bcmwl-kernel-source 6.20.155.1+bdcom-0ubuntu6: bcmwl kernel module failed to build

[Mario Kleiner]

Trying to install linux-lowlatency package on a MacBookPro with ubuntu 13.04, synaptic reports:

run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms 3.8.0-30-lowlatency /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-30-lowlatency
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.8.0-30-lowlatency (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/make.log for more information.

Looking at make.log says:

DKMS make.log for bcmwl-6.20.155.1+bdcom for kernel 3.8.0-30-lowlatency (x86_64)
Sun Sep 15 18:30:16 CEST 2013
make: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.8.0-30-lowlatency'
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Using CFG80211 API
  LD /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/built-in.o
  CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/shared/linux_osl.o
  CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o
  CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/wl/sys/wl_iw.o
  CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.o
/var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.c:1578:2: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type [enabled by default]
/var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.c:1578:2: warning: (near initialization for ‘wl_cfg80211_ops.set_tx_power’) [enabled by default]
/var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.c:1579:2: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type [enabled by default]
/var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/src/wl/sys/wl_cfg80211.c:1579:2: warning: (near initialization for ‘wl_cfg80211_ops.get_tx_power’) [enabled by default]
  LD [M] /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/wl.o
  Building modules, stage 2.
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Using CFG80211 API
  MODPOST 1 modules
FATAL: modpost: GPL-incompatible module wl.ko uses GPL-only symbol '__rcu_read_unlock'
make[1]: *** [__modpost] Error 1
make: *** [modules] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.8.0-30-lowlatency'

So apparently this is the culprit on the lowlatency kernel:

FATAL: modpost: GPL-incompatible module wl.ko uses GPL-only symbol '__rcu_read_unlock'

best,
-mario

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: bcmwl-kernel-source 6.20.155.1+bdcom-0ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-31.46-generic 3.8.13.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-31-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia wl
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8.4
Architecture: amd64
DKMSKernelVersion: 3.8.0-30-lowlatency
Date: Sun Sep 15 18:29:36 2013
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-04-23 (510 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64+mac (20120421)
MarkForUpload: True
PackageVersion: 6.20.155.1+bdcom-0ubuntu6
SourcePackage: bcmwl
Title: bcmwl-kernel-source 6.20.155.1+bdcom-0ubuntu6: bcmwl kernel module failed to build
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-30 (138 days ago)

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. This particular bug has already been reported and is a duplicate of bug 1156138, so it is being marked as such. Please look at the other bug report to see if there is any missing information that you can provide, or to see if there is a workaround for the bug. Additionally, any further discussion regarding the bug should occur in the other report. Feel free to continue to report any other bugs you may find.