How do I install Broadcom's firmware for a PowerPC?

12.04 broadcom powerpc

9,680

Solution 1

You need to:

sudo apt-get update && apt-cache search b43

To find the firmware package. Then again:

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

You have wireless (but might need to restart first).

Solution 2

spent 2 days and nights trying to set up Ubuntu on my Ibook G4. wireless would not work. I did what said. Just press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open Terminal. When it opens, run the command below.

sudo apt-get update && apt-cache search b43

then

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

you will need to type "y" to confirm disk space is used then it worked

9,680

ruler23

I really like mountains!

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

ruler23 over 1 year
I'm running 12.04 LTS on a PowerMac G5 and I have one problem. My wireless PCI card has my "Firmware Missing". I already know about Broadcom's poor wireless support with Ubuntu, and it's b43 however whenever I try to install the b43 firmware installer I get this:
```
snackadoodlepop@snackadoodlepop-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package firmware-b43-installer
```
NDIS Wrapper won't work on PowerPC to my knowledge. I'm stuck without WiFi and I need help!

SOLVED: Thanks to reddit's /r/linuxquestions, I was able to use the b43 firmware installer correctly.
- jrg almost 12 years
  
  Yo, I got your email. I'll be flying blind, but I'll try and come up with something for you.
- ruler23 almost 12 years
  
  Hey, thanks so much, I got it though I didn't apt-cache search b43 which fixed it!
- jrg almost 12 years
  
  So you installed the firmware-b43-installer package, right?
- ruler23 almost 12 years
  
  Yes, and now the wireless card works without a USB for WiFi.