168c:0032 Atheros AR9485 WiFi card on Acer Aspire One 722 works slow, sometimes crashes

[Jaime Alberto Silva]

This card works really slow, network connection is not usable and sometimes produces a kernel panic.

WORKAROUND: /etc/modprobe.d/ath9k.conf

And added the module parameter:
options ath9k nohwcrypt=1

and in BIOS put Network boot on top of the boot priority list.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-18-generic 3.2.0-18.29
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-18.29-generic 3.2.9
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-18-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 1.94.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: jaime 1751 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jaime 1751 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Generic'/'HD-Audio Generic at 0x90444000 irq 40'
   Mixer name : 'ATI R6xx HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:1002aa01,00aa0100,00100200'
   Controls : 6
   Simple ctrls : 1
Card0.Amixer.values:
 Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
   Playback channels: Mono
   Mono: Playback [on]
Card1.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:1 'SB'/'HDA ATI SB at 0x90440000 irq 16'
   Mixer name : 'Conexant CX20588'
   Components : 'HDA:14f1506c,10250598,00100000'
   Controls : 18
   Simple ctrls : 12
Date: Sat Mar 10 13:17:14 2012
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=01c973d2-715c-4388-be97-faede1379c94
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120301)
Lsusb:
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
 Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 04f2:b1d8 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd
MachineType: Acer AO722
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=es_CO:es
 TERM=xterm
 LANG=es_CO.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-18-generic root=UUID=49afadb0-5bc2-4525-8ba6-6da4583fd456 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.71
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/19/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V1.06
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: JE10-BZ
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: Base Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: V1.06
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV1.06:bd09/19/2011:svnAcer:pnAO722:pvrV1.06:rvnAcer:rnJE10-BZ:rvrBaseBoardVersion:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV1.06:
dmi.product.name: AO722
dmi.product.version: V1.06
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Jaime Alberto Silva (jaimealbertosilva)]

I followed the instructions at

http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/17833/warning-ath9k-breaks-with-the-32-kernel-update/

Created

/etc/modprobe.d/ath9k.conf

And added the module parameter:

options ath9k nohwcrypt=1

Rebooted and now it seems to be working fine.

[Jaime Alberto Silva (jaimealbertosilva)]

Also, on Acer Aspire One 722, you must remember to go to the BIOS configuration and put Network boot on top of the boot priority list or else you'll get random full-system freezes when using wi-fi.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

Thank you for taking the time to file a bug report on this issue.

However, given the number of bugs that the Kernel Team receives during any development cycle it is impossible for us to review them all. Therefore, we occasionally resort to using automated bots to request further testing. This is such a request.

We have noted that there is a newer version of the development kernel than the one you last tested when this issue was found. Please test again with the newer kernel and indicate in the bug if this issue still exists or not.

You can update to the latest development kernel by simply running the following commands in a terminal window:

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get upgrade

If the bug still exists, change the bug status from Incomplete to Confirmed. If the bug no longer exists, change the bug status from Incomplete to Fix Released.

If you want this bot to quit automatically requesting kernel tests, add a tag named: bot-stop-nagging.

 Thank you for your help, we really do appreciate it.

[Jaime Alberto Silva (jaimealbertosilva)]

I no longer need to put network as first boot option but still need the nohwcrypt=1 option for ath9k.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

Thank you for taking the time to file a bug report on this issue.

However, given the number of bugs that the Kernel Team receives during any development cycle it is impossible for us to review them all. Therefore, we occasionally resort to using automated bots to request further testing. This is such a request.

We have noted that there is a newer version of the development kernel than the one you last tested when this issue was found. Please test again with the newer kernel and indicate in the bug if this issue still exists or not.

You can update to the latest development kernel by simply running the following commands in a terminal window:

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

If the bug still exists, change the bug status from Incomplete to Confirmed. If the bug no longer exists, change the bug status from Incomplete to Fix Released.

If you want this bot to quit automatically requesting kernel tests, add a tag named: bot-stop-nagging.

 Thank you for your help, we really do appreciate it.

[Bernard (rouch)]

Confirmed with the new version of the kernel

[Ron Wolf (ron-e-wolf)]

Perhaps it will be helpful to note that, just as Jaime Alberto Silva (jaimealbertosilva) found, turning off the hardware encryt has worked wonders for me., My network performance (as seen from just general use of FF) went from spotty and slow to lightening fast. I was also able to move the network boot from first in the boot order which also leads to faster cleaner boots (especialy when ethernet is plugged in). After much searching and reading about this problem, this simple fix does the trick. To be more specific, I am on a fairly fresh 12.04 with all (as far as I can tell) recommended updates applied. As found on

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?mode=hybrid&t=1942326&highlight=atheros+acer+722

I first tried these commands:

sudo modprobe -rfv ath9k
sudo modprobe -v ath9k nohwcrypt=1

with functionally great results and then

made it permanent by creating the file

/etc/modprobe.d/ath9k.conf

and adding this line (followed by a <cr> which i'm not sure was needed...)

options ath9k nohwcrypt=1

i then moved the netboot from first in the boot order and all still works great!

just for the record:

rone@ronsAcerUbu:~$ lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net
06:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR8152 v2.0 Fast Ethernet [1969:2062] (rev c1)
 Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0598]
 Kernel driver in use: atl1c
--
07:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter [168c:0032] (rev 01)
 Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Device [105b:e047]
 Kernel driver in use: ath9k

Let me know if you need any more info.

[Ron Wolf (ron-e-wolf)]

Um, never mind about the hopeful comment regarding being able to move the network boot from first in boot order. That seemed to be OK thru multiple test boots including a complete power down/up. But, for whatever reason, the next day the <freezing when Unity started> behavior was consistently back. So I once again moved the netboot to first in the boot order and, several days later, all still seems to be OK.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Jaime Alberto Silva, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Please do not test the kernel in the daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested and remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text.

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER', where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER', where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, please comment as to why specifically you were unable to test it and add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.

Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful Bug Reporting Links:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_Reporting_Etiquette
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#A3._Make_sure_the_bug_hasn.27t_already_been_reported
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Apport_Debug_Information_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Additional_Attachments_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Alex Fernando Brandt (lexbrandt)]

I had the same issue with a Dell Vostro 3560 with the same card.

I created the /etc/modprobe.d/ath9k.conf file and the problem disappeared.

I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit
3.2.0-32-generic

[Alex Fernando Brandt (lexbrandt)]

Testing the Ubuntu 12.10, the wifi was working fine, but I needed to go back to precise due to issues with the video card driver (amd catalyst).

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alex Fernando Brandt, if you have a bug in Ubuntu, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please see the Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue

and Ubuntu Community article:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report may delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[alex quim (alexandreamigo01)]

sorry about my english, hi everybody, i am trying to active my Atheros AR9485 WiFi adapter, i made everything that yoare saying above but when a reboot everything was blocked

me@HP-655-Notebook-PC:~$ rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: yes
1: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: yes
me@HP-655-Notebook-PC:~$

please someone can help me?

once again sorry about my english, i am Angolan and I speak portuguese

[alex quim (alexandreamigo01)]

sorry about my english, hi everybody, i am trying to active my Atheros AR9485 WiFi adapter, i made everything that yoare saying above but when a reboot everything was blocked

Created

/etc/modprobe.d/ath9k.conf

And added the module parameter:

options ath9k nohwcrypt=1

me@HP-655-Notebook-PC:~$ rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: yes
1: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: yes
me@HP-655-Notebook-PC:~$

please someone can help me?

once again sorry about my english, i am Angolan and I speak portuguese

[alex quim (alexandreamigo01)]

I am using a hp 655

[penalvch (penalvch)]

alex quim, if you have a bug in Ubuntu, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please see the Ubuntu Kernel team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports

the Ubuntu Bug Control team and Ubuntu Bug Squad team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue

and Ubuntu Community article:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report may delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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