[ThinkPad Edge E520] Wireless is always soft-blocked

[Marc Legris]

Attempting to use the wireless connection on this laptops does not seem to be possible. Wireless networks do not show up in network manager and rfkill always reports wifi as being soft-blocked. There is no wifi slider on this system and the wireless hotkey seems to do nothing.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: linux-image-3.0.0-8-generic 3.0.0-8.10
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-8.10-generic 3.0.1
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-8-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ubuntu 1072 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0x92600000 irq 43'
   Mixer name : 'Intel CougarPoint HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:14f1506e,17aa21e2,00100000 HDA:80862805,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 12
   Simple ctrls : 6
Card29.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:29 'ThinkPadEC'/'ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30, fw unknown'
   Mixer name : 'ThinkPad EC (unknown)'
   Components : ''
   Controls : 1
   Simple ctrls : 1
Card29.Amixer.values:
 Simple mixer control 'Console',0
   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
   Playback channels: Mono
   Mono: Playback [on]
Date: Mon Aug 15 10:41:28 2011
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=a6b46085-81aa-4133-aaed-b705db9d8314
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Alpha i386 (20110812)
IwConfig:
 lo no wireless extensions.

 eth0 no wireless extensions.
Lsusb:
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
MachineType: LENOVO 114320U
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-8-generic root=UUID=3ab4d725-3394-410b-b281-cbcb3204e9c6 ro rootdelay=60 quiet splash initcall_debug vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.0.0-8-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.0.0-8-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.59
RfKill:
 0: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: yes
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: mei
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/17/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 8HET26WW(1.08)
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 114320U
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:bvr8HET26WW(1.08):bd03/17/2011:svnLENOVO:pn114320U:pvrThinkPadE520:rvnLENOVO:rn114320U:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 114320U
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad E520
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Seth Forshee (sforshee)]

Marc: Does 'rfkill unblock all' remove the soft block? Can you also try running input-events on the hotkey and keyboard input device to see whether any key events are emitted?

[Bryan Wu (cooloney)]

Marc,

Still need you provide more information for us to debug.

Thanks,
-Bryan

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Seth: 'rfkill unblock all' does not remove the soft block. I should note that the wireless key is a normal key and does not need to be used at the same time as the function key. Key events are generated when the key is pressed by xev and 'input-events 5'

[Manoj Iyer (manjo)]

From your logs I can see

RfKill:
 0: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: yes
  Hard blocked: no

Can you please do the following and report here if this fixes the issue?

sudo rmmod -f acer_wmi
sudo rfkill unblock all

Also blacklist acer_wmi as root

echo "blacklist acer_wmi" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Looks like same issue of bug 836865 which is filed based on Natty release.

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Manjo, that seems to have fixed the issue.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Status update,

We have patches[1] which may fix this problem

[1] http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-3/0001-acer-wmi-check-wireless-capability-flag-before-regis.patch
      http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-3/0002-acer-wmi-check-wireless-capability-on-AMW0_GUID2-mac.patch

But the patch seems also introducing another regression[2] that the hard block of phy0 is incorrect.

[2] https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/668234/comments/12
      https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/875659/comments/33

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Talked to upstream maintainer, we would like to confirm this is the patch which introduce the phy0 rfkill regression.

Please help me with the following test.

1. Install kernel debs at http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-3/
2. Reboot to use the new kernel deb
3. Test and see if the wifi works
4. Attach the output of `dmesg` and `rfkill list`

And repeat the above process with kernel debs at http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-4/

Thanks a lot.

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Ike, the kernel debs are in 64 bit, but we certify on 32 bit. Can you make a 32 bit version?

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Here you are.

  http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-2/

Please help me with the following test.

1. Install kernel debs at above link
2. Reboot to use the new kernel deb
3. Test and see if the wifi works
4. Attach the output of `dmesg` and `rfkill list`

If there are physical wireless switch, please try to turn off, record the output of `rfkill list`, then turn on, record the output of `rfkill list` and see if the wifi works

And then please blacklist acer-wmi, reboot. and test the wireless and attach the output of `dmesg` and `rfkill list`.

Please keep physical wireless switch as on when booting the system.

Thanks.

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Ike,

After step 4, and after blacklisting acer-wmi, rfkill list did not actually output anything. I also tried to install the broadcom driver through jockey and installation failed. FYI: There is no physical wireless switch on this system.

[Gints Turlajs (gints-7)]

Yes, I can confirm that wireless is not working on my Thinkpad E520 either. I downloaded the patch, however, it is unclear to me what to do with it, it is a text message file with piece of code in it. Will it work if I install an older version of linux?

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

@Gints,

What release you using? If you use Oneiric, you may use the kernel at http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-2/

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Hi Marc, Gints,

We have new oneiric-update kernel so I rebuild the kernel based on lastest update tag (Ubuntu-3.0.0-14.23)

You may find the kernel debs at http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-3/

Please help me with the test:

  1. Have a clean install Ubuntu oneiric
  2. Install broadcom driver through jockey
  3. Install kernel debs at above link
  4. Reboot to use the new kernel deb
  5. Test and see if the wifi works
  6. Attach the output of `dmesg` and `rfkill list`

If the wifi does not work, Please blacklist acer-wmi and repeat 4-6 again.

Thanks a lot.

[Merle Hall (mghall)]

I've been watching this thread as well as #836865, with interest because I have an E420 with the same issue. I finally just did the recommended steps to blacklist the acer_wmi and forgot about it.

But I dual-boot this machine and a Lenovo update prompted me to update the BIOS. While reading the BIOS update page - http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS014906 - I noticed this statement which applies to both the E420 and the E520:

    (Fix) Fix an issue of wireless network to load unexpected Acer driver.

Since I did update the BIOS, if you think this is relevant and can tell me how to undo the rmmod rfkill blacklist steps so I can test it, I'll be happy to.

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Ike,

Installed your kernel, but still was not able to get wifi functionality. Blacklisting acer_wmi did not return functionality as well. rfkill list did show the soft-block before installing the kernel, but afterwards it was always blank.

1.08 is the current BIOS for this system, and looks like there is an update to 1.09. If you like, I can update this system.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Thanks Marc,

Looks like this approach also introduces regression..

I will report this to mainainers and seek for other way to fix this.

[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/826784-4/

This kernel is built as oneiric i386

Thanks a lot.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Need to cherry-pick another commit

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Ok, kernel deb is ready at

 http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-5/

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Ike,

The latest kernel still is not working correctly, wifi access is not available. rfkill is blank, blacklist acer_wmi does not work, and installing the broadcom driver fails through jockey.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Hi Marc,

dmesg checked. Looks like it recorded with acer-wmi blacklisted.

Could you use the same kernel[1] and follow the procedure to test please?

1. Install Oneiric
2. Use jockey to install broadcom driver
3. Install kernel at http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-5/
4. Reboot
5. Test the AP scanning
6. Attach `dmesg` and `rfkill list`

Thanks a lot.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Hi Marc,

Could you *also* try another test?

I build an dkms package with acer-wmi and put at http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-6/
This is not the upstream acer-wmi, not backport one.

Please

 1. Install Oneiric
 2. Use jockey to install broadcom driver
 3. Install the deb in the link
 4. Reboot
 5. Test the AP scanning
 6. Attach `dmesg` and `rfkill list`

Thanks a lot.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Ike,

Looks like the kernel in comment #26 causes acer_wmi to be used for wireless rather then the broadcom one.

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Ike,

For comment #27, jockey now shows the broadcom and acer wmi driver activated and in use. I cannot scan for APs and rfkill still shows the soft block (same as comment #26).

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Thanks Marc,

I find the reason. I've not changed the module name, so the original acer-wmi is still loaded and block the wireless.

Please try acer-wmi-dkms_1_all.deb at

  http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-7/

Here is the procedure:

 1. Install Oneiric
 2. Use jockey to install broadcom driver
 3. Install the deb in the link
 4. Reboot
 5. Test the AP scanning
 6. Attach `dmesg` and `rfkill list`

Thanks a lot.

[Marc Legris (maaarc-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Still not seeing wireless connectivity, rfkill is blank

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

Reviewed the dmesg everything looks fine. rfkill entry is gone and no longer block wireless.

The patch is tested on LKML[1] and so far seems everyone is happy with it. I will backport this patch to oneiric/precise after merged into Linus' kernel.

The problem is not totally solved. Wireless connectivity is still not available. Possible reason is EC still remember that soft block on wireless. Since acer-wmi and thinkpad-acpi do not have wireless capability, there is no way to unblock it.

One possible way to unblock it is to remove the battery/AC for 30min and reset BIOS to factory default.

[1] http://<email address hidden>/msg02865.html
    http://<email address hidden>/msg02872.html

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

The fix has been merged into upstream kernel.

  http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git;a=commit;h=461e74377cfcfc2c0d6bbdfa8fc5fbc21b052c2a

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

This fix is already in stable-3.0 and stable-3.2 queue.

http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git;a=commit;h=3181903c5bb7ddcd83e02bc4ef57e8545d7b3574

http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git;a=commit;h=0f716f1c764f60563f4adaa279f798654b3fdf95

[James M. Leddy (jm-leddy)]

Hello Ike,

Has this been posted to the Oneiric or Precise tree yet?

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The patch Ike noted in comment #36 included in the upstream v3.2.12 release and subsequently included in the 3.2.0-19.31 ubuntu kernel upload for Precise. I'm therefore marking the Precise linux task as Fix Released. Thanks.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

and this patch shall be in Oneiric in next SRU cycle.

[Ike Panhc (ikepanhc)]

This patch has been in oneiric kernel after 3.0.0-18.31
The lastest oneiric-update kernel is 3.0.0-17.30 so the patch will land on oneiric after this SRU cycle end