network-manager doesn't work with broadcom bcm 43225

[eric]

Binary package hint: network-manager

I am using an acer 1830t which works with a broadcom wifi bcm 43225.
After installing natty, you must install binary driver from broadcom.
It seems that NM doesn't work with the binary driver.

Installing wicd will make wifi work so that it doesn't seem to be a driver problem.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: network-manager 0.8.4~git.20110319t175609.d14809b-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-genUser Name 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] Aucun fichier ou dossier de ce type
Date: Wed Apr 20 13:45:52 2011
Gconf:

IfupdownConfig:
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Beta amd64 (20110419)
IpRoute:
 192.168.0.0/24 dev eth1 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.0.113
 default via 192.168.0.254 dev eth1
Keyfiles: Error: [Errno 2] Aucun fichier ou dossier de ce type
NetworkManager.state:
 [main]
 NetworkingEnabled=true
 WirelessEnabled=true
 WWANEnabled=true
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=fr_FR:en
 LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: network-manager
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Ondrej Certik (ondrej-certik)]

I have 1830T and I can confirm, that the network-manager in the default Natty installation does not work (it doesn't see any wifi spots). I have removed network-manager and installed wicd, and things started to work just fine. I didn't install any other drivers, than the default ones in Natty.

[Wladimir Mutel (mwg)]

Yes, this bug is very close to my own, lp:689529
I mostly managed to get wifi working with native brcm80211 driver included since kernel 2.6.38
(it had some problems with wifi AP setups different from my own,
but I still did not have to install Broadcom's proprietary wl/sta driver)
I still use wicd to bring the wifi network up.
I suspect NM sees this device as 'WWAN' instead of WLAN and so does not know what to do with it next.

[eric (obrowny06)]

I managed to get wifi work with :

sudo modprobe -r acer-wmi

Then to blacklist the acer-wmi module on startup you have to do this in your terminal :

cd /etc/modprobe.d
sudo gedit blacklist.conf

and create a new line at the end of the file with :

blacklist acer-wmi

record and exit.

It is not working perfectly for me as it is sometimes connected but not working and I must diconnect and reconnect several times to make it work.

This is very annoying to not get wifi working properly on a notebook.

[Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox)]

Since it can be "fixed" by fiddling around with acer-wmi and such drivers, reassigning to 'linux'. This must be a race of some sort.

[Wladimir Mutel (mwg)]

Blacklisting acer_wmi helped me with my Acer 1830T as well. Thanks !

[quent57 (quent57)]

The wifi work also with connam and indicator-network.

And same behaviour : it's like the wifi hardware go to sleep after 30 seconds idle.
I have to deconnect et reconnect to get wifi working fine.

[eric (obrowny06)]

For me Conman works only if I blacklist acer-wmi and and then run a sudo iwlist scan.
Then for the time being (1 hour) I didn't get any disconnection.

[eric (obrowny06)]

It seems that someone found a solution :
With wicd and Connman it was not working fine either
With former bcm driver or without driver as well.

So after having blacklisted acer-wmi as explained, go to applications on startup and untick bluetooth...
Then restart.
You don't have bluetooth anymore but wifi works well.

Someone said that reactivating bluetooth later on, wifi was still working.

Please test and give feedback.
thanks

[Julian Wiedmann (jwiedmann)]

obrowny (and anyone else affected),
could you update your kernel to 2.6.38-11.48 and test whether blacklisting acer_wmi is still required?

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

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

apport-collect 767082

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.

[eric (obrowny06)]

Sorry for answering late (holidays :-) )
Upgrading to 2.6.38-11.48, doesn't need to blacklist acer-wmi anymore.
concerning broadcom, I have changed my wifi card with an intel one so I can't tell if it is working better with acer-wmi enabled.