[Ubuntu 8.04.1] Intel 4965 wireless can't connect anymore (update regression?)

[Joe le Kiffeur]

Hi!

First, my level in English is poor and I didn't use to report bugs in the Ubuntu launchpad.

[BUG REPORT]

After an update, my wifi connexion with my Intel 4965 is unable to connect. I don't know why. It seems several users have the same bug.

After reading wikis and forums (ubuntu-fr), I can send any informations about my configuration (laptop MSI GX700) :

cat /etc/lsb-release

DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=8.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=hardy
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 8.04.1"

lsusb

Bus 007 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 006 Device 004: ID 0930:6545 Toshiba Corp.
Bus 006 Device 003: ID 0402:5602 ALi Corp. Video Camera Controller
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 0db0:a97a Micro Star International
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 1532:0003
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 03)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 03)
01:04.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02)
01:04.2 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MMC/SD Controller (rev 01)
01:04.3 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MS/xD Controller (rev 01)
03:00.0 Memory controller: Intel Corporation Turbo Memory Controller (rev 01)
06:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN Network Connection (rev 61)
07:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
08:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GeForce 8600M GT (rev a1)

lshw -C network

  *-network UNCLAIMED
       description: Network controller
       product: PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN Network Connection
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:06:00.0
       version: 61
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
  *-network
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:07:00.0
       logical name: eth0
       version: 01
       serial: 00:19:db:3f:8a:29
       capacity: 1GB/s
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm vpd msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
       configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.2LK duplex=half latency=0 link=no module=r8169 multicast=yes port=twisted pair

lsmod

Module Size Used by
nls_iso8859_1 4992 1
nls_cp437 6656 1
vfat 14464 1
fat 54556 1 vfat
usb_storage 73664 1
libusual 19108 1 usb_storage
binfmt_misc 12808 1
rfcomm 41744 2
l2cap 25728 13 rfcomm
nfsd 228848 13
lockd 67720 2 nfsd
nfs_acl 4608 1 nfsd
auth_rpcgss 43424 1 nfsd
sunrpc 185500 9 nfsd,lockd,nfs_acl,auth_rpcgss
exportfs 6016 1 nfsd
ppdev 10372 0
acpi_cpufreq 10796 1
cpufreq_userspace 5284 0
cpufreq_conservative 8712 0
cpufreq_stats 7104 0
cpufreq_powersave 2688 0
cpufreq_ondemand 9740 1
freq_table 5536 3 acpi_cpufreq,cpufreq_stats,cpufreq_ondemand
dock 11280 0
container 5632 0
sbs 15112 0
sbshc 7680 1 sbs
ipv6 267780 14
af_packet 23812 0
ppp_generic 29588 0
slhc 7040 1 ppp_generic
iptable_filter 3840 0
ip_tables 14820 1 iptable_filter
x_tables 16132 1 ip_tables
aes_i586 33536 0
dm_crypt 15364 0
dm_mod 62660 1 dm_crypt
sbp2 24072 0
parport_pc 36260 0
lp 12324 0
parport 37832 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
nvidia 7106084 26
hci_usb 16540 2
m5602 42816 0
compat_ioctl32 2304 1 m5602
bluetooth 61156 7 rfcomm,l2cap,hci_usb
videodev 29440 1 m5602
v4l2_common 18304 1 videodev
v4l1_compat 15492 1 videodev
battery 14212 0
snd_hda_intel 344856 3
ac 6916 0
i2c_core 24832 1 nvidia
video 19856 11
output 4736 1 video
snd_pcm_oss 42144 0
snd_mixer_oss 17920 2 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 78596 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
snd_page_alloc 11400 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
snd_hwdep 10500 1 snd_hda_intel
snd_seq_dummy 4868 0
snd_seq_oss 35584 0
ndiswrapper 192920 0
snd_seq_midi 9376 0
snd_rawmidi 25760 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 8320 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 54224 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 24836 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
button 9232 0
snd_seq_device 9612 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd 56996 15 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_hwdep,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
sdhci 19076 0
mmc_core 51460 1 sdhci
serio_raw 7940 0
psmouse 40336 0
intel_agp 25492 0
soundcore 8800 2 snd
agpgart 34760 2 nvidia,intel_agp
evdev 13056 5
shpchp 34452 0
pci_hotplug 30880 1 shpchp
iTCO_wdt 13092 0
iTCO_vendor_support 4868 1 iTCO_wdt
pcspkr 4224 0
ext3 136840 1
jbd 48404 1 ext3
mbcache 9600 1 ext3
sr_mod 17956 0
cdrom 37408 1 sr_mod
sg 36880 0
ata_piix 19588 0
sd_mod 30720 6
pata_acpi 8320 0
usbhid 32128 0
hid 38784 1 usbhid
ata_generic 8324 0
ahci 28548 3
libata 159344 4 ata_piix,pata_acpi,ata_generic,ahci
scsi_mod 151436 6 usb_storage,sbp2,sr_mod,sg,sd_mod,libata
ohci1394 33584 0
ieee1394 93752 2 sbp2,ohci1394
r8169 33156 0
ehci_hcd 37900 0
uhci_hcd 27024 0
usbcore 146412 9 usb_storage,libusual,hci_usb,m5602,ndiswrapper,usbhid,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
thermal 16796 0
processor 37384 4 acpi_cpufreq,thermal
fan 5636 0
fbcon 42912 0
tileblit 3456 1 fbcon
font 9472 1 fbcon
bitblit 6784 1 fbcon
softcursor 3072 1 bitblit
fuse 50708 7

iwconfig

lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

iwlist scan

lo Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth0 Interface doesn't support scanning.

cat /etc/network/interfaces

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
iface ppp0 inet ppp
provider ppp0

auto ppp0

nm-tool

NetworkManager Tool

State: disconnected

- Device: eth0 ----------------------------------------------------------------
  NM Path: /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/eth0
  Type: Wired
  Driver: r8169
  Active: no
  HW Address: 00:19:DB:3F:8A:29

  Capabilities:
    Supported: yes
    Carrier Detect: yes

  Wired Settings
    Hardware Link: no

uname -r -m

2.6.24-22-generic i686

----------------------

I try to resolve this problem with this command:

echo -e 'auto lo\niface lo inet loopback\n' | sudo tee /etc/network/interfaces

... but it takes no effect.

I don't know if I made an enough bug report...

[Joe le Kiffeur (joelekiffeur)]

Oops! I have forgotten that Network Manager doesn't display my wireless connexion.

You can also see my own screenshot: http://pix.nofrag.com/8/1/5/0f4193f3b21f86f23f43a8cc607b6.png

[judoka (mgottesfeld)]

I think I can confirm this on 8.10. In my case the issue is that NetworkManager cannot assign the essid. When I select a network to join and check w/ command line iwconfig, I see the essid is not getting assigned. I assign the essid manually when networkmanager is trying to connect (issuing dhcp requests) and it will join the network. Try selecting a wireless network in Network Manager and running:
sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid <wireless network name>

See if you can join then.

Thanks,
Marty

[Joe le Kiffeur (joelekiffeur)]

Thank you for your answer. :)

I will try your solution and will reply.

[Joe le Kiffeur (joelekiffeur)]

Sorry judoka/Marty, but that doesn't work... :(

[Yann (lostec)]

I have the same problem since Hardy 2.6.24-23 kernel update (2.6.24-22 is OK when selected in grub), with a laptop integrated Intel 3945 wifi board. Mostly at startup.

Logs only shows association/deassociation cycles with the WPA2 AP (working perfectly at the same moment with a nearby EeePC+XP... or rebooting on -22 kernel+modules).

The only way to get it work is to issue a "sudo ifdown wlan 0" then "sudo ifup wlan0"... but it does not always work. "sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart" work most of the times (fail 10% of times "only", maybe).

But then, wifi if not reliable: Sometimes it will stop working after 10mn even if doing nothing... sometimes it will last hours of file transfer.

The only reliable way to cope with the problem is using 2.6.24-22 kernel...

It's a problem as these Intel wifi boards are built in a huge % of laptops and a quick look to newsgroups/forums indicate that 4965 boards seems to show similar symptoms.

Regards

[Joe le Kiffeur (joelekiffeur)]

Thank you for the news, Yann.

The problem is still existing on the last 2.6.24.23 kernel (updated). I must restart my laptop if I want to have a wifi connexion.

[Ocean (ocean4200)]

Same problem with Ubuntu Jaunty 9,04. I can't connect to Hidden SSID even with a command line. I just hope there will be a fix soon because even professional laptop like Thinkpad T60/T61P is affected and is a big issue.

[Andrew Malcolmson (andmalc)]

Jadoka's fix of manually assigning an essid works for me on a Thinkpad T61 running Debian Lenny under kernel 2.6.26-2-686.

I am not using Network Manager but an interface definition in /etc/network/interfaces. In this case the line 'wireless-essid <essid>' has no effect.

lshw identifies the wireless hardware as 'PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron]'

[Philip Muškovac (yofel)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. We are sorry that we do not always have the capacity to look at all reported bugs in a timely manner. There have been many changes in Ubuntu since that time you reported the bug and your problem may have been fixed with some of the updates. Can you try with the latest Ubuntu release? Thanks in advance. (Are you still working on a fix Joe? Assigning yourself to a bug means that you are working on fixing it)