Network menu sometimes doesn't connect on start up.

[Connel Hooley]

When I log in the network menu doesn't connect to the internet sometimes. Sometimes it connects within a few seconds of logging in, sometimes it doesn't connect at all and sometimes it will finally connect after around 30 minutes. I am trying to connect using a Wi-Fi connection. Wired Ethernet connections don't appear to be affected. When it doesn't connect the indicator has the icon with a red "!" and then clicking on the icon shows all the options but no networks are found. I am running Ubuntu 10.04, indicator-network 0.2.10-0ubuntu1+r74+201008261550 and connman 0.56+ind-0ubuntu1~ind1+r2534+201008220428. I have just noticed that as soon as I plug in an Ethernet cable into my Laptop, it finds wireless networks.

[Kalle Valo (kvalo)]

Hi Connel,

thank you for the bug report.

Connel Hooley <email address hidden> writes:

> When I log in the network menu doesn't connect to the internet
> sometimes. Sometimes it connects within a few seconds of logging in,
> sometimes it doesn't connect at all and sometimes it will finally
> connect after around 30 minutes. I am trying to connect using a Wi-Fi
> connection. Wired Ethernet connections don't appear to be affected.

Bug #590713 resembles a lot what you are seeing. Few questions:

o What kernel are you using?
o What wifi driver?
o What type, make and model of wifi hardware? (Doesn't have to be
  complete, but all information helps here).
o Does running 'cmcc scan' multiple times help finding the networks?

> I have just noticed that as soon as I plug in an Ethernet cable into
> my Laptop, it finds wireless networks.

Wow, this is strange. Debug logs would help a lot here. Do you mind if
you could take those and attach them to the bug report? Basically you
need to run indicator-network-debug, instructions here:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ConnMan/Debugging

If this happens only after boot it might be that indicator-network-debug
isn't enough, and it's needed to enable debug logs permanently, by
editing /etc/default/connman and WPASupplicant.service. More info in the
wiki page. (connman and wpa_supplicant logs are enough, ofono should not
affect here.)

Be careful with the debug logs so that they don't contain any
confidential information, like passwords. If this makes you feel
uncomfortable, you can also send them to me privately. I can be trusted =)

--
Kalle Valo

[Connel Hooley (connelhooley)]

Running 'cmcc scan' in a terminal when I log in results in the network menu being able to find networks straight away. I am now going to enable debugging in Connman and post the resulting logs.

Connel

[Connel Hooley (connelhooley)]

I have emailed the log to you at <email address hidden>

Connel

[Connel Hooley (connelhooley)]

Oh yeah:

>What kernel are you using?
I am using kernel version 2.6.32-24

>What wifi driver?
I am using the Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver source. These packages contain Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver for use with Broadcom's BCM4311-, BCM4312-, BCM4321-, and BCM4322-based hardware.

>What type, make and model of wifi hardware? (Doesn't have to be complete, but all information helps here)
I am using a Dell Inspiron 1525. Sorry that's all I know :(

[Andrzej Kłapeć (solidslash)]

I'm also experiencing this problem. It takes about 2 minutes for ANY wifi network to show up in the network menu, even though it says Wireless: On. It simply doesn't list any networks. After about 2 minutes, they automagically appear on the list and it connects to my default network.
I'm using:
Linux dell 2.6.35-19-generic #28-Ubuntu SMP Sun Aug 29 06:34:38 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux
(Maverick up-to-date)
bcmwl driver @ dell studio 1555 ( 04:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY (rev 01) )

If more information is needed, just ask.

[Kalle Valo (kvalo)]

SolidSlash <email address hidden> writes:

> I'm also experiencing this problem. It takes about 2 minutes for ANY
> wifi network to show up in the network menu, even though it says
> Wireless: On. It simply doesn't list any networks. After about 2
> minutes, they automagically appear on the list and it connects to my
> default network.
>
> I'm using: Linux dell 2.6.35-19-generic #28-Ubuntu SMP Sun Aug 29
> 06:34:38 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux (Maverick up-to-date) bcmwl driver
> @ dell studio 1555 ( 04:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation
> BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY (rev 01) )

This is related to bcmwl, the binary kernel driver from Broadcom. Both
you and Connel are using that driver.

It seems that the first scan after boot always fails and that's why it
takes few minutes to connect. connman (or wpasupplicant) needs to handle
this case properly and reissue the scan if it fails. Unfortunately I
don't have a patch yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I have one. I
can't work on this bug until next week.

--
Kalle Valo

[Kalle Valo (kvalo)]

Bug #638303 contains a patch to wpasupplicant which should fix this.