Centrino Advanced-N 6200 Not Sustaining Wireless Connections

[Lonnie Lee Best]

I'm having issues sustaining wireless connections with a HP Pavilion dv8t-1200 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC (Product# WF681AV):
http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-dv8-1200-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-series/4150051/model/4190758/troubleshooting?cc=us&lang=en

wifi card: Centrino Advanced-N 6200

While it is connected it performs well, but it often becomes disabled and I have to toggle it back on using a touch-toggle-button located above the number pad of the keyboard.

When it becomes disabled, no wi-fi connections are listed under Ubuntu's network manager applet, but after toggling it back on, all the local wifi connections reappear.

Sometimes this will happen 4 times in a 10 minute span, and other times it will sustain the wifi connection for hours. I have experience this behavior on multiple wifi routers, even on ones giving 5 bars (located 10 feet away).

In summary, it seems like it is toggling off (as though I manually pressed the toggle button myself -- which is definitely not the case).

Laptop:

sudo dmidecode
Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes
System Information
 Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
 Product Name: HP Pavilion dv8 Notebook PC
 Version: 0499220000241210001040000
 Wake-up Type: Power Switch
 SKU Number: WF681AV
 Family: 103C_5335KV

Wireless Adapter:

sudo lshw -C network
  *-network
       description: Wireless interface
       product: Centrino Advanced-N 6200
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 35
       serial: 00:27:10:15:55:c0
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=iwlwifi driverversion=3.13.0-34-generic firmware=9.221.4.1 build 25532 ip=192.168.1.2 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11abgn
       resources: irq:47 memory:da100000-da101fff

sudo lspci | grep -i net
02:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6200 (rev 35)

sudo dmidecode
Handle 0x0015, DMI type 41, 11 bytes
Onboard Device
 Reference Designation: Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6200 AGN
 Type: Ethernet
 Status: Enabled
 Type Instance: 1
 Bus Address: 0000:02:00.0

Certification Catalog Entry:
http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/catalog/component/pci/8086%3A4239/

Also found this wireless card listed here:
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-34-generic 3.13.0-34.60
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-34.60-generic 3.13.11.4
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-34-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: lonnie 2490 F.... pulseaudio
                      lonnie 8626 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: lonnie 2490 F.... pulseaudio
                      lonnie 8626 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sun Aug 24 00:17:18 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=154ec9be-4204-4fe0-9dcd-3e13f4b66375
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-07-30 (24 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv8 Notebook PC
ProcFB:

ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-34-generic root=UUID=abe40f0f-3966-4481-8a33-1372af32a315 ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-34-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-34-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127.5
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/31/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: F.25
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: 7001
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: 35.35
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvrF.25:bd05/31/2010:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPPaviliondv8NotebookPC:pvr0499220000241210001040000:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn7001:rvr35.35:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: HP Pavilion dv8 Notebook PC
dmi.product.version: 0499220000241210001040000
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.17 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17-rc1-utopic/

[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

I haven't tested newer kernels yet, but I may have fixed this by chosing the "Ignore" option for IPV6 in the Network-Manager.

I did this after seeing this in the logs:

Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 kernel: [ 8708.176663] IPv6: wlan0: IPv6 duplicate address fe80::227:10ff:fe15:55c1 detected!

More Context:

Sep 17 20:52:39 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: associating -> associated
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: associated -> 4-way handshake
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 wpa_supplicant[1613]: wlan0: WPA: Key negotiation completed with 00:23:69:6e:28:04 [PTK=CCMP GTK=TKIP]
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 wpa_supplicant[1613]: wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to 00:23:69:6e:28:04 completed [id=0 id_str=]
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: 4-way handshake -> completed
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0/wireless) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful. Connected to wireless network 'Video Surveillance'.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) scheduled.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) started...
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: config -> ip-config (reason 'none') [50 70 0]
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 5 of 5 (IPv4 Configure Commit) scheduled...
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Beginning IP6 addrconf.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) complete.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 5 of 5 (IPv4 Commit) started...
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 avahi-daemon[1177]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv4 with address 192.168.2.253.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 avahi-daemon[1177]: New relevant interface wlan0.IPv4 for mDNS.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 avahi-daemon[1177]: Registering new address record for 192.168.2.253 on wlan0.IPv4.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 avahi-daemon[1177]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv6 with address fe80::227:10ff:fe15:55c1.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 avahi-daemon[1177]: New relevant interface wlan0.IPv6 for mDNS.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 avahi-daemon[1177]: Registering new address record for fe80::227:10ff:fe15:55c1 on wlan0.*.
Sep 17 20:52:40 computer1 kernel: [ 8708.176663] IPv6: wlan0: IPv6 duplicate address fe80::227:10ff:fe15:55c1 detected!
Sep 17 20:52:41 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: ip-config -> secondaries (reason 'none') [70 90 0]
Sep 17 20:52:41 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 5 of 5 (IPv4 Commit) complete.
Sep 17 20:52:41 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: secondaries -> activated (reason 'none') [90 100 0]
Sep 17 20:52:41 computer1 NetworkManager[1184]: <info> NetworkManager state is now CONNECT...

[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=83101

[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

My workaround of ignoring IPV6 no longer works in Ubuntu 15.04 with kernel 3.19.0-26-generic.

The drivers for the Centrino Advanced-N 6200 are terribly unstable.

[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

Earlier I mentioned that ignoring IPV6 is no longer a work-around. That's true.

Ignoring is no longer enough, I had to disable IPV6 entirely; here's how:

1) Use nano editor to open /etc/sysctl.conf:
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf

2) Then add these lines to the bottom:

net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1
net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6 = 1
net.ipv6.conf.lo.disable_ipv6 = 1

3) Hit ctrl-o to save
4) reboot

[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

Earlier, someone said that IPV6 has nothing to do with wifi drivers. Then, why is it that if IPV6 is enabled the wifi card can't maintain a connection?

Below is what happens in the logs after I turn on my wifi toggle switch (without IPV6 disabled):

Aug 19 22:37:13 lonnie-pc kernel: [ 2475.491038] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to enable radio.
Aug 19 22:37:13 lonnie-pc NetworkManager[866]: <info> WiFi now enabled by radio killswitch
Aug 19 22:37:13 lonnie-pc kernel: [ 2475.494328] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: L1 Enabled - LTR Disabled
Aug 19 22:37:13 lonnie-pc kernel: [ 2475.501231] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x3-0x1
Aug 19 22:37:13 lonnie-pc kernel: [ 2475.718978] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: L1 Enabled - LTR Disabled
Aug 19 22:37:13 lonnie-pc kernel: [ 2475.725800] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x3-0x1
Aug 19 22:37:01 lonnie-pc wpa_supplicant[1094]: rfkill: WLAN hard blocked
Aug 19 22:37:14 lonnie-pc wpa_supplicant[1094]: dbus: wpa_dbus_get_object_properties: failed to get object properties: (none) none
Aug 19 22:37:14 lonnie-pc wpa_supplicant[1094]: dbus: Failed to construct signal
Aug 19 22:37:14 lonnie-pc NetworkManager[866]: <warn> could not get interface properties: No readable properties in this interface.
Aug 19 22:37:14 lonnie-pc NetworkManager[866]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: starting -> ready
Aug 19 22:37:14 lonnie-pc NetworkManager[866]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: unavailable -> disconnected (reason 'supplicant-available') [20 30 42]
Aug 19 22:37:14 lonnie-pc NetworkManager[866]: <warn> could not get interface properties: No readable properties in this interface.

After this, no wifi connect is established. Then if I disable IPV6, it works . . . ? ? ?

[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

Now, none of my ipv6-disabling tricks are getting the Centrino Advanced-N 6200 to function on kernel 3.19.0-26-generic.

[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

This problem went away for a long while but it is back again in Ubuntu 16.04.1 on kernel 4.4.0-45

lsb_release -a ; head -n1 /etc/issue ; cat /etc/lsb-release ; uname -a ; getconf -a | grep -i 'long_bit' ; arch ; uname -m

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial
Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS \n \l
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=16.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=xenial
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS"
Linux pc 4.4.0-45-generic #66-Ubuntu SMP Wed Oct 19 14:12:37 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
LONG_BIT 64
x86_64
x86_64