wifi networks not remembered correctly (ubuntu touch, bq M10)

[s]

I have a M10, on ubuntu touch OTA-12 (and same issue previously on OTA-11).

The issue is that it doesn't remember wifi networks properly. To explain:

1. turn on tablet
2. select my wifi network from the list
3. enter password and click connect
4. reboot device
5. select my wifi network from the list
6. enter password and click connect
.
.
.
30. go to wifi settings -> previous networks
31. view long list that looks like:

MyWifinetwork1
MyWifinetwork2
MyWifinetwork3
MyWifinetwork4
...

What it should do (and did some time ago), is see that MyWifinetwork was saved in previous networks and automatically connect using the saved password/settings.

So, I'm wondering is this a bug, something badly configured in my wifi network (although other devices remember it fine), or something else?

Thanks.

[Pat McGowan (pat-mcgowan)]

This was reported in the test lab at one point but not reproduced
Adding your syslog would be helpful

[Pat McGowan (pat-mcgowan)]

How is you access point configured?

[s (jkcgfjqkt-deactivatedaccount)]

- syslog is attached
- wifi access point is set up as following: 2.4Ghz, channel 11, 20MHz width, AU region, WPA2 PSK security, wps disabled.

[s (jkcgfjqkt-deactivatedaccount)]

Also, probably related, I just discovered through an irc conversation on
#ubuntu-touch (thanks Mister_Q) that using the bq flash tool (which I did to fix an unbootable
system) and selecting 'format and download' (which I also did), would have
deleted the imei partition.

Quite possible, seeing as the serial number displayed in the 'about' section
shows "0123456789ABCDEF".

Apparently it could also cause my other problem of the tablet not recognizing
or outputting to HDMI monitors via a micro-hdmi to hdmi cable.

Although... that doesn't explain why the wifi problem has been seen before, or
why there's plenty of other reports of the M10 not outputting to displays (at
least not reliably). - see
http://askubuntu.com/questions/762148/bq-m10-ubuntu-touch-micro-hdmi-not-outputting-to-tv
for example.

[John McAleely (john.mcaleely)]

So, your symptoms are unfortunately perfectly explained by wiping with
format & download. You will have lost your S/N, MAC addresses, and some key
material the HDMI software expects to find (but does not use).

When your MAC addresses are wiped, the system will generate fresh ones
every boot, which explains why the wifi association is forgotten &
recreated. There are other ways the system can forget wifi (which are
bugs), but losing the hard coded MAC addresses does explain this one.

You are correct to observe that there are other bugs (both for wifi and
HDMI interoperability).

On 30 July 2016 at 00:48, Samuel Walladge <email address hidden> wrote:

> Also, probably related, I just discovered through an irc conversation on
> #ubuntu-touch (thanks Mister_Q) that using the bq flash tool (which I did
> to fix an unbootable
> system) and selecting 'format and download' (which I also did), would have
> deleted the imei partition.
>
> Quite possible, seeing as the serial number displayed in the 'about'
> section
> shows "0123456789ABCDEF".
>
> Apparently it could also cause my other problem of the tablet not
> recognizing
> or outputting to HDMI monitors via a micro-hdmi to hdmi cable.
>
> Although... that doesn't explain why the wifi problem has been seen
> before, or
> why there's plenty of other reports of the M10 not outputting to displays
> (at
> least not reliably). - see
>
> http://askubuntu.com/questions/762148/bq-m10-ubuntu-touch-micro-hdmi-not-outputting-to-tv
> for example.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a bug assignee.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1607684
>
> Title:
> wifi networks not remembered correctly (ubuntu touch, bq M10)
>
> Status in Canonical System Image:
> Incomplete
> Status in network-manager package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have a M10, on ubuntu touch OTA-12 (and same issue previously on
> OTA-11).
>
> The issue is that it doesn't remember wifi networks properly. To
> explain:
>
> 1. turn on tablet
> 2. select my wifi network from the list
> 3. enter password and click connect
> 4. reboot device
> 5. select my wifi network from the list
> 6. enter password and click connect
> .
> .
> .
> 30. go to wifi settings -> previous networks
> 31. view long list that looks like:
>
> MyWifinetwork1
> MyWifinetwork2
> MyWifinetwork3
> MyWifinetwork4
> ...
>
> What it should do (and did some time ago), is see that MyWifinetwork
> was saved in previous networks and automatically connect using the
> saved password/settings.
>
> So, I'm wondering is this a bug, something badly configured in my wifi
> network (although other devices remember it fine), or something else?
>
> Thanks.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/canonical-devices-system-image/+bug/1607684/+subscriptions
>

[s (jkcgfjqkt-deactivatedaccount)]

Ouch. What a way to learn about imei...

Is this then a fault with the flash tool I used? (I mean an official tool from the manufacturer isn't supposed to destroy the device...)

[John McAleely (john.mcaleely)]

I think so, yes. There are a number of ways that tool can be used to brick
devices.

That is why we try to only document ubuntu-device-flash, which knows to
keep clear of these pitfalls.

Note that your tablet never had an IMEI - that's a phone thing.

On 2 August 2016 at 02:16, Samuel Walladge <email address hidden> wrote:

> Ouch. What a way to learn about imei...
>
> Is this then a fault with the flash tool I used? (I mean an official
> tool from the manufacturer isn't supposed to destroy the device...)
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a bug assignee.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1607684
>
> Title:
> wifi networks not remembered correctly (ubuntu touch, bq M10)
>
> Status in Canonical System Image:
> Incomplete
> Status in network-manager package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have a M10, on ubuntu touch OTA-12 (and same issue previously on
> OTA-11).
>
> The issue is that it doesn't remember wifi networks properly. To
> explain:
>
> 1. turn on tablet
> 2. select my wifi network from the list
> 3. enter password and click connect
> 4. reboot device
> 5. select my wifi network from the list
> 6. enter password and click connect
> .
> .
> .
> 30. go to wifi settings -> previous networks
> 31. view long list that looks like:
>
> MyWifinetwork1
> MyWifinetwork2
> MyWifinetwork3
> MyWifinetwork4
> ...
>
> What it should do (and did some time ago), is see that MyWifinetwork
> was saved in previous networks and automatically connect using the
> saved password/settings.
>
> So, I'm wondering is this a bug, something badly configured in my wifi
> network (although other devices remember it fine), or something else?
>
> Thanks.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/canonical-devices-system-image/+bug/1607684/+subscriptions
>

[s (jkcgfjqkt-deactivatedaccount)]

Ok.

"You will have lost your S/N, MAC addresses, and some key
material the HDMI software expects to find (but does not use)."

What partition(s) keep that data?
(Asking because I'm trying to gather data for discussing with BQ.)

[John McAleely (john.mcaleely)]

I am not certain, but I believe it is labelled 'nvram'. Describing the
problem in terms of using format & download should be sufficient. BQ
support are aware of the problems the tool has.

On 2 August 2016 at 11:38, Samuel Walladge <email address hidden> wrote:

> Ok.
>
> "You will have lost your S/N, MAC addresses, and some key
> material the HDMI software expects to find (but does not use)."
>
> What partition(s) keep that data?
> (Asking because I'm trying to gather data for discussing with BQ.)
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a bug assignee.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1607684
>
> Title:
> wifi networks not remembered correctly (ubuntu touch, bq M10)
>
> Status in Canonical System Image:
> Incomplete
> Status in network-manager package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have a M10, on ubuntu touch OTA-12 (and same issue previously on
> OTA-11).
>
> The issue is that it doesn't remember wifi networks properly. To
> explain:
>
> 1. turn on tablet
> 2. select my wifi network from the list
> 3. enter password and click connect
> 4. reboot device
> 5. select my wifi network from the list
> 6. enter password and click connect
> .
> .
> .
> 30. go to wifi settings -> previous networks
> 31. view long list that looks like:
>
> MyWifinetwork1
> MyWifinetwork2
> MyWifinetwork3
> MyWifinetwork4
> ...
>
> What it should do (and did some time ago), is see that MyWifinetwork
> was saved in previous networks and automatically connect using the
> saved password/settings.
>
> So, I'm wondering is this a bug, something badly configured in my wifi
> network (although other devices remember it fine), or something else?
>
> Thanks.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/canonical-devices-system-image/+bug/1607684/+subscriptions
>

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

If not related to bug 1588126 then the crash could be indicator-network crash bug 1607079

[s (jkcgfjqkt-deactivatedaccount)]

This can probably be closed. After receiving my tablet back from BQ with the s/n, mac addresses, etc. reset, I haven't had this problem since.