10ec:8185 rtl8180 driver unstable with RTL-8185 IEEE 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN

[Andres Riancho]

The rtl8180 linux kernel driver (/lib/modules/3.2.0-23-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtl818x/rtl8180/rtl8180.ko) works fine for a while, then slows down, finally disconnects from the wireless access point and after some seconds reconnects again. This happens to me with the following network card:

03:05.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8185 IEEE 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 20)
 Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8185 IEEE 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Controller
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 64 (8000ns min, 16000ns max), Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 20
 Region 0: I/O ports at e800 [size=256]
 Region 1: Memory at febffc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: rtl8180
 Kernel modules: rtl8180

Might be useful for the driver maintainer to know that at some point I had two of these network cards connected and it was almost impossible to connect to any network. When I disconnected one of them it was possible to send/receive packets but at slow speeds and with disconnects every 2 to 5 minutes.

The ubuntu-bug tool should have caught this, but I'm using "3.2.0-24-generic #39-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 21 16:52:17 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux".

Blacklisting rtl8180 and trying to load rtl8187.ko and r8187se.ko did not solve the issue since those modules did not create the wlan0 interface I was hoping; and lshw showed the hardware as unclaimed.

Trying to compile the driver from Realtek was very difficult since they don't provide it for the latest kernel.

If there is anything I can do to help solve the bug with rtl8180, please let me know. I'm willing to send more information, test patches, recompile stuff, etc.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-24-generic 3.2.0-24.39
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.39-generic 3.2.16
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC2: pablo 1985 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: pablo 1985 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: pablo 1985 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC1D0p: pablo 1985 F...m pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'SB'/'HDA ATI SB at 0xfe7f4000 irq 16'
   Mixer name : 'VIA VT1708S'
   Components : 'HDA:11060397,1043836c,00100000'
   Controls : 44
   Simple ctrls : 21
Card1.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:1 'Headset'/'Logitech Logitech Wireless Headset at usb-0000:00:13.0-1, full speed'
   Mixer name : 'USB Mixer'
   Components : 'USB046d:0a12'
   Controls : 4
   Simple ctrls : 2
Card2.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:2 'HDMI'/'HDA ATI HDMI at 0xfe9e8000 irq 19'
   Mixer name : 'ATI RS690/780 HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:1002791a,00791a00,00100000'
   Controls : 4
   Simple ctrls : 1
Card2.Amixer.values:
 Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
   Playback channels: Mono
   Mono: Playback [on]
Date: Wed Jun 6 11:26:13 2012
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=410a7e48-8da6-4bc4-be34-78fdd23ede76
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=c52462b7-75c4-4b78-8942-c1ff7da5540d ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: yes
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 04/15/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 2006
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: M4A785T-M
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr2006:bd04/15/2010:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnM4A785T-M:rvrRevX.0x:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Andres Riancho, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Please be sure to confirm this issue exists with the latest development release of Ubuntu. ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily/current/ . If the issue remains, please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.

apport-collect -p linux <replace-with-bug-number>

Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please 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'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.

Please let us know your results. Thanks in advance.

[Andres Riancho (andres-riancho)]

Chris,

    I'm using 12.04 (LTS) with all the latest updates installed and it can be reproduced there. I'm downloading 12.10 to see if I can reproduce it in liveCD mode. After that, and if the bug is still present, I'll continue with the kernel stuff (yay! I haven't compiled a kernel in years!).

Regards,

[Psy[H[] (vovik-wfa)]

I can confirm this on Debian Wheezy with Linux 3.2.0-2-686-pae

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Psy[H[], if you are having a problem in Ubuntu, please file a new report by executing the following via the Terminal and feel free to subscribe me to it:
ubuntu-bug linux

Thanks!

[J Armando WP Jeronymo (jose-armando)]

I can confirm this with the daily build of 12.10 as of 8 August. I wonder if Andres Riancho has had any luck with compiling the kernel.

In addition to the tests with ubuntu proper, I also tried to load the live CD of lubuntu 11.04 and 10.04 but it also crached at boot.

Could it be a problem with just a bacht of controllers shipped by Realtek? I do not find it so widespread in the forums etc. I wrote Realtek asking if they knew about this but so far no reply.

How can I help further?

Regards,

[Andres Riancho (andres-riancho)]

Didn't work on this issue at all. Just asked a friend that uses Windows to exchange his PCI wireless card with me and now I'm with a "03:05.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR2417 Wireless Network Adapter [AR5007G 802.11bg] (rev 01)".

This card works fine, but I had to change the channel in my access point. It seems that my area is full of APs in the default channels and that was making my connection (even with the new card) slow.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Jose Armando Jeronymo, 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. Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful Bug Reporting Links:
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.]

[Garret Ferreira (ferreiragarret)]

The 8180 driver has been very unreliable for me on 12.10. Sometimes it will detect a wireless network other times it won't, Oddly enough it usually seems to work from the live cd.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Garret Ferreira, 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 cause your problem to not be addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[ThomasRosenkranz (tom-rosary-q)]

effects also 12.04LTS 3.2.0-72-generic-pae

[penalvch (penalvch)]

ThomasRosenkranz, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report with Ubuntu by executing the following in a terminal while booted into the default Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline one) via:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please read the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Kernel Team: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Policies/DuplicateBugs
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

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

As well, please do not announce in this report you created a new bug report.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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