kernel-packages team mailing list archive

[Brian Burch <1415880@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just a personal update.

I've been using a manually patched version of the i386 driver for
several months, but I only use up to 0014-null-pointer-crash.patch. I
currently have the trusty 3.13.0.-63.103-lowlatency kernel on a dell
1558 and the BCM4315. I haven't seen another null pointer crash since I
applied the patch, but have suffered random loss of wifi
synchronisation, sometimes after a day or so, but other times every hour
or even less.

I didn't expect to see a difference, but I thought it was worth saying
that I successfully applied the just-released wily package bcmwl-kernel-
source_6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu4.1_i386.deb to my trusty system. The
build was clean (logged "using CFG80211 API") and the driver loads
without a problem.

I haven't been using it long enough to say whether it is better, but it
is definitely no worse!

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel
Packages, which is subscribed to bcmwl in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1415880

Title:
  14e4:4365 bcmwl-kernel source: fix for null pointer crash

Status in Dell Sputnik:
  Confirmed
Status in bcmwl package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  [Impact]

   * bcmwl does not compile on new kernels (or HWE kernels)
   * bcmwl suffers from null reference bug 

  [Test Case]

   * public PPA provided to community and feedback
   * based on patch available to other distros
   * comment #42

  [Regression Potential]

   * for changes on kernel support it may not compile (tested with 3.2, 3.13, 3.18 and 4.2)
   * for the null reference change -> proved to fix problem for community based on feedback

  [Other Info]

  Original bug description:

  The bcmwl package as of now misses one patch for a bug that occurs
  with BCM43142 and possibly other broadcom chipsets that will look like
  random disconnects, poor wifi signal and kernel warnings, See also
  #1379524.

  Adding the patch is a fairly simple process:

  * put the patch file in /usr/src/bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom/patches
  * add the following line to  /usr/src/bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom/dkms.conf
  PATCH[7]="0014-null-pointer-crash.patch"
  * run: /usr/lib/dkms/common.postinst bcmwl 6.30.223.248+bdcom /usr/share/bcmwl x86_64 $(uname -r)

  This has fixed the issue for me. Edit: I just wanted to add that I did
  not write the patch; I merely downloaded it from a paste that was
  linked from the respective AUR package.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
  Package: bcmwl-kernel-source 6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu1 [modified: usr/src/bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom/dkms.conf]
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-29.39-generic 3.16.7-ckt2
  Uname: Linux 3.16.0-29-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: wl
  ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8.1
  Architecture: amd64
  CurrentDesktop: LXDE
  Date: Thu Jan 29 13:15:17 2015
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-01-26 (3 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Release amd64 (20141022.1)
  SourcePackage: bcmwl
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-sputnik/+bug/1415880/+subscriptions