Networking (wifi) issue on new computer

**varunendra** · February 22nd, 2014

Hmm.. I desperately want to try a few things with the router, but you don't control it

As a recap, does the /etc/rc.local file still contain the change we made to it? (the "iw reg set.." command)

Do you have any other Access-Points, hotspots near you to test the connectivity with? So that we can determine if the problem is related to this specific router or not.

I'm really running out of ideas now and don't have much to try with the system/adapter or the driver(s).

I wouldn't say it a "last" attempt, but for now, let's take a look at the following outputs, when a fresh connection attempt is made but fails (like reboot > disable/enable wifi > retry to connect > then run these commands) -

Code:

dmesg | tail -80
iwconfig
sudo iwlist scan
egrep -v '^#|^$' /etc/rc.local
grep ^options /etc/modprobe.d/*

If none of these could give us any clues, I think I'd need to take a break to collect more powerful weapon(s).

**praseodym** · February 22nd, 2014

You need nameservers for either card:

Code:

echo -e "nameserver 8.8.8.8\nnameserver 8.8.4.4" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf
sudo service network-manager restart

**Zack_Newsham** · February 22nd, 2014

I went back and re-added that line to rc.local, as this is a new installation of ubuntu.

Code:

zacknewsham@zacknewsham-desktop:~$ dmesg | tail -80
[    2.502018] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth0: link is not ready
[    2.504362] fb0: VESA VGA frame buffer device
[    2.842464] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[    2.842831] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[    2.908219] Switched to clocksource tsc
[    3.204600] scsi 8:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Generic  External         2.10 PQ: 0 ANSI: 4
[    3.204809] sd 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
[    3.205020] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] 3907029168 512-byte logical blocks: (2.00 TB/1.81 TiB)
[    3.205549] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
[    3.205552] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 21 00 00 00
[    3.207104] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] No Caching mode page found
[    3.207107] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
[    3.208488] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] No Caching mode page found
[    3.208491] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
[    3.208787]  sdc: sdc1 sdc2 sdc3
[    3.210336] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] No Caching mode page found
[    3.210339] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
[    3.210342] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI disk
[    5.234153] wlan0: authenticate with 94:44:52:42:eb:a6
[    7.883388] ------------[ cut here ]------------
[    7.883418] WARNING: CPU: 5 PID: 0 at /build/buildd/linux-lts-saucy-3.11.0/net/sched/sch_generic.c:260 dev_watchdog+0x262/0x270()
[    7.883423] NETDEV WATCHDOG: eth1 (ipheth): transmit queue 0 timed out
[    7.883426] Modules linked in: vesafb(F) joydev snd_hda_codec_hdmi hid_logitech_dj ipheth snd_hda_codec_realtek mxm_wmi snd_hda_intel snd_hda_codec snd_hwdep snd_pcm arc4 rtl8192ce(OF) rtl8192c_common(OF) rtl_pci(OF) snd_seq_midi rtlwifi(OF) snd_rawmidi mac80211(OF) psmouse snd_seq_midi_event usbhid usb_storage hid serio_raw cfg80211(OF) sp5100_tco snd_seq fam15h_power wmi radeon edac_core snd_timer edac_mce_amd k10temp snd_seq_device i2c_piix4 rfcomm compat(OF) bnep snd ttm bluetooth soundcore drm_kms_helper snd_page_alloc drm parport_pc i2c_algo_bit ppdev mac_hid lp parport pata_acpi firewire_ohci firewire_core crc_itu_t r8169 pata_atiixp mii ahci libahci
[    7.883476] CPU: 5 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/5 Tainted: GF          O 3.11.0-15-generic #25~precise1-Ubuntu
[    7.883477] Hardware name: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. To be filled by O.E.M./990FXA-UD3, BIOS F2 07/15/2013
[    7.883479]  0000000000000104 ffff88044ed43cf0 ffffffff8173bc5e 0000000000002a10
[    7.883482]  ffff88044ed43d40 ffff88044ed43d30 ffffffff810653ac ffff88043448a000
[    7.883484]  ffff880438748000 0000000000000000 0000000000000001 0000000000000005
[    7.883487] Call Trace:
[    7.883488]  <IRQ>  [<ffffffff8173bc5e>] dump_stack+0x46/0x58
[    7.883496]  [<ffffffff810653ac>] warn_slowpath_common+0x8c/0xc0
[    7.883498]  [<ffffffff81065496>] warn_slowpath_fmt+0x46/0x50
[    7.883501]  [<ffffffff81658472>] dev_watchdog+0x262/0x270
[    7.883503]  [<ffffffff81658210>] ? pfifo_fast_dequeue+0xe0/0xe0
[    7.883507]  [<ffffffff81072696>] call_timer_fn+0x46/0x160
[    7.883509]  [<ffffffff81073857>] run_timer_softirq+0x267/0x2c0
[    7.883511]  [<ffffffff8108bf09>] ? enqueue_hrtimer+0x39/0xc0
[    7.883514]  [<ffffffff8101b569>] ? read_tsc+0x9/0x20
[    7.883516]  [<ffffffff81658210>] ? pfifo_fast_dequeue+0xe0/0xe0
[    7.883519]  [<ffffffff81042ffd>] ? lapic_next_event+0x1d/0x30
[    7.883521]  [<ffffffff8106a520>] __do_softirq+0xe0/0x280
[    7.883524]  [<ffffffff8175239c>] call_softirq+0x1c/0x30
[    7.883527]  [<ffffffff81015e35>] do_softirq+0x65/0xa0
[    7.883529]  [<ffffffff8106a83e>] irq_exit+0x9e/0xc0
[    7.883531]  [<ffffffff81752d6a>] smp_apic_timer_interrupt+0x4a/0x60
[    7.883534]  [<ffffffff817516dd>] apic_timer_interrupt+0x6d/0x80
[    7.883535]  <EOI>  [<ffffffff8101bbf3>] ? native_sched_clock+0x13/0x80
[    7.883541]  [<ffffffff815e5aae>] ? cpuidle_enter_state+0x5e/0xe0
[    7.883542]  [<ffffffff815e5aa7>] ? cpuidle_enter_state+0x57/0xe0
[    7.883544]  [<ffffffff815e5bf0>] cpuidle_idle_call+0xc0/0x220
[    7.883547]  [<ffffffff8101d0ee>] arch_cpu_idle+0xe/0x30
[    7.883549]  [<ffffffff810ba768>] cpu_idle_loop+0x98/0x260
[    7.883552]  [<ffffffff810ba99b>] cpu_startup_entry+0x6b/0x70
[    7.883555]  [<ffffffff81042038>] start_secondary+0xc8/0xd0
[    7.883557] ---[ end trace 2ae2c05f7c9425cd ]---
[    7.883560] ipheth 8-1.1:4.2: ipheth_tx_timeout: TX timeout
[   10.058999] wlan0: direct probe to 94:44:52:42:eb:a6 (try 1/3)
[   10.260986] wlan0: direct probe to 94:44:52:42:eb:a6 (try 2/3)
[   10.465040] wlan0: direct probe to 94:44:52:42:eb:a6 (try 3/3)
[   10.669251] wlan0: authentication with 94:44:52:42:eb:a6 timed out
[   10.935264] usb 8-1.3: reset high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[   10.949972] xhci_hcd 0000:02:00.0: xHCI xhci_drop_endpoint called with disabled ep ffff880433f61c80
[   10.949975] xhci_hcd 0000:02:00.0: xHCI xhci_drop_endpoint called with disabled ep ffff880433f61cc0
[   11.541049] hfsplus: write access to a journaled filesystem is not supported, use the force option at your own risk, mounting read-only.
[   11.542063] EXT4-fs (sdc3): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: (null)
[   11.677657] FAT-fs (sdc1): Volume was not properly unmounted. Some data may be corrupt. Please run fsck.
[   15.064118] wlan0: deauthenticating from 94:44:52:42:eb:a6 by local choice (reason=3)
[   22.451298] audit_printk_skb: 156 callbacks suppressed
[   22.451302] type=1400 audit(1393081402.683:63): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" parent=1 profile="/usr/lib/telepathy/mission-control-5" name="/usr/share/gvfs/remote-volume-monitors/" pid=2477 comm="mission-control" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1000 ouid=0
[  288.348172] Loading modules backported from Linux version v3.12.8-0-g97f15f1
[  288.348179] Backport generated by backports.git v3.12.8-1-0-geb41fad
[  288.359810] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
[  288.366471] rtl8192ce:_rtl92ce_read_chip_version():<0-0> Chip Version ID: B_CHIP_88C
[  288.377230] rtl8192ce: rtl8192ce: Power Save off (module option)
[  288.377233] rtl8192ce: rtl8192ce: FW Power Save off (module option)
[  288.377243] rtl8192ce: Using firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cfw.bin
[  288.377413] ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'rtl_rc'
[  288.377599] rtlwifi: wireless switch is on
[  288.722490] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[  288.723027] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
zacknewsham@zacknewsham-desktop:~$ iwconfig
eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth1      no wireless extensions.

lo        no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11bgn  ESSID:off/any  
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr=2347 B   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          
zacknewsham@zacknewsham-desktop:~$ sudo iwlist scan
eth0      Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth1      Interface doesn't support scanning.

lo        Interface doesn't support scanning.

wlan0     No scan results

zacknewsham@zacknewsham-desktop:~$ egrep -v '^#|^$' /etc/rc.local
iw reg set CA
exit 0
zacknewsham@zacknewsham-desktop:~$ grep ^options /etc/modprobe.d/*
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options bt87x index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options cx88_alsa index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options saa7134-alsa index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-atiixp-modem index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-intel8x0m index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-via82xx-modem index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-usb-audio index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-usb-caiaq index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-usb-ua101 index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-usb-us122l index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-usb-usx2y index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-cmipci mpu_port=0x330 fm_port=0x388
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-pcsp index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:options snd-usb-audio index=-2
/etc/modprobe.d/vmwgfx-fbdev.conf:options vmwgfx enable_fbdev=1

**Zack_Newsham** · February 24th, 2014

Alrighty chaps - it lives!

I decided it couldnt be a software problem, so I looked into what else it could be, we ruled out the card itself, which only really left the motherboard, by performing this search: "Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 network problems" I came across a link which seemed to describe my problems to a T - including the USB ports. http://askubuntu.com/questions/27678...k-and-usb-dont

After enabling the required IOMMU setting in the BIOS my wifi card magically worked - HUZZAR. Although, it seems I lost access to my front panel USB ports. This is something I can live with. Thanks for all your help!

**Bucky Ball** · February 24th, 2014

Great news. Please mark the thread as solved to help others. Cheers.

**varunendra** · February 24th, 2014

Originally Posted by Zack_Newsham

After enabling the required IOMMU setting in the BIOS my wifi card magically worked - HUZZAR. Although, it seems I lost access to my front panel USB ports.

Hmm.. I think I'm not going to forget this name now - IOMMU.

Just yesterday we were discussing about it on IRC, where I heard about it for the first time (which makes me realize how much I have lost the touch with concurrent tech topics). It seems most people need to turn it Off to make things work, but evidently it was the opposite in your case which is not unusual either.

In any case, it is a problem in certain motherboards, probably Gigabyte being on top, if not alone in the list. It is not a problematic technology itself, only its implementation in the BIOS of such motherboards is non-standard and buggy. Perhaps manufacturers love 'Patches over Patches' instead of standardizing things, even if it is only going to cost them once and not too much (in re-writing the BIOS and testing it).

Anyway, I'm glad you went ahead and found the culprit yourself. Thank you so much for the feedback, it is certainly a very valuable addition to our knowledge bank !

Please mark the thread as [SOLVED] as BB requested (by using the "Thread Tools" link above the top post on the page) to make it more useful to others.

**Bucky Ball** · February 24th, 2014

PS: Marking as solved doesn't close the thread, and often the conversation becomes quite interesting post fix, just means others can more easily find a fix if they're in the same place as you were.