Ubuntu 14.04升级至kernel 4.4.0-116-generic后Broadcom无线网卡无法使用求助

Hey there, I’ve run into similar Broadcom Wi-Fi hiccups after kernel updates before—let’s break down how to get your adapter working again on 4.4.0-116.

1. Manually Update the wl Module (First Try) #

The wl driver is a closed-source Broadcom module, which means it’s tightly linked to your kernel version. When you update the kernel, you need to reinstall/recompile the module for the new kernel. Here’s how:

• First, reboot and select kernel 4.4.0-116 from your GRUB menu (since you rolled back earlier).
• Install the dependencies needed to build the module:

  sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential dkms
  

• Remove any old, incompatible wl files:

  sudo rmmod wl
  sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source
  

• Reinstall the wl module package, which will automatically build for your current kernel:

  sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source
  

• Load the newly built module:

  sudo modprobe wl
  

Check if your Wi-Fi adapter is now detected using iwconfig or nmcli device list.

2. Try Open-Source Alternative Modules #

If updating wl doesn’t work, Broadcom has open-source drivers that might be more compatible with the new kernel. The two main options are b43 and brcmsmac:

• First, remove the wl module to avoid conflicts:

  sudo rmmod wl
  sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source
  

• Install the firmware for the open-source driver (we’ll use b43 as an example, which works for most Broadcom adapters):

  sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer
  

• Load the open-source module:

  sudo modprobe b43
  

To confirm which driver fits your adapter, run lspci | grep Network to get your exact Broadcom model (e.g., BCM4312), then match it to the correct open-source driver.

3. Troubleshooting Next Steps #

If neither approach works, dig into kernel logs to find clues:

• Check for Broadcom-related errors in the kernel log:

  dmesg | grep -i broadcom
  

  Or specifically for wl module issues:

  dmesg | grep -i wl
  

• You can also review the kernel update changelog to see if any Wi-Fi-related changes might be causing conflicts:

  apt changelog linux-image-4.4.0-116-generic
  

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者gfgf