package bcmwl-kernel-source 6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu7 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script was killed by signal (Killed)

[h.b.josso]

Upgrading from 15.04 to 15.10 on an amd64 platform.
Installation hanging for ever while configuring bcmwl-kernel-source.
Needed to manually kill the bcmwl configuration process to be able to eventually complete the upgrading process.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10
Package: bcmwl-kernel-source 6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-30.34-generic 3.19.8-ckt6
Uname: Linux 3.19.0-30-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: vboxpci vboxnetadp vboxnetflt vboxdrv wl
ApportVersion: 2.19.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Oct 23 09:06:39 2015
DuplicateSignature: package:bcmwl-kernel-source:6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu7:subprocess installed post-installation script was killed by signal (Killed)
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script was killed by signal (Killed)
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-01-18 (277 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Release amd64 (20141022.1)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.2ubuntu5
 apt 1.0.10.2ubuntu1
SourcePackage: bcmwl
Title: package bcmwl-kernel-source 6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu7 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script was killed by signal (Killed)
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to wily on 2015-10-23 (0 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Stefan Leitner (s-o-l)]

I have the same problem with a Dell Latitude D620 - it has an integrated BCM4311 wireless card:

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
:~$ sudo lspci -v
0c:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN (rev 01)
 Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card
 Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
 Memory at efdfc000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
 Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
 Capabilities: [58] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
 Capabilities: [d0] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
 Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
 Capabilities: [13c] Virtual Channel
 Kernel driver in use: wl
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I now upgraded to Ubuntu 15.10 (32bit) - wireless is not working. When trying to fix the issue it hangs again:

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu7) ...
Removing old bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom DKMS files...

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: bcmwl
Version: 6.30.223.248+bdcom
Kernel: 4.2.0-16-generic (i686)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

wl.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/4.2.0-16-generic/updates/dkms/
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.

depmod....

DKMS: uninstall completed.

------------------------------
Deleting module version: 6.30.223.248+bdcom
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
Loading new bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom DKMS files...
Building only for 4.2.0-16-generic
Building for architecture i686
Building initial module for 4.2.0-16-generic
Done.

wl:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - No original module exists within this kernel
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/4.2.0-16-generic/updates/dkms/

depmod....

DKMS: install completed.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Here it hangs.

[Stefan Leitner (s-o-l)]

I worked around the problem with removing bcmwl-kernel-source, blacklist wl and load b43 module.

[Stefan Leitner (s-o-l)]

I installed Ubuntu 15.10 (32bit) fresh and clean on my Dell D620. It loaded the b43 module but no wireless was working, also nothing showed up in the additional driver list to install afterwards.

So if you want it just working (without bcmwl-kernel-source for now) you just have to:

sudo apt-get install firmware- b43-installer

After a reboot WLAN was working like it should!