14e4:4331 [MacBookPro10,2] wifi intermittent Ubuntu 14.04

[Phil Marsh]

Problem: wifi is intermittent on my Macbook Pro and the logfile shows it's disconnecting
Hardware System: Macbook Pro Retina 13" version 10,2 early 2013
wifi firmware installed was default in Ubuntu 14.04 (mac 64bit OS) and synaptic shows the bcmwl-kernel-source to be installed. I get intermittent disconnections from the wifi which is set to g-only. Other wifi router settings have not been any better. Changing the wifi installation from the default of Ubuntu 14.04 have not improved things. I tried the firmware-b43-installer with similar results as above.

iwconfig wlan0 | grep 'Power Management'
Power Management:off

WORKAROUND: Turn WiFi Power Management on.

---
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: viking 2055 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=9a76124f-99fb-4ba8-8c94-f09d985809e9
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-24 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64+mac (20140417)
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro10,2
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: \boot\vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic ro root=UUID=b6a171a9-799e-44f1-ab31-7d0940a39646 initrd=boot\initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127
Tags: trusty
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 11/16/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MBP102.88Z.0106.B03.1211161133
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag#
dmi.board.name: Mac-AFD8A9D944EA4843
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.board.version: MacBookPro10,2
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-AFD8A9D944EA4843
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBP102.88Z.0106.B03.1211161133:bd11/16/2012:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookPro10,2:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-AFD8A9D944EA4843:rvrMacBookPro10,2:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-AFD8A9D944EA4843:
dmi.product.name: MacBookPro10,2
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. It seems that your bug report is not filed about a specific source package though, rather it is just filed against Ubuntu in general. It is important that bug reports be filed about source packages so that people interested in the package can find the bugs about it. You can find some hints about determining what package your bug might be about at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/FindRightPackage. You might also ask for help in the #ubuntu-bugs irc channel on Freenode.

To change the source package that this bug is filed about visit https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1312358/+editstatus and add the package name in the text box next to the word Package.

[This is an automated message. I apologize if it reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[Quinn Balazs (qbalazs)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. We need some more information from you before we can start working on this bug.

Please run the following command which will attach necessary information:

apport-collect BUGNUMBER

Then set the status here back to new.

[Phil Marsh (marsh-pf)]

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[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 v3.15 kernel[0].

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/v3.15-rc2-trusty/

[Phil Marsh (marsh-pf)]

Hi Joe,
Thanks so much for getting back to me. Testing a new kernel might be a
little problematic since this is sort of a production machine. However, I
had already installed the OS numerous times this past week anyway and it
wouldn't be a disaster if I had to do so again.
I will try to see if there's a way I can back up the OS to an image so I
can re-install it if things blow up. Maybe you have another suggestion? As
another approach, is there a way to go back to the "old" i.e. production
kernel if the new one merely suffers from non-killer but significant
defects?
Thanks again,
Phil

On Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Joseph Salisbury <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer
> to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest
> v3.15 kernel[0].
>
> 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/v3.15-rc2-trusty/
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Importance: Undecided => Medium
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1312358
>
> Title:
> wifi intermittent on Macbook Pro Retina 10,2 Ubuntu 14.04
>
> Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> Problem: wifi is intermittent on my Macbook Pro and the logfile shows
> it's disconnecting
> Hardware System: Macbook Pro Retina 13" version 10,2 early 2013
> wifi firmware installed was default in Ubuntu 14.04 (mac 64bit OS) and
> synaptic shows the bcmwl-kernel-source to be installed
> My wifi is: Broadcom 4331
> The command lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net shows the following:
> Network controller [0200]: Broadcom ....... [14e4:16a3] (rev 21) .......
> ...... Kernel driver in use: wl
>
> I get intermittent disconnections from the wifi which is set to g-only.
> Other wifi router settings have not been any better.
> Changing the wifi installation from the default of Ubuntu 14.04 have not
> improved things. I tried the firmware-b43-installer with similar results as
> above.
>
> My kernel is:
> 3.13.0-24 generic #46-Ubuntu SMP
>
> Thanks,
> Phil
> ---
> ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC0: viking 2055 F.... pulseaudio
> CurrentDesktop: Unity
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
> HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=9a76124f-99fb-4ba8-8c94-f09d985809e9
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-24 (0 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64+mac
> (20140417)
> MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro10,2
> NonfreeKernelModules: wl
> Package: linux (not installed)
> ProcFB...

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Phil Marsh, could you please post the results of the following terminal command:
iwconfig wlan0 | grep 'Power Management'

[Phil Marsh (marsh-pf)]

Hi,
Running the command:
iwconfig wlan0 | grep 'Power Management'
on my Macbook Pro gives:
Power Management:off

Shall I try the latest kernel?
Thanks,
Phil

[Phil Marsh (marsh-pf)]

Hi Chris,
iwconfig wlan0 | grep 'Power Management'
gives
Power Management:off
Thanks,
Phil

On Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 4:11 PM, Christopher M. Penalver <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Phil Marsh, could you please post the results of the following terminal
> command:
> iwconfig wlan0 | grep 'Power Management'
>
> ** Description changed:
>
> Problem: wifi is intermittent on my Macbook Pro and the logfile shows
> it's disconnecting
> Hardware System: Macbook Pro Retina 13" version 10,2 early 2013
> - wifi firmware installed was default in Ubuntu 14.04 (mac 64bit OS) and
> synaptic shows the bcmwl-kernel-source to be installed
> - My wifi is: Broadcom 4331
> - The command lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net shows the following:
> - Network controller [0200]: Broadcom ....... [14e4:16a3] (rev 21) .......
> - ...... Kernel driver in use: wl
> + wifi firmware installed was default in Ubuntu 14.04 (mac 64bit OS) and
> synaptic shows the bcmwl-kernel-source to be installed. I get intermittent
> disconnections from the wifi which is set to g-only. Other wifi router
> settings have not been any better. Changing the wifi installation from the
> default of Ubuntu 14.04 have not improved things. I tried the
> firmware-b43-installer with similar results as above.
>
> - I get intermittent disconnections from the wifi which is set to g-only.
> - Other wifi router settings have not been any better.
> - Changing the wifi installation from the default of Ubuntu 14.04 have not
> improved things. I tried the firmware-b43-installer with similar results as
> above.
> -
> - My kernel is:
> - 3.13.0-24 generic #46-Ubuntu SMP
> -
> - Thanks,
> - Phil
> - ---
> + ---
> ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> - USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> - /dev/snd/controlC0: viking 2055 F.... pulseaudio
> + USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> + /dev/snd/controlC0: viking 2055 F.... pulseaudio
> CurrentDesktop: Unity
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
> HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=9a76124f-99fb-4ba8-8c94-f09d985809e9
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-24 (0 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64+mac
> (20140417)
> MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro10,2
> NonfreeKernelModules: wl
> Package: linux (not installed)
> ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
> ProcKernelCmdLine: \boot\vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic ro
> root=UUID=b6a171a9-799e-44f1-ab31-7d0940a39646
> initrd=boot\initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> - linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> - linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> - linux-firmware 1.127
> + linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> + linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> + linux-firmware 1.127
> Tags: trusty
> Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
> UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
> _MarkForUpload: True
> dmi.bios.date: 11/16/2012
> dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
> dmi.bios.v...

[Phil Marsh (marsh-pf)]

I had used:
sudo iwconfig wlan0 power on
to turn on power management on my MacBook Pro Retina 13" laptop (Ubuntu 14.04) and the intermittent wifi problem appears to have gone away.
The intermittent wifi problem was especially noticable due to my connecting my machines via vnc and telnet tunneled through an OpenVPN virtual LAN.
When the wifi was intermittent, the telnet would hang at login (even when the wifi connection seemed to be otherwise working) and also the VNC connection would eventually stop, leaving a frozen VNC window on the client connecting to the MacBook Pro. The VNC connection would not recover, even if the wifi connection recovered. Therefore, both the telnet and VNC connections appeared to be sensitive measures of wifi connectivity.
Since turning on the wifi power management, telnet and VNC appear to be stable!
I did not yet experiment further to verify that the power management setting was truelly correlated to the intermittent wifi behavior but that is something I'll likely try soon.
I will need to make the power management on permanent and I think instructions to do so are on the Web.
Thanks,
Phil

[Phil Marsh (marsh-pf)]

Hi Chris and team at Ubuntu,
Thanks so much for helping me solve this. I'm amazed at the quick and
professional response from you and the rest of the team. Try to get this
level of support from Microsoft!
So far, after about 5hrs of VNC/VPN connectivity through wifi on my
MacBook, it appears rock solid! Hoping that someday it will run an n
protocol wifi connection but I'm running g for now and quite happy.
I think it's solved, but will let you know if another issue appears and I
can't solve it.
I'm very pleased so far with Ubuntu 14.04. Love the Macbook hardware but
wanted to run Ubuntu, which I know.
Thanks again,
Phil

On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 1:44 PM, Christopher M. Penalver <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> ** Description changed:
>
> Problem: wifi is intermittent on my Macbook Pro and the logfile shows
> it's disconnecting
> Hardware System: Macbook Pro Retina 13" version 10,2 early 2013
> wifi firmware installed was default in Ubuntu 14.04 (mac 64bit OS) and
> synaptic shows the bcmwl-kernel-source to be installed. I get intermittent
> disconnections from the wifi which is set to g-only. Other wifi router
> settings have not been any better. Changing the wifi installation from the
> default of Ubuntu 14.04 have not improved things. I tried the
> firmware-b43-installer with similar results as above.
>
> iwconfig wlan0 | grep 'Power Management'
> Power Management:off
> +
> + WORKAROUND: Turn WiFi Power Management on.
>
> ---
> ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC0: viking 2055 F.... pulseaudio
> CurrentDesktop: Unity
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
> HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=9a76124f-99fb-4ba8-8c94-f09d985809e9
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-24 (0 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64+mac
> (20140417)
> MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro10,2
> NonfreeKernelModules: wl
> Package: linux (not installed)
> ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
> ProcKernelCmdLine: \boot\vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic ro
> root=UUID=b6a171a9-799e-44f1-ab31-7d0940a39646
> initrd=boot\initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> linux-firmware 1.127
> Tags: trusty
> Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
> UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
> _MarkForUpload: True
> dmi.bios.date: 11/16/2012
> dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
> dmi.bios.version: MBP102.88Z.0106.B03.1211161133
> dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag#
> dmi.board.name: Mac-AFD8A9D944EA4843
> dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
> dmi.board.version: MacBookPro10,2
> dmi.chassis.type: 10
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
> dmi.chassis.version: Mac-AFD8A9D944EA4843
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBP102.88Z.0106.B03.1211161133:bd11/16/2012:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookPro10,2:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-AFD8A9...

[getaceres (getaceres)]

I have the same problem as the reporting guy but in my case it's an HP laptop with Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01) wireless adapter.
The problem is noticed when I donwnload big files from the internet, the connection is cut although it appears connected in the network panel. Executing

sudo service network-manager restart

connects again and I can resume my download but it's very annoing doing it every 5 minutes. I've tried the fix in this post but I get this message:

$ sudo iwconfig wlan0 power on
Error for wireless request "Set Power Management" (8B2C) :
    SET failed on device wlan0 ; Operation not supported.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

getaceres, please file a new report (not post comments/info here) following https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/bcm43xx .