file correctly.
No RPMFusion kmod-wl package installed will take care of the settings
provided in the /etc/akmods/akmod-wl/api file, and using this file
requires an exclusive usage of the akmod-wl package.
/etc/akmods/akmod-wl/api file should contain only one line depending on
the API choosen:
API=WEXT
to force building the module with WEXT API or
API=CFG80211
to force building the module with CFG80211 API or
#API=WEXT
or
#API=CFG80211
to let the Broadcom included Makefile do the right choice according to
your current kernel version.
#API=WEXT is the default setting.
Once this file modified, one should rebuild current kmod-wl package for
the current kernel by typing this command:
akmods --force --kernel `uname -r` --akmod wl
Reboot should be needed in order to get last wl module correctly loaded.
Caution :
---------
WEXT API will be dropped from future kernels according to
https://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commitdiff;h=10bab00afed042c1a38ed5ffb135e2aea5ce1277
This workaround should only used on compatibles kernels with the
WEXT API.
One should considere to switch to higher wireless compatible Fedora
Release in order to get the most recent CFG80211 API with most recent
kernel.
This workaround will be dropped from the future broadcom-wl, kmod-wl and
akmod-wl packages when the WEXT API will be dropped too.
2. Initramfs configuration file usage
=====================================
Please read comments in /etc/dracut.conf.d/20-wl.conf file in order to
configure loading modules needed by the Broadcom STA wireless driver in
kernel's init ramdisks.
Edit the /etc/dracut.conf.d/20-wl.conf file and comment/uncomment the
one line "add_drivers+=" directive depending on your choice.
For example
# nano /etc/dracut.conf.d/20-wl.conf
or
# sudo nano /etc/dracut.conf.d/20-wl.conf
should let you to modify this file, ctrl+o would save the file, and
ctrl+x should quit nano.
Then use dracut command to rebuild your current kernel initramfs file.
See http://people.redhat.com/harald/dracut.html#id489921 and
http://people.redhat.com/harald/dracut.html#dracutconf5 for complete
explanations on using dracut.
3. NetworkManager configuration file usage
==========================================
To try to fix issue related in RHBZ#1703745 and RFBZ#5245 the
/usr/lib/NetworkManager/conf.d/90-broadcom-wl.conf file is provided.
This file disables NetworkManager randomization of MAC address only for
Broadcom wireless device using this driver (wl) while scanning for
wireless access point.
It prevent producing "CTRL-EVENT-SCAN-FAILED ret=-22 retry=1" messages
in logs (journalctl -xe) and the inability to connect to wireless access
point.
The drawback of this setting is that scanning for wireless access point
uses only the real MAC address of the device and produces less
anonymity.
In order to disable this setting, one have to create one empty file
using the exact same name in /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d directory.
In a root console, type:
touch /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/90-broadcom-wl.conf
To re-enable this setting, remove the file previously created.
In a root console, type:
rm -f /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/90-broadcom-wl.conf
4. Support
==========
Support only about these configuration files will be provided on:
https://bugzilla.rpmfusion.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Fedora
