wifi softblocked atheros ar9285 cannot unblock ideapad z570

[anson]

Binary package hint: gnome-nettool

in my ideapad z570 wifi is working properly in win 7 but not in natty 11.04
anson@anson-Ideapad-Z570:~$ sudo lshw -C network; lsb_release -a; uname -a; rfkill list
  *-network UNCLAIMED
       description: Network controller
       product: AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
       vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
       version: 01
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:f1900000-f190ffff
  *-network
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
       logical name: eth0
       version: 05
       serial: f0:de:f1:49:d7:0a
       size: 100Mbit/s
       capacity: 100Mbit/s
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
       configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=full ip=192.168.1.5 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes port=MII speed=100Mbit/s
       resources: irq:41 ioport:2000(size=256) memory:f1804000-f1804fff memory:f1800000-f1803fff
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 11.04
Release: 11.04
Codename: natty
Linux anson-Ideapad-Z570 2.6.38-8-generic-pae #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 05:17:09 UTC 2011 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
0: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
2: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: no

Please help

[RedSingularity (redsingularity)]

Assigning to the linux kernel.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

I have the exact same model and problem as the OP. FWIW here's output of iwconfig:

$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11bgn ESSID:off/any
          Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=off
          Retry long limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off

ppp0 no wireless extensions.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

Sorry for extra post but forgot to say that Network Manager applet says "wireless disabled by hardware" but in fact the WiFi + Bluetooth switch is on and I am able to use Bluetooth on Natty. On Windows 7 I am able to use WiFi as well.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

Further information:

$ rfkill list all
0: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
3: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: yes
4: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: no
5: hci0: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no

$ lspci -nn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller [8086:0104] (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0116] (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller [0780]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 [8086:1c3a] (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 [8086:1c2d] (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller [8086:1c20] (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 [8086:1c10] (rev b5)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 [8086:1c12] (rev b5)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 [8086:1c16] (rev b5)
00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 [8086:1c26] (rev 05)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation HM65 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller [8086:1c49] (rev 05)
00:1f.2 SATA controller [0106]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family 6 port SATA AHCI Controller [8086:1c03] (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller [8086:1c22] (rev 05)
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) [168c:002b] (rev 01)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 05)

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

Please also note the discussion at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10966083 for various experiments with rfkill and /etc/rc.local etc.

:( :( :(

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

OK guys, I found a workaround by installing an older kernel and removing the ideapad-laptop kernel module. Please see my post http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=10974793&postcount=17 and the following suggestion from Chili at http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=10974793&postcount=18.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

In summary, what needs to be done as a workaround for this bug is:

1. Install the kernel from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.37.6-natty/. I only use 32-bit so haven't tested 64-bit.

2. Add the following lines to /etc/rc.local before the exit 0 line:

modprobe acer_wmi
rmmod -f acer_wmi
rfkill unblock all

3. Reboot into the newly installed kernel.

4. Check the "Enable wireless" box in the NM applet if it is not already automatically checked.

5. Configure your wireless connection options.

Please also note other comments posted at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1787618 (actually the good stuff is on page 2: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1787618&page=2).

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in dianosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 780040

and then change the status of the bug back to 'New'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.23.
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC272 Analog [ALC272 Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: samjnaa 1818 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: samjnaa 1818 F...m pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0xd0600000 irq 43'
   Mixer name : 'Intel CougarPoint HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0272,17aa6016,00100001 HDA:80862805,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 23
   Simple ctrls : 12
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=ba00d992-e43e-4bce-8689-9647370add15
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release i386 (20110427)
MachineType: LENOVO HuronRiver Platform
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 LC_MESSAGES=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=cafbb6db-9f59-44ca-be9a-c289c2005634 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-10.46-generic 2.6.38.7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-2.6.38-10-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-2.6.38-10-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.52
Tags: natty
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-10-generic i686
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare vboxusers
dmi.bios.date: 02/22/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 45CN28WW
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Emerald Lake
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: FAB1
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr45CN28WW:bd02/22/2011:svnLENOVO:pnHuronRiverPlatform:pvrIdeapadZ570:rvnLENOVO:rnEmeraldLake:rvrFAB1:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: HuronRiver Platform
dmi.product.version: Ideapad Z570
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

apport information

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

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[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

apport information

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in dianosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 780040

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

Hello people. Now have added requested information. Further I have now upgraded my kernel to latest 2.6.38-10 and retested the bug by removing the extra lines I added to rc.local.

Apparently the unloading of the wrongfully loaded acer_wmi module is still required (whether on the terminal or via rc.local) but does fix the bug on the new kernel so it is not necessary to go to the mainline 2.6.37-x kernel.

However, obviously the acer_wmi module should not be loaded on a Lenovo IdeaPad laptop so the bug still does exist.

Observe:

[samjnaa:~] uname -r
2.6.38-10-generic
[samjnaa:~] rfkill list all
0: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
2: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
3: hci0: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
4: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
[samjnaa:~] sudo modprobe acer_wmi
[samjnaa:~] sudo rmmod -f acer_wmi
[samjnaa:~] rfkill list all
1: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
2: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
3: hci0: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no
4: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no

Now I throw the wireless switch to off then:

[samjnaa:~] rfkill list all
1: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
2: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
4: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in dianosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 780040

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

Hello -- just yesterday I have done the apport-collect stuff. At that time you had asked us to do it and then change the status to "new" which I did. Now your script again automatically marked it "incomplete" and asks us once more to do apport-collect and then change the status to "confirmed". Please clarify whether you really want us to run apport-collect once more. I have now changed the status to "confirmed" though.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

Now here's something weird. In comment #31 I had reported that by running the 2.6.38-10 Ubuntu repo kernel I had no problems.

Actually it's like this. Once I have booted using the mainline 2.6.37-6 kernel, *then* even if boot using the 2.6.38-10 Ubuntu kernel (but NOT if I do so using the 2.6.38-8 kernel) the wireless is still working. I tested this on another installation of Natty where directly upgrading to the 2.6.38-10 Ubuntu kernel doesn't solve the problem without using the 2.6.37-6 mainline kernel.

Crazy...

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Looks like an acer-wmi issue. Could you try what in the below link and let me know the result please?

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/836865/comments/13

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Please set status to Confirmed once you finish the test. Thanks a lot.

[Shriramana Sharma (jamadagni)]

Hello and thanks for this suggestion, but two questions on your post at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/836865/comments/13:

1. You say to "push the rfkill hotkey several times" -- is the rfkill hotkey the same as the Fn+ sequence on my laptop that is supposed to turn wireless on and off?

2. You say to "try to find out which register tells us the *real* rfkill status" -- what is a "register" in this case?

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Hi,

1. Yes, for ideapad it shall be Fn+F5

2. The command shows you the value of every EC register and updated every one second.

e.g.

        00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 | 08
        __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ | __
00 | 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 | 0
10 | 83 65 78 89 79 0 49 0 | 0
20 | 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0
30 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0
40 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0
50 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0
60 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0

In this example, the value of register 0x12 is 78 and register 0x20 is 50

When you monitor it, press Fn+F5 several times slowly, and see if you can find out the register shows the *real* status of wifi.
e.g. after press Fn+F5, one of the register goes to 1 and when press again, it goes back to 0.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Hi,

I've been told there is a better solution for acer-wmi rfkill issue and have built kernel with the fix.

Please test the kernel (based on natty release) and let me know if the kernel fix this issue or not.

Kernel img is here: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~ikepanhc/lp/836865-2/

Thanks a lot.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

find out needs to cherry-pick another commit.

Rebuild the kernel deb and put them at

 http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/836865-3/

If you have some free time, please remove acer-wmi from blacklist and test the kernel deb.

Thanks a lot

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

For the details, please refer to https://bugs.launchpad.net/linux/+bug/668234/comments/11

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Hi,

The last approach introduce regressions, so I am thinking an alternative approach. Since most of the report is on ideapads or thinkpads, and we have rfkill registered in ideapad-laptop, I think it will be fine not to register acer-wmi rfkill if we find ideapad/thinkpad device in DSDT.

Ref: http://<email address hidden>/msg02788.html

I have made the patch and built the test kernel, but I have no machine to check, could you help me check if this kernel fix this issue?

You can find the kernel at
   http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-5/

This kernel is built as Oneiric (11.10) amd64, if you need the test kernel on other release or arch, please let me know so that I can build for you.

Thanks a lot.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Please hold the test for a while, found out need to cherry-pick another commit

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Ok, Here is the updated test kernel deb built for oneiric amd64

  http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-6/

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Hi,

According to the feedback from upstream maintainer, the patch is revised.

Could you help me testing the revised patch? I've built the a dkms package and put it at

  http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-6/

To install the dkms deb, just use the command `sudo dpkg -i test-dkms_1_all.deb` and please blacklist acer-wmi
Please remember to reboot after installation.

To uninstall the dkms deb, please use the command `sudo dpkg -r test-dkms`

Please attach the output of `rfkill list` and `dmesg`

Ref: http://<email address hidden>/msg02859.html
     http://<email address hidden>/msg02860.html

Thanks a lot.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

The fix[1] has been merged into precise kernel.

[1] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/git?p=ubuntu/ubuntu-precise.git;a=commitdiff;h=13faef3e679243aec5c1e308eba1c70c6c72d055