#1 2018-07-02 16:21:28

jimjamz

Member

From: Nagasaki, Japan

Registered: 2016-04-04

Posts: 189

Non-free packages requested during BL-Helium install

I'm installing BL Helium on a Macbook Pro 2015.  During the initial setup stages after hardware detection, the installer informs me that non-free packages are required in order successfully install the hardware:

brcm/brcmfmac-43602-pcie

It requests this to be installed from removeable media.  However, I
(a) don't have any media with such hardware drivers - because it's a Mac
(b) wouldn't know how to install this during the installation procedure.  Is that where it is done?

Judging from the description the installer gives, this looks to be the Broadcom 4360 WLAN that it requires a driver for.
I decided to ignore it during installation as I can rely on Ethernet for that.

What is the BL recommended way of installing such drivers post-installation?

I remember trying to install such drivers on the very same machine with bl-hydrogen and bl-deuterium, having to upgrade the kernel and install those `b43` packages, but never succeeding.

Sector11

Mod Squid Tpyo Knig

From: Upstairs

Registered: 2015-08-20

Posts: 8,030

Re: Non-free packages requested during BL-Helium install

The Apple branded Airport card has a Broadcom chip on it. So it is really a Broadcom card branded by Apple.

the brcm/brcmfmac-43602-pcie is the driver needed for your "Broadcom"  card.

How to install will require another post by someone with more knowledge than I have.

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Gaucho

From: High in the Custerdome

Registered: 2015-09-17

Posts: 16,180

Website

Re: Non-free packages requested during BL-Helium install

@jimjamz, that Mac has 2 USB ports, doesn't it? So copy the driver folder to a working USB drive and insert it during the installation when prompted...
https://wiki.debian.org/brcmfmac

If that doesn't work, use the "advanced" installer entry and install BL without networking. Boot into the new install and copy the *.bin to /lib/firmware/brcm and activate the driver...

sudo modprobe brcmfmac

sudo iwconfig

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jimjamz

Member

From: Nagasaki, Japan

Registered: 2016-04-04

Posts: 189

Re: Non-free packages requested during BL-Helium install

Hi.  Thanks for the replies.  Unfortunately, I was in a rush to get this installed as it is a a primary development machine for work so I needed to get BL installed quickly.  I wasn't anticipating running into that message, so couldn't have given any more advance notice on the forums than I already did.

Is it still possible to install this driver post-BL installation?

tknomanzr

BL Die Hard

From: Around the Bend

Registered: 2015-09-29

Posts: 1,057

Re: Non-free packages requested during BL-Helium install

It should be possible, although be aware that if you run through the installer with no internet connection, you will need to fix /etc/apt/sources.list with the proper entries because it will be empty.

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jimjamz

Member

From: Nagasaki, Japan

Registered: 2016-04-04

Posts: 189

Re: Non-free packages requested during BL-Helium install

you will need to fix /etc/apt/sources.list with the proper entries

What entries should they be?  Can you give an example?
Currently, I have:

deb https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch main non-free contrib
# deb-src https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch main non-free contrib

## Debian security updates
deb https://deb.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates main contrib non-free

# stretch-updates, previously known as 'volatile'
deb https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main contrib non-free
# deb-src https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main contrib non-free

tknomanzr

BL Die Hard

From: Around the Bend

Registered: 2015-09-29

Posts: 1,057

Re: Non-free packages requested during BL-Helium install

Those look correct.

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