no visual feedback when enabling/disabling wifi hardware on Dell Inspiron 1545

[Jérôme]

Binary package hint: network-manager

I installed the proprietary drivers of the wireless wifi adapter shipped with my Dell Inspiron 1545 notebook.

The wireless network works. However, I'm not able to disable the wifi hardware with the wireless key on my keyboard.

Since frequent usage of wifi may impact health, it is very important to allow the user to disable the wifi hardware if he wants to lower its exposure.

Looking at the log file before and after hiting the wireless key button shows that it isn't understand by Ubuntu:
-----
s@s-portable:~$ grep -i networkmanager /var/log/syslog | tail -1
Nov 13 17:36:55 s-portable NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'Auto eth0' (eth0) as default for routing and DNS.
s@s-portable:~$ grep -i networkmanager /var/log/syslog | tail -1
Nov 13 17:36:55 s-portable NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'Auto eth0' (eth0) as default for routing and DNS.
s@s-portable:~$
-----

On this laptop, there is no alternative button.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] Aucun fichier ou dossier de ce type
Date: Fri Nov 13 17:37:56 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
IfupdownConfig:
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
IpRoute:
 192.168.0.0/24 dev eth0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.0.3 metric 1
 169.254.0.0/16 dev eth0 scope link metric 1000
 default via 192.168.0.254 dev eth0 proto static
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
Package: network-manager-gnome 0.8~a~git.20091014t134532.4033e62-0ubuntu1
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-14.48-generic
RfKill:

SourcePackage: network-manager-applet
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-14-generic x86_64
XsessionErrors:
 (gnome-settings-daemon:1750): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (gnome-settings-daemon:1750): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:1847): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_once_init_leave: assertion `initialization_value != 0' failed
 (nautilus:1837): Eel-CRITICAL **: eel_preferences_get_boolean: assertion `preferences_is_initialized ()' failed

[WeatherGod (ben-v-root)]

Moving this to the hotkeys package. Maybe there is some sort of mistake with the key-combo to turn off wireless on your Inspiron.

[WeatherGod (ben-v-root)]

Jerome, thank you for taking time to report this bug. I would just like to double-check, are you running the normal Ubuntu, or Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR)?

[Jérôme (jerome-bouat)]

I installed a genuine Ubuntu destkop amd64 CD.

Note that the button worked before I installed the proprietary drivers (see the bug #481456 for details).

[WeatherGod (ben-v-root)]

Jerome, I am not sure if this is a hotkeys bug or not because, as you said, the button worked before with the default drivers. This seems to be more an issue with the proprietary drivers not responding correctly to the poweroff request?

[Jérôme (jerome-bouat)]

The button is not for the computer poweroff but for disabling the wireless adapter.

Maybe it is related to the proprietary drivers.

Basically I'm not sure it disable the wifi because I have no visual feed back during the 30 seconds after I typed on the button. However I noticed a few changes into the network connection about 1 to 3 minutes later but I don't know if it is related.

[WeatherGod (ben-v-root)]

Jerome, just to be sure, could you run 'apport-collect -p network-manager 482233' after trying to turn off your wifi and experiencing any interruptions. We can then see what is causing them.

[Jérôme (jerome-bouat)]

It seems that the keystroke on the wifi key changes the wifi adapter power status.

However there is no visual feedback within the 5 seconds after the switch as it did with Microsoft Windows Vista.

[WeatherGod (ben-v-root)]

Jerome, which restricted drivers did you end up installing?

[Jérôme (jerome-bouat)]

Yes I did.

[WeatherGod (ben-v-root)]

I repeat my question...

quels pilotes propriétaires avez vous finalement installé ?

[Jérôme (jerome-bouat)]

I don't remember. There were the drivers which were proposed by restricted driver desktop applet.