Re: Debian installation wifi card not being detected
On Sat, Feb 10, 2024 at 07:29:22PM +0100, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
> On 10/02/2024 at 12:48, Exeonz wrote:
> > I'm trying to install debian bookworm
> > 12.4 on MacbookAir7,2 that doesn't have an ethernet port and the installer
> > doesn't recognize it's wifi card and what drivers it needs for the card to
> > work. From searching the web I found that it uses Broadcom BCM 4360
> > wireless network adapter and requires broadcom-sda-dkms firmware drivers to
> > function. The installer doesn't detect the wifi card and none of the
> > drivers from the select list work and when I use 2nd bootable USB formatted
> > as FAT32 with broadcom-sda-dkms firmware drivers saved to root and firmware
> > folder it doesn't accept drivers and gives out error "ethernet card not
> > found"
>
> broadcom-sta-dkms contains neither binary drivers (kernel module) nor
> firmware but only source files to build the kernel module (wl). Debian does
> not provide this driver as a binary module. Building a kernel module
> requires kernel headers, gcc, make... neither of which are available in the
> Debian installer environment.
>
> > Could you please shed some light on how I can possibly install debian on
> > this macbook air.
>
> Get a supported USB network adapter (about any USB-ethernet adapter should
> be) or do an offline installation from a DVD, Blu-ray or 16G installation
> image. Once you have a running system, you can install broadcom-sta-dkms and
> other required packages and build the wl kernel module.
>
It may also be possible to tether via a cable to a mobile phone and do the
netinst install that way.
The offline DVD method will work well: install the build-essential package.
Unfortunately, this is one area where opinions differ between distributions and
so Ubuntu may have built the appropriate modules for you.
Broadcom has been particularly difficult with Wifi chipsets in the past:
unfortunately, this is unlikely to change.
With my debian-user mailing list hat on: please post to one list primarily
and don't cross-post between lists unless invited to. Thanks :)
With every good wish, as ever,
Andy
(amacater@debian.org)
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