network driver

[Barry Brimer]

> -- Original Message --
> From: Barry Brimer <lists at brimer.org>
> To: redhat-sysadmin-list at redhat.com
> Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:17:59 -0500 (CDT)
> Subject: Re: network driver
> On Sun, 10 Aug 2008, Mahalingam Subramaniam wrote:
>> Dear All
>> DELL PRECISION M4300 - LAP TOP
>> The above laptop is loaded with dual OS having Win XP/ RHEL Server Edition 5.2 with kernel 2.6.18.92.el5 x86_64 GNU/LINUX which is
>> RHEL Server release 5.2 (Tikanga)
>> The issue is that the network connectivity of both Wired and Wireless are functioning perfectly for Win XP without any issue whilst the same is not well with Linux .
>> The available NIC drivers for RHEL are as follows
>> Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5755M Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
>> Intel Ehter Express/1000 gigabit
>> Intel Ehter Express/100 driver
>> Intel Ehter Express Pro 100B ...etc...
>> For Win XP
>> Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit controller
>> Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945 XBG Network Connection
>> kindly help me in offering your valuable solution to resolve the above issue. Your valuable suggestion/recommendation shall be higly appreciated and complimented.
>> with kind regards
> Most likely you do not need to download a driver from Dell. The correct
> driver is most likely included with RHEL, although additional firmware
> may be needed. As Dell offers different
> choices in network cards in their laptops, we need to know what network
> cards are in your laptop. Running the command "lspci -v" should give you
> enough information about your network cards to find out what hardware you
> have and then if needed, you can obtain the correct firmware for your
> wireless card. My guess is that your wired ethernet works fine, but your
> wireless does not work. Is that correct? I am also guessing that you
> have a Broadcom wireless card.
> Hope this helps.
> Barry

> Hello Barry Yes , you are correct to mention that my laptop has broadcom 
> wireless card and the problem is with wireless only which I came to know 
> of late. I was told by others that the rpm such as 
> ipw3945-kmod-1.2.0-4.8.el5.src.rpm will able to solve my issue with 
> wireless connectivity. kindly let me know the source of availability. I 
> have been making extensive serarch including google and sourceforge.net 
> but to no avail.

This rpm is available from Red Hat, but it will not solve your problem. 
The ipw3945d is an Intel card.  You have a broadcom card.

The directions you need are at 
<http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43>

Specifically, you need to follow the directions for the bcm43xx as that is 
what is included with RHEL 5.2.  I have had a laptop with the card, and it 
does work, but not very well.  I found my problems to be worsened when in 
an area with multple APs and more wireless network traffic in general.  I 
have discussed this at length with Red Hat, but unfortunately, there are 
no plans at this time to update to the b43 driver during the RHEL 5 
lifecycle.  If you really want wireless to work WELL, I recommend an Intel 
wireless card.

Hope this helps.
Barry