ubuntu/lubuntu mantic with 6.3 kernel only occasioanlly has wifi on this box

[Chris Guiver]

On this device, wifi is only usable occasionally on repeated boots when using the 6.3 kernel now included on Ubuntu mantic.

Same applies if I use Lubuntu or another 23.10 (ISO using 6.3) but not with 22.04.2, 20.04 or 23.04 ISOs. I'm seeing this as a regression on the kernel.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the 5th time I've booted this thumb-drive since it was written yesterday and the FIRST of the 5 boots where it worked; thus I've used this "working" boot to file issue (hardware details) EVEN though its working now...

I intend adding more, but at least can use this bug report to track when this issue occurs from now on (wifi is the ONLY networking on this box; so its a problem to report when I have the issue...

If specific details would be helpful, please let me know. Also note I have a Ubuntu mantic desktop install currently on this box; and the issue occurs on installed images and not just LIVE boots; ie. installing Ubuntu Desktop, Lubuntu usually results in a boot that won't have wifi on first boot (thus far I've not had wifi first boot when installs are with 6.3 kernel!)

Why it works after boot an older ISO though on thumb-drive seems strange to me.. maybe it's just luck & I'm seeing a pattern that isn't actually there. This issue I've been aware there since 6.3 kernel in my experience, but on this box/hardware only.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 23.10
Package: linux-image-6.3.0-7-generic 6.3.0-7.7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.3.0-7.7-generic 6.3.5
Uname: Linux 6.3.0-7-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: zfs
ApportVersion: 2.26.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: ubuntu 1659 F.... wireplumber
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ubuntu 1659 F.... wireplumber
 /dev/snd/seq: ubuntu 1656 F.... pipewire
CRDA: N/A
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CasperVersion: 1.481
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Wed Jul 12 03:16:45 2023
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 23.10 "Mantic Minotaur" - Daily amd64 (20230705)
MachineType: Sony Corporation SVP11216CGB
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=C.UTF-8
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 TERM=xterm-256color
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz layerfs-path=minimal.standard.live.squashfs --- quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-6.3.0-7-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-6.3.0-7-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 20230629.gitee91452d-0ubuntu1
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/17/2013
dmi.bios.release: 2.70
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: R0270V7
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 2.70
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrR0270V7:bd05/17/2013:br2.70:efr2.70:svnSonyCorporation:pnSVP11216CGB:pvrC60BZAQW:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:sku54585979:
dmi.product.family: VAIO
dmi.product.name: SVP11216CGB
dmi.product.sku: 54585979
dmi.product.version: C60BZAQW
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

on this currently working system

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo lshw -C network
  *-network
       description: Wireless interface
       product: Wireless 7260
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       logical name: wlp1s0
       version: 6b
       serial: 5c:51:4f:0d:d7:9d
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=iwlwifi driverversion=6.3.0-7-generic firmware=17.3216344376.0 7260-17.ucode ip=192.168.15.102 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11
       resources: irq:46 memory:f7e00000-f7e01fff

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

The attached dmesg is for a session (installed) where the wifi wasn't working.. (same boot as lshw_network in prior comment)

I won't include current dmesg here (too long) but intend attaching next comment

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

current (live) session dmesg

[Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa)]

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
https://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/2027531

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

When it wasn't working:
[ 4.500054] iwlwifi 0000:01:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to disable radio.

Does the system have any hardware rfkill button/switch?

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

@ Kai-Heng NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF

(Why I booted the various ISOs (20.04.5 with 5.15, 22.04.2 with 5.19, and 23.04 with 6.2) under the same settings which had wifi..)

IF the WLAN/RF_KILL can be toggled with a keyboard combination & I accidentally hit that, that for sure is possible as the keyboard isn't full size & I'm mishitting keys regularly on this device.

The fact that 7/8 boots of mantic give me no WIFI is inconsistent I know, but I can't rule out me making mistakes on the keyboard. I'll endeavor to explore this later today.

(a quick boot & look on installed system, and I don't see any, nor on https://helpguide.sony.net/apmig/vaio/htmlmanuals/20122Q/SVS1/eng/contents/03/13/01/01.html ... quick exploration of keys & I didn't see any extra written to dmesg |grep RF_KILL)

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I've changed this to INCOMPLETE...

It's inconsistent.. and I've had no issues on other devices, so I cannot rule out something specific on this device that is toggling RF_KILL as per Kai-Heng Feng's comment #6 (and I'm thinking beyond my fat fingers too)

As I use this device regularly in QA (usually installs) I can monitor this issue into the future (making incomplete appropriate I feel)

Thank you Kai-Heng for clue.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Thanks. If it's really tied to kernel 6.3 then a kernel bisection can be handy.

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

Todays Lubuntu ISO (20230718) boots fine with wifi usable, yesterday's was also good, as was the one I tested before that

I've now reached one week without issues (though I've not used every daily)

One week later & this bug report appears INVALID using the same hardware. I'll leave it incomplete for now.

(I expect same results with Lubuntu & Ubuntu ISOs.. I test more with Lubuntu which is why its mentioned in this comment)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]