Wireless cutting out after a few min of use in 13.04

[Britt Yazel]

I am running Ubuntu 13.04 development build on an Acer Aspire V3-551, and I am having an issue where my wireless cuts out after 4-5 minutes of use. When the wireless cuts out the whole computer locks up for 5-10 seconds and now mouse movement registers. This has been happening for the past few weeks and is very hard to work with.

As a note, if I click the networking menu and disable wireless and then toggle it back on, there seems to be a 50/50 chance that I can get my wireless to connect again, otherwise it just tries over and over again to connect and fails. Usually on a reboot the issue will be temporarily resolved (until 4-5 min of use as stated above), but some of the time the issue persists through a reboot.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: linux-image-3.8.0-4-generic 3.8.0-4.8
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-4.8-generic 3.8.0-rc6
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-4-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
ApportVersion: 2.8-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: britt 2004 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: britt 2004 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Mon Feb 4 23:14:51 2013
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=31686ec4-7953-41f1-8307-1cc723ed9da9
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-01-02 (33 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
MachineType: Acer Aspire V3-551
MarkForUpload: True
ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-4-generic root=UUID=5f5be620-4cd0-401e-8696-75808784b877 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-4-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-4-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.100
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-01-03 (32 days ago)
WifiSyslog: Feb 4 23:14:08 carolinebook NetworkManager[1136]: <warn> nl_recvmsgs() error: (-33) Dump inconsistency detected, interrupted
dmi.bios.date: 10/24/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V1.07
dmi.board.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: VA50_CM
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: Base Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacturer
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV1.07:bd10/24/2012:svnAcer:pnAspireV3-551:pvrV1.07:rvnAcer:rnVA50_CM:rvrBaseBoardVersion:cvnChassisManufacturer:ct10:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: Aspire V3-551
dmi.product.version: V1.07
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Was there an earlier 13.04 kernel that did not exhibit this bug?

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

Not the 13.04 kernel no. I believe the 3.7.0 kernel didn't have this issue and it happened during the 3.8.0 transition.

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

ApportVersion: 2.8-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: robbiew 1688 F.... pulseaudio
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=926f3d1c-1af0-4ea1-8bf0-1c591a897562
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-01-26 (11 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
MachineType: LENOVO 3443CTO
MarkForUpload: True
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-4-generic root=UUID=e5170156-804e-43a6-bde8-334c96fe0aeb ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-4.8-generic 3.8.0-rc6
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-4-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-4-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.100
Tags: raring running-unity
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-4-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-01-26 (11 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
dmi.bios.date: 11/20/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: G6ET66WW (2.10 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 3443CTO
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Defined
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrG6ET66WW(2.10):bd11/20/2012:svnLENOVO:pn3443CTO:pvrThinkPadX1Carbon:rvnLENOVO:rn3443CTO:rvrNotDefined:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 3443CTO
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X1 Carbon
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

apport information

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

apport information

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

apport information

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

apport information

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

apport information

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

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[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

I'm having the same exact issue.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

I would also like to note that each time before the wireless disconnects, the computer becomes laggy.

Disabling networking and reenabling will bring back wireless 100% of the time, but it only lasts for 5 minutes or so.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

It seems like this issue is happening on multiple wireless network devices. Per comment #4, can folks affected by this bug test the v3.7[0] kernel to confirm the issue goes away? Ensure you install both the linux-image and linux-image-extra .deb packages.

If the issue still does exist, we can try an even earlier. We just want to ensure the issue is with the kernel and not another package.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.7-raring/

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

I can verify that the issue does go away with the 3.7 kernel.

For more info, I have an atheros wireless card in this laptop. Neither my laptop with a broadcom nor my pc with a d-link wireless card have issues. This may be localized to atheros.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

The Raring kernel has since been rebased to upstream v3.8 final[0]. Can folks affected by this bug test this latest kernel to see if the issue still exists?

If the bug does still exist, I can perform a kernel bisect to identify the commit that first introduced this regression.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.8-raring/

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

Yes the problem still exists the same as ever. Thank you for taking the time to figure out this bug for us all

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.9 kernel[0] (Not a kernel in the daily directory) and install both the linux-image and linux-image-extra .deb packages.

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'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.9-rc1-raring/

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

If the bug still exists in v3.9-rc1, I'll bisect v3.8. If it is fixed in 3.9-rc1, I can perform a "Reverse" bisect.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

kernel-fixed-upstream

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

It seems to be fixed upstream, though my connection is far slower on the 3.9 kernel. I have very high latency and it is very unresponsive. However it isn't cutting out so that is progress!

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Thanks for testing the 3.9-rc1 kernel. Since it's fixed there, I can perform a reverse bisect to identify the commit that fixes this bug.

However, since it is fixed in the mainline kernel, that fix may have also been sent to upstream linux-stable. Before I start a reverse bisect, can you test the latest upstream v3.8 stable kernel, which is:

v3.8.2: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.8.2-raring/

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

Sorry for taking a while to get back. I am testing the kernel now I will report back my results. I can report though that as of today the issue is still there in the raring repos.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

no the issue is not fixed in 3.8.2. I truly hope this issue gets resolved before release

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

One additional request before I start a reverse bisect, can you test the 3.8.4 kernel:
v3.8.4: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.8.4-raring/

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

the 3.8.4 kernel seems to be working on initial boot and as of right now. I do not know if it will last though, but as of know the 3.8.4 kernel seems to be working well.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

I take it back. After about 5-8 min the computer started to lag out (most noticably the mouse cursor) and then the wireless network disconnected and refused to reconnect.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

I started a reverse kernel bisect between v3.8 final and v3.9-rc1. The kernel bisect will require testing of about 7-10 test kernels.

I built the first test kernel, up to the following commit:
b274776c54c320763bc12eb035c0e244f76ccb43

The test kernel can be downloaded from:
http://people.canonical.com/~jsalisbury/lp1115998

Can you test that kernel and report back if it has the bug or not. I will build the next test kernel based on your test results.

One thing to note, you will need to install both the linux-image and linux-image-extra .deb packages.

Thanks in advance

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

The first kernel seems to work. After booting into it, I've had stable wireless for 20 min or so now.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

I built the next test kernel, up to the following commit:
a0b1c42951dd06ec83cc1bc2c9788131d9fefcd8

The test kernel can be downloaded from:
http://people.canonical.com/~jsalisbury/lp1115998

Can you test that kernel and report back if it has the bug or not. I will build the next test kernel based on your test results.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

the kernel seems to be working. On initial boot the networking is working and it seems to be stable.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

I built the next test kernel, up to the following commit:
98d5fac2330779e6eea6431a90b44c7476260dcc

The test kernel can be downloaded from:
http://people.canonical.com/~jsalisbury/lp1115998

Can you test that kernel and report back if it has the bug or not. I will build the next test kernel based on your test results.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

This kernel seems to work as well.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

I take it back, I accidentally booted off the previous kernel. The rc7 kernel that you put up does not work at all. I could not connect to wireless, though it could see the networks. It would just endlessly try to connect.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Can you test the latest upstream v3.8.8 kernel, before I continue building the next kernel in the bisect? It can be downloaded from:

http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.8.8-raring/

[Phil Elvey (phil-elvey)]

Hi Everyone,
I have a Samsung 530U laptop and this is affecting me also with Ubuntu 13.04, all updates installed as of today (28th April).
I experience the same thing - wireless disconnects after about 3-7 mins (timing varies), and the only way to get it to reconnect is to reboot.
I am just wondering what the progress is on getting this resolved? It seems to me to be a pretty serious issue, despite only being marked as medium priority. Basically I cannot use my laptop with Ubuntu in this state, and there must be a number of other people in this same situation.

If there is anything I can do or provide to help resolve this faster, please let me know (please be specific as I am not too tech-savy - thanks).

Phil

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

The 3.8.8 kernel seems to be working fine with the wireless. I have not had any issues connecting thus far

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Can you upgrade to the latest Raring kernel and see if this bug still exists? If it is fixed, please mark it as "Fix Released".

Thanks in advance!

[Anton Kozlovsky (kozlovsky-a-a)]

I have almost the same problem on laptop acer aspire v3-551 running ubuntu 13.04.

[Anton Kozlovsky (kozlovsky-a-a)]

Kernel version is 3.8.8-030808-generic
Problem is still actual

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

The issue is still not fixed for me with the stable kernel. In fact, I haven't had a kernel update since your reply so maybe I am not testing the right package?

Also, we too have an aspire v3-551

[Anton Kozlovsky (kozlovsky-a-a)]

I saw that this problem is well-know for atheros network card. And there were a solution that it's not works for me.

[Anton Kozlovsky (kozlovsky-a-a)]

http://askubuntu.com/questions/225613/how-do-i-prevent-wifi-cycling-between-connected-and-disconnected

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

I'd like to confirm this is fixed in the latest upstream stable kernel, and confirm comment #46.

Can folks affected by this test the v3.8.13 kernel, which can be downloaded from:
http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.8.13-raring/

[Anton Kozlovsky (kozlovsky-a-a)]

I have installed the v3.8.13 kernel, but the problem is not fixed. :(

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

@Britt Yazel,

Are you also still seeing this issue with 3.8.13? Per comment #46, it sounded like this may have been fixed? If not, we can continue the bisect to identify the commit that introduced this.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Actually, continue the "reverse" bisect to find the commit in v3.9-rc1 that fixed this.

@Anton, can you test v3.9-rc1 to confirm you are seeing the same issue:
http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.9-rc1-raring/

This kernel version should not exhibit the bug.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

Sorry I have been absent for a while. I would like to note that the latest mainline kernel 3.8.0-23 still showed the problems with wireless cutting out and slowing down the whole computer. Also, I just checked kernel 3.9.4 and the issue is also present there. Earlier 3.9 kernels didn't show the issue, so it is slightly odd that it is present there.

[Phil Elvey (phil-elvey)]

Hi Everyone,
Can I make a comment on my experience with the Centrino 6235 chip - as commented earlier, I went back to Windows 7 for a day today, and sure enough the issue of wireless cutting out was present under Windows as well.
So it seems my issue has in fact been hardware, not software/kernel.

I would encourage everyone having issues to try using Windows and see if you have a problem, as it seems that the 6235 chip is fast becoming notorious for being faulty
Cheers

[raphepan amorn (raphepan)]

i also found this problem with hp pavillion 14-e005tx network card ralink rt3290 ubuntu 12.04, 13.04
the problem occurs only if i used wireless in fix ip (in my work place) , and not found when set it to dhcp (in my home), i also update kernel to 3.9.0 , 3.9.9 but i still got this issue

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Phil Elvey (phil-elvey)]

Just an update on this "bug". Since having these problems I purchased a new 6235 wireless chipset, and have had no problems since. So it was in fact a faulty chipset, and not a software fault.

[raphepan amorn (raphepan)]

for now i used ubuntu 12.04 with compile driver from manufacturer and plug
in to kernel and it work fine

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013, Phil Elvey wrote:

> Just an update on this "bug". Since having these problems I purchased a
> new 6235 wireless chipset, and have had no problems since. So it was in
> fact a faulty chipset, and not a software fault.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1115998
>
> Title:
> Wireless cutting out after a few min of use in 13.04
>
> Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu:
> Expired
>
> Bug description:
> I am running Ubuntu 13.04 development build on an Acer Aspire V3-551,
> and I am having an issue where my wireless cuts out after 4-5 minutes
> of use. When the wireless cuts out the whole computer locks up for
> 5-10 seconds and now mouse movement registers. This has been
> happening for the past few weeks and is very hard to work with.
>
> As a note, if I click the networking menu and disable wireless and
> then toggle it back on, there seems to be a 50/50 chance that I can
> get my wireless to connect again, otherwise it just tries over and
> over again to connect and fails. Usually on a reboot the issue will be
> temporarily resolved (until 4-5 min of use as stated above), but some
> of the time the issue persists through a reboot.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
> Package: linux-image-3.8.0-4-generic 3.8.0-4.8
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-4.8-generic 3.8.0-rc6
> Uname: Linux 3.8.0-4-generic x86_64
> NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
> ApportVersion: 2.8-0ubuntu4
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC1: britt 2004 F.... pulseaudio
> /dev/snd/controlC0: britt 2004 F.... pulseaudio
> Date: Mon Feb 4 23:14:51 2013
> HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=31686ec4-7953-41f1-8307-1cc723ed9da9
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-01-02 (33 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64
> (20121017.5)
> MachineType: Acer Aspire V3-551
> MarkForUpload: True
> ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
> ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-4-generic
> root=UUID=5f5be620-4cd0-401e-8696-75808784b877 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-4-generic N/A
> linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-4-generic N/A
> linux-firmware 1.100
> SourcePackage: linux
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-01-03 (32 days ago)
> WifiSyslog: Feb 4 23:14:08 carolinebook NetworkManager[1136]: <warn>
> nl_recvmsgs() error: (-33) Dump inconsistency detected, interrupted
> dmi.bios.date: 10/24/2012
> dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
> dmi.bios.version: V1.07
> dmi.board.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
> dmi.board.name: VA50_CM
> dmi.board.vendor: Acer
> dmi.board.version: Base Board Version
> dmi.chassis.type: 10
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacturer
> dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV1.07:bd10/24/2012:svnAcer:pnAspireV3-551:pvrV1.07:rvnAcer:rnVA50...