Live CD boot fails, b43 error

[Paul Gorski]

Affects: ubuntu precise-desktop.powerpc.iso AND lubuntu precise-desktop-powerpc.iso both 20120315.

While trying to boot from live cd on PowerBook G4 1.67 GHz, 100 GB HD, 1 GB RAM, ATI graphics, the boot stops with:

Ubuntu 12.04 (or Lubuntu 12.04) text on screen
Stops with text error: b43-phy0 Error. Firmware file b43-opne/ucode5.fw not found

So its looking for the firmware for the Airport Wi-fi card, which is a Broadcom-based card.

The error occurs with or without the laptop being connected to an active network via a standard ethernet, wired connection.

Question: does the live CD require that you have an active network connection?
I would think it would recognize that the Broadcom firmware is missing, and then move on to the next boot step.

I have an iBook G4 with the same card and it didn't fail previously at this step. I can't test it now though, as the hard drive failed installing the 0314 iso's.

[Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa)]

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/956677

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[candtalan (aeclist)]

Following install of beta 2 from the alternate cd, the ubuntu still would not boot, unless the kernel param string
b43.blacklist=yes
was used, and then booting completed to normal desktop.
This installed beta 2 needed 498 updates (today, 11th april 2012) and when these were completed, still the kernel string was required for booting up to work. However, I then used ubuntu software centre to install
==================
firmware-b43-installer
Installer package for firmware for the B43 driver
==================
and the subsequent reboot then worked normally. presumably the firmware was now available.

[Ben Prescott (ben.prescott)]

I've drawn this to the attention of the developers.

http://lists.infradead.org/pipermail/b43-dev/2012-April/002470.html

[Ben Prescott (ben.prescott)]

I raised it under bug 950295 - against the kernel - beleive I've narrowed it down to an early 3.2.0 release candidate.

bug not present:
vmlinuz-3.1.0-030100-generic

bug present:
vmlinuz-3.2.0-030200rc2-generic

[iGadget (igadget)]

Coming from bug 972823, I can confirm the b43.blacklist boot parameter works, even though I am seeing a notification at boot saying "b43: unknown parameter 'blacklist'". So I guess the 'blacklist' parameter is working at different levels or something?

[Albert Pool (albertpool)]

"Question: does the live CD require that you have an active network connection?
I would think it would recognize that the Broadcom firmware is missing, and then move on to the next boot step."
Indeed, it should just continue booting. That's what it used to do in previous versions (with a message on the screen that firmware was missing).

Let's mark it as a duplicate of #950295?

It's rather a bug in the kernel instead of the casper package.

[steve77 (funmaker-11)]

It is because glib-doc and dkms packages are missing from the install.iso