Qualcomm atheros network controller [168c:0042] (rev 30) does not work

[jhamba]

I installed the latest ath10k driver, which changed the status of the hardware from unclaimed to claimed, but it still does not seem to be recognized as a wireless device.

WORKAROUND: Install from upstream both the latest ath10k driver:
https://github.com/kvalo/ath/tree/master/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k

and ath10k firmware:
https://github.com/kvalo/ath10k-firmware

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10
Package: linux-image-4.2.0-19-generic 4.2.0-19.23
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.2.0-19.23-generic 4.2.6
Uname: Linux 4.2.0-19-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.19.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: (removed for privacy) 1358 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: (removed for privacy) 1358 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Mon Dec 7 21:22:43 2015
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=ec603e54-8e2b-40c2-9bd4-559d5e329d2c
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-12-07 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.10 "Wily Werewolf" - Release amd64 (20151021)
IwConfig:
 enp2s0 no wireless extensions.

 lo no wireless extensions.
MachineType: Acer Aspire E5-573
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-4.2.0-19-generic.efi.signed root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.2.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.2.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.149
SourcePackage: linux
UdevLog: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/var/log/udev'
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/27/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.bios.version: V1.15
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: ZORO_BH
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: Type2 - A01 Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacturer
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsydeCorp.:bvrV1.15:bd05/27/2015:svnAcer:pnAspireE5-573:pvrV3.72:rvnAcer:rnZORO_BH:rvrType2-A01BoardVersion:cvnChassisManufacturer:ct10:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: Aspire E5-573
dmi.product.version: V3.72
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Roman (romanbn)]

As you can see in your dmesg, ath10k is looking for a firmware for your device (QCA9377/hw1.0/):

[ 18.419484] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for ath10k/cal-pci-0000:03:00.0.bin failed with error -2
[ 18.419501] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-5.bin failed with error -2
[ 18.419504] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: could not fetch firmware file 'ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-5.bin': -2
[ 18.419511] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-4.bin failed with error -2
[ 18.419512] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: could not fetch firmware file 'ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-4.bin': -2
[ 18.419518] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-3.bin failed with error -2
[ 18.419520] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: could not fetch firmware file 'ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-3.bin': -2
[ 18.419526] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-2.bin failed with error -2
[ 18.419528] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: could not fetch firmware file 'ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware-2.bin': -2
[ 18.419534] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for ath10k/QCA9377/hw1.0/firmware.bin failed with error -2
[ 18.419536] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: could not fetch firmware (-2)
[ 18.419538] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: could not fetch firmware files (-2)
[ 18.419540] ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: could not probe fw (-2)

This firmware is not part of the offical linux-firmware.git so this is the reason why it doesn't work out of the box.

But, here are the good news. There is already a firmware for your device in the ath10k-firmware.git (https://github.com/kvalo/ath10k-firmware). You may test this firmware by copying the related subfolder (QCA9377/hw1.0/) to /lib/firmware/ath10k with root permission.

[jhamba (jhamba)]

Thanks Roman, that did work!

[Roman (romanbn)]

That sounds good. Let's hope the firmware is getting pulled into linux-firmware.git soon.

[Jeremy (wa113y3s)]

Kalle Valo committed new firmware upstream
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/commit/?id=1d4840014c1041666d5017d705b7da245211c1eb
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/commit/?id=9bd4e1a9ea378be54eae88cc5cd7b30a71607ed8
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/commit/?id=f952dba369975affa2ceedc3ffc7da5ecc2c1b0a
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/commit/?id=8afadbe553017bec1e442b5a9fba859b54fd33fb

[Jeremy (wa113y3s)]

wget http://mirrors.kernel.org/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux-firmware/linux-firmware_1.158_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-firmware_1.158_all.deb

This version has all the firmware from Kalle's guthub after he upstreamed it