ASIX AX88179 compatible USB adapter not working

[Arno]

Upon inserting the USB device errors can be found in dmesg. (see below)

The current result:
USB adapter is no longer working

The expected result:
USB adapter should work properly

Please also note that this is my first bug report here.

[ 5667.499655] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.0 eth0: unregister 'ax88179_178a' usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, ASIX AX88179 USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet
[ 5667.541257] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.0 eth0 (unregistered): Failed to write reg index 0x0002: -19
[ 5667.541264] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.0 eth0 (unregistered): Failed to write reg index 0x0001: -19
[ 5667.541268] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.0 eth0 (unregistered): Failed to write reg index 0x0002: -19
[ 5667.541445] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.1 eth1: unregister 'ax88179_178a' usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, ASIX AX88179 USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet
[ 5667.585338] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.1 eth1 (unregistered): Failed to write reg index 0x0002: -19
[ 5667.585345] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.1 eth1 (unregistered): Failed to write reg index 0x0001: -19
[ 5667.585350] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:2.1 eth1 (unregistered): Failed to write reg index 0x0002: -19
[ 5668.066721] usb 2-1.3: new SuperSpeed Gen 1 USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[ 5668.237190] usb 2-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=0b95, idProduct=1790, bcdDevice= 2.00
[ 5668.237196] usb 2-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 5668.237199] usb 2-1.3: Product: AX88179A
[ 5668.237203] usb 2-1.3: Manufacturer: ASIX
[ 5668.237205] usb 2-1.3: SerialNumber: 000CFBDD
[ 5668.915280] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:1.0 (unnamed net_device) (uninitialized): Failed to read reg index 0x0040: -32
[ 5669.227298] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:1.0 eth0: register 'ax88179_178a' at usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, ASIX AX88179 USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet, f8:e4:3b:0c:fb:dd
[ 5669.285419] ax88179_178a 2-1.3:1.0 enxf8e43b0cfbdd: renamed from eth0

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: linux-image-5.4.0-91-generic 5.4.0-91.102
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-91.102-generic 5.4.151
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-91-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.21
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: arno 1964 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: arno 1964 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Tue Dec 14 08:14:34 2021
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=67bde916-af41-4b15-bcb4-599116d67df7
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-05-18 (1306 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180426)
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS 15 9560
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-5.4.0-91-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash nouveau.runpm=0 vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-5.4.0-91-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-5.4.0-91-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.187.20
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to focal on 2020-11-21 (387 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 05/25/2021
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.23.1
dmi.board.name: 05FFDN
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.23.1:bd05/25/2021:svnDellInc.:pnXPS159560:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn05FFDN:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.family: XPS
dmi.product.name: XPS 15 9560
dmi.product.sku: 07BE
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Jarkko Toivonen (jttoivon)]

 Possibly related to #1953223 and #1939638. For me the adapter is not recognized at all.

[Arno (zandink)]

I tried putting Ubuntu in suspend mode and wake it up again after reading https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1939638/comments/11.

This seams to make the situation work again. After bringing the network interface up again and requesting a fresh IP from the DHCP server I'm able to use the USB network adapter again.

[Robin Dekens (robijn17)]

I had similar problems with this too.
The .ko that is delivered with 21.10 gives me the same output as above.

I downloaded the firmware from ASIX and tried to compile it.
That didn't work because 'usbnet_get_stats64' (line 1030) no longer exist in kernel 5.11 and up.

I had to change it out for 'dev_get_tstats64' as this replaced a whole lot of statements.
After this change it compiled perfectly and the USB3 adapter works just fine without error.
I am running it right now and i got 0 drops in the last 4 hours.

If needed i can add a .gz with my working files and compiled stuff.

[Arno (zandink)]

Thanks for the information Robin, please share the information and I will see what I can do / what I can test.

[Robin Dekens (robijn17)]

This xz contains the working files for the kernel module. Including the ax88179_178a.ko.orig as this is the original kernel driver that has been supplied with ubuntu 21.10.

ax88179_178a.ko (148k) is the compiled kernel driver that I have compiled.

[Robin Dekens (robijn17)]

I have also added the original tarball from the manufacturer if you want to do some clean work

[Arno (zandink)]

Hi Robin,

I tried installing the drivers using:
ax88179_178a_firmware.tar.xz

The following error followed at the make command:

make
make -C /lib/modules/5.4.0-97-generic/build M=/home/arno/Desktop/startech modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-5.4.0-97-generic'
  CC [M] /home/arno/Desktop/startech/ax88179_178a.o
/home/arno/Desktop/startech/ax88179_178a.c:1030:21: error: ‘dev_get_tstats64’ undeclared here (not in a function); did you mean ‘dev_get_stats’?
 1030 | .ndo_get_stats64 = dev_get_tstats64,
      | ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      | dev_get_stats
make[2]: *** [scripts/Makefile.build:270: /home/arno/Desktop/startech/ax88179_178a.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [Makefile:1762: /home/arno/Desktop/startech] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-5.4.0-97-generic'
make: *** [Makefile:31: default] Error 2

I tried searching for a solution but did not find any at the moment.

[Robin Dekens (robijn17)]

Hi Arno,

please read comment number 5, i posted the answer there.

You can swap out 'dev_get_tstats64' for 'usbnet_get_stats64' again (line 1030).

the 'usbnet_get_stats64' had to be changed out for 21.10 but that might be different for 20.04.
Just revert it back or or use the orignal tarball.

comment 8 has the original firmware from the factory.

[Arno (zandink)]

Hi Robin,

You are correct, when I replace this, I can install this. After updating the kernel and rebooting Ubunut I can bring the network interface up, after running dhclient for this interface I can use internet traffic.

However it looks like I'm unable to enable a VPN connection. This solution looks the same as #1939638 except you don't have to suspend your system to make it work.

I also noticed that the visual part regarding the wired connection is not displayed.

cat /usr/share/gnome/gnome-version.xml
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<gnome-version>
 <platform>3</platform>
 <minor>36</minor>
 <micro>8</micro>
 <distributor>Ubuntu</distributor>
 <!--<date></date>-->
</gnome-version>

[Robin Dekens (robijn17)]

Arno,

Hmm i have no problems regarding the visual part. That might be because i run a different version.
Also i have no problems running a VPN. Currently i have 2 wireguards open and 1 openvpn.

I think its time to bring in a maintainer for kernel modules. Now that we know that there need to be 2 kernel modules for the different disto's. Perhaps this can become a fix.

[Robin Dekens (robijn17)]

I have added Kernel Packages team so they can take a look at it.

[Arno (zandink)]

Another update:

although I can't use the GUI to setup VPN, I was able to setup VPN using cli, currently I do the following to make the interface work again:

sudo ifconfig <id> up
sudo dhclient <id>

After this a IP address is assigned and I can use openvpn via CLI to connect.

ps. Visual network pesentation in GNOME is still not working.

[Alexey (alexey-muranov)]

I have a similar problem. Here are one workaround and one partial solution that i've accidentally discovered.

A workaround: i have a short USB to USB extension cable. If i connect my AX88179 adapter not directly to the port, but through this cable, it works. I suspect this might have to do with USB3 vs USB2 modes, but i do not know.

A partial solution: i've discovered that unplugging the adapter, then executing

    sudo rmmod ax88179_178a

and then plugging it back in make it work without errors.

[Alexey (alexey-muranov)]

After more investigation, the problem seems to be in the module loading order: ax88179_178a has to be loaded after cdc_mbim.

The following commands (as root) fix the problem (until reboot) regardless of the current state:

    rmmod ax88179_178a
    modprobe cdc_mbim
    modprobe ax88179_178a # optional