bootstrapping network (bcm) on Dell D800

If I'm reading the recent messages correctly, the bcm driver won't work
unless updated to approximately July 17.

I burned 5.1 iso's, and installed most of it successfully.  How do I
bootstrap the network.  I saw Bill Paul's references to testing a patch
prior to committing it.  Is this something I can apply singly to the
source that comes on the ISO (and if so, just where do I grab it?), and
then build a kernel, reboot, and update the rest of the source?

thanks

hawk, anxious to play with his new toy
-- 
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