Disabled wireless adapter in NetworkManager gets enabled after reboot or NM-restart

[Mario Splivalo]

Binary package hint: network-manager

I'm using Ubuntu 9.04 64bit, fresh install, on Lenovo Thinkpad R61. This is my wireless adapter:

03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network Connection (rev 61)

When I disable wireless network (right-click on NetworkManager icon, click on checkbox next to 'Enable Wireless'), wireless is disabled. But, when I reboot, or restart NetworkManager, wireless is enabled back again - i expected it to stay disabled, as it was on Ubuntu 8.04.

Here is what is in /var/log/syslog after disable:

May 15 13:01:56 mike NetworkManager: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 3 -> 2
May 15 13:01:56 mike NetworkManager: <info> (wlan0): deactivating device (reason: 0).
May 15 13:01:56 mike NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'Auto eth0' (eth0) as default for routing and DNS.
May 15 13:01:56 mike NetworkManager: <info> (wlan0): taking down device.
May 15 13:01:57 mike kernel: [ 1037.800994] iwlagn: MAC is in deep sleep!

Here is what is in /var/log/aut.log after disable:

May 15 13:01:57 mike dbus-daemon: Rejected send message, 4 matched rules; type="method_return", sender=":1.11" (uid=0 pid=3300 comm="/sbin/wpa_supplicant -u -f /var/log/wpa_supplicant") interface="(unset)" member="(unset)" error name="(unset)" requested_reply=0 destination=":1.52" (uid=0 pid=6069 comm="/usr/sbin/NetworkManager --pid-file /var/run/Netwo"))
May 15 13:01:57 mike dbus-daemon: Rejected send message, 2 matched rules; type="method_return", sender=":1.52" (uid=0 pid=6069 comm="/usr/sbin/NetworkManager --pid-file /var/run/Netwo") interface="(unset)" member="(unset)" error name="(unset)" requested_reply=0 destination=":1.28" (uid=1000 pid=4093 comm="nm-applet --sm-disable "))

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. The issue that you reported is one that should be reproducible with the live environment of the Desktop CD of the development release the Karmic Koala. It would help us greatly if you could test with it so we can work on getting it fixed in the next release of Ubuntu. You can find out more about the development release at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/ . Thanks again and we appreciate your help.

[Mario Splivalo (mariosplivalo)]

The problem seems to still be there. Subsequnetial 'rebooting' from the live-cd always leaves wireless and bluetooth turned on.

I can't test with the actuall installation since I don't have spare machine to test with at this time.

[Tony Espy (awe)]

I understand your expectation regarding the "Wireless enabled" menu item, however it was designed to act this way ( like it or not ).

I'm going to mark WontFix.

[Mario Splivalo (mariosplivalo)]

So, there is no way to leave bluetooth and wireless turned off, even after reboot?

[Tony Espy (awe)]

At this point, it's only possible if the system provides a hardware kill switch...

[Mario Splivalo (mariosplivalo)]

I guess one can learn to live with it.

I just miss the old functionality. There, also, you could kill wireless OR bluetooth - now when you press Fn-F5 you kill both wireless adapters, I tought that is more convinient.

Nevermind, leave it at 'wontfix'.

[gfnord (gfnord)]

'wontfix'? In Ubuntu 10.04 it's still here.

How about a workaround then? Is there a way to make a default for wireless network to be switched off?

[David Tombs (dgtombs)]

You can set your wireless connections to not _connect_ automatically, but as comment #5 said you cannot disable the radio except via a hardware switch. Sorry for the inconvenience, I agree it would be nice to have an option.

[Uqbar (uqbar)]

I don't think comment #5 is correct.
Killing by hardware switch a wireless network interface will actually turn it off, wich is an extreme way to disable it.
Avoiding to complete the WEB/WPA "handshake" and to give it an IP address will also disable its usage, more grecefully.
Infact, it's not enough to supply power to a wireless card to have it "enabled" to use.

[mspanc (mspanc)]

I vote for changing status this bug from wontfix to anything else. It's really annoying when I have to disable my wifi after every boot. I understand that I can disable auto connecting in my connections, but it's rather not the most convinient way, I think just remembering "wireless enabled/disabled" setting has more with ergonomics.