[STAGING] Realtek 8172 wifi driver does not work with lucid 2.6.32-21-generic kernel, does work with out-of-tree driver

[Nathaniel Smith]

I'm running a 32-bit lucid kernel:

    Linux sabriel 2.6.32-21-generic #32-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 16 08:10:02 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux

on a Thinkpad X100e with a Realtek 8172 wifi card:

  03:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device 8172 (rev 10)

This kernel seems to include two difference copies of the driver for this card, at
  /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/ubuntu/rtl8192se/r8192se_pci.ko
  /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/staging/rtl8192e/r8192_pci.ko
However, I tried both of them (with 'modprobe -r r8192se_pci && insmod <full path>/r8192_pci.ko'), and they both give the same, non-functional behavior. The kernel log gets many lines like:

[ 437.951400] rtllib_crypt: registered algorithm 'NULL'
[ 437.951413] rtllib_crypt: registered algorithm 'TKIP'
[ 437.951418] rtllib_crypt: registered algorithm 'CCMP'
[ 437.951423] rtllib_crypt: registered algorithm 'WEP'
[ 437.951427]
[ 437.951429] Linux kernel driver for RTL8192 based WLAN cards
[ 437.951433] Copyright (c) 2007-2008, Realsil Wlan Driver
[ 437.951893] rtl819xSE 0000:03:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
[ 437.951955] rtl819xSE 0000:03:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 437.954199] Adapter(8192SE) is found - DeviceID=8172
[ 438.018426] rtl819xSE 0000:03:00.0: firmware: requesting RTL8192SE/rtl8192sfw.bin
[ 438.134465] rtl8192_SetWirelessMode(), wireless_mode:10, bEnableHT = 1
[ 438.144810] ===>rtllib_start_scan()
[ 438.154012] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 445.144113] ----------->rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 445.144123] FW Scan long time without stop, stop hw scan
[ 445.145134] <-----------rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 452.168076] ----------->rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 452.168086] FW Scan long time without stop, stop hw scan
[ 452.169100] <-----------rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 459.168105] ----------->rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 459.168110] FW Scan long time without stop, stop hw scan
[ 459.169112] <-----------rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 465.366543] rtl8192_SetWirelessMode(), wireless_mode:10, bEnableHT = 1
[ 472.376110] ----------->rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 472.376121] FW Scan long time without stop, stop hw scan
[ 472.377132] <-----------rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 495.368532] rtl8192_SetWirelessMode(), wireless_mode:10, bEnableHT = 1
[ 502.380080] ----------->rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()
[ 502.380090] FW Scan long time without stop, stop hw scan
[ 502.381101] <-----------rtl8192se_check_hw_scan()

And I am unable to see any networks to connect to.

However, if I download RealTek's release of this driver called 'rtl8192se_linux_2.6.0015.0127.2010.tar.gz' available here: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=21&PFid=48&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true#2302

Then untar, run 'make', and then 'insmod HAL/rtl8192/r8192se_pci.ko', and I get working wireless (which I'm using to file this bug right now).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: linux-image-2.6.32-21-generic 2.6.32-21.32
Regression: No
Reproducible: No
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-21.32-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-21-generic i686
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.21.
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: njs 1306 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'SB'/'HDA ATI SB at 0xd0600000 irq 16'
   Mixer name : 'Conexant CX20582 (Pebble)'
   Components : 'HDA:14f15066,17aa21b2,00100301'
   Controls : 12
   Simple ctrls : 10
Date: Sun Apr 18 13:41:40 2010
Frequency: Once a day.
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=f8fb1d09-67fb-4bd6-9991-9cbf825f8660
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
MachineType: LENOVO 350828U
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=3381ac69-a9f2-4a38-9e27-750f416e3e6a ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
RelatedPackageVersions: linux-firmware 1.34
RfKill:

SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: r8192_pci
Title: [STAGING]
dmi.bios.date: 12/18/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 6XET21WW (1.04 )
dmi.board.name: INVALID
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr6XET21WW(1.04):bd12/18/2009:svnLENOVO:pn350828U:pvrThinkPadX100e:rvnLENOVO:rnINVALID:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 350828U
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X100e
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

Hi Nathaniel,

If you could also please 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. Please let us know your results.

Thanks in advance.

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