Wireless LAN dropped out--IS IT WORN OUT?

Question

I've been synching the full bitcoin blockchain from scratch and my puter has been running day and night for the past week or so to catch up with 9 years and 18 weeks of blocks.

I got to within 15 weeks or 90.1% of complete synchronization (168 GB of download) when it appears my wireless card has given up the ghost.

I'm running Ubuntu 17.10 and this was the output of ifconfig a couple of weeks ago:

snerx@snerx:~$ ifconfig
enp2s0    Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 94:57:a5:d6:e5:cb  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:65536  Metric:1
          RX packets:3705 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:3705 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:283781 (283.7 KB)  TX bytes:283781 (283.7 KB)

wlp3s0    Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 60:6d:c7:c8:95:ff  
          inet addr:192.168.1.14  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::6502:ea3a:72:87d7/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:19978 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:6440
          TX packets:15558 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:20485773 (20.4 MB)  TX bytes:2341162 (2.3 MB)
          Interrupt:19

This is the output after the dropout:

snerx@snerx:~$ ifconfig
lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING>  mtu 65536
        inet 127.0.0.1  netmask 255.0.0.0
        inet6 ::1  prefixlen 128  scopeid 0x10<host>
        loop  txqueuelen 1000  (Local Loopback)
        RX packets 3796  bytes 229996 (229.9 KB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 3796  bytes 229996 (229.9 KB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 0 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

snerx@snerx:~$ ifconfig enp2s0
enp2s0: error fetching interface information: Device not found
snerx@snerx:~$ ifconfig wlp3s0
wlp3s0: error fetching interface information: Device not found
snerx@snerx:~$

Am I right in thinking the network card is stuffed and that it needs to be replaced? I'm running an HP 20-e022a.

On the recommendation of @chili555 I've run the wireless-info script written by Wild Man and Krytarik. Here is the output:

########## wireless info START ##########

Report from: 23 May 2018 10:53 AEST +1000

Booted last: 23 May 2018 00:00 AEST +1000

Script from: 10 Jan 2018 20:04 UTC +0000

##### release ###########################

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 17.10
Release:    17.10
Codename:   artful

##### kernel ############################

Linux 4.13.0-43-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Wed May 16 12:18:48 UTC 2018 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Parameters: ro, quiet, splash

##### desktop ###########################

/usr/share/xsessions/plasma

##### lspci #############################

02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 07)
    Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller [103c:2b5a]

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Limited BCM43142 802.11b/g/n [14e4:4365] (rev 01)
    Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company BCM43142 802.11b/g/n [103c:804a]
    Kernel modules: wl

##### lsusb #############################

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0a5c:216d Broadcom Corp.
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 0bda:0129 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTS5129 Card Reader Controller
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 05c8:0229 Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd (Foxlink)
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 013: ID 058f:6387 Alcor Micro Corp. Flash Drive
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 0461:4d0f Primax Electronics, Ltd HP Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 045e:07b6 Microsoft Corp.
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

##### PCMCIA card info ##################

##### rfkill ############################

##### lsmod #############################

##### interfaces ########################

[/etc/network/interfaces]
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

##### ifconfig ##########################

lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING>  mtu 65536
        inet 127.0.0.1  netmask 255.0.0.0
        inet6 ::1  prefixlen 128  scopeid 0x10<host>
        loop  txqueuelen 1000  (Local Loopback)
        RX packets 25324  bytes 1522196 (1.5 MB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 25324  bytes 1522196 (1.5 MB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 0 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

##### iwconfig ##########################

lo        no wireless extensions.

##### route #############################

Kernel IP routing table
Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags Metric Ref    Use Iface

##### resolv.conf #######################

nameserver 127.0.0.53

##### network managers ##################

Installed:

    NetworkManager

Running:

root       810     1  0 08:16 ?        00:00:02 /usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon

##### NetworkManager info ###############

##### NetworkManager.state ##############

[main]
NetworkingEnabled=true
WirelessEnabled=true
WWANEnabled=false

##### NetworkManager.conf ###############

[main]
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile

[ifupdown]
managed=false

[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no

##### NetworkManager profiles ###########

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Puxtor-primary]] (600 root)
[connection] id=Puxtor-primary | type=wifi | permissions=user:snerx:;
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=Puxtor-primary
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/OPTUSVD388A730 1]] (600 root)
[connection] id=OPTUSVD388A730 1 | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=OPTUSVD388A730
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/holodeck]] (600 root)
[connection] id=holodeck | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=holodeck
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/holodeck-bb8a128e-2899-48ec-a7b6-053ddd8e69c8]] (600 root)
[connection] id=holodeck | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=holodeck
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/OPTUSVD388A730]] (600 root)
[connection] id=OPTUSVD388A730 | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=OPTUSVD388A730
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/iiNetB29095]] (600 root)
[connection] id=iiNetB29095 | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=iiNetB29095
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/WiFi-4VCH]] (600 root)
[connection] id=WiFi-4VCH | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=WiFi-4VCH
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/TPG-*******]] (600 root)
[connection] id=TPG-******* | type=wifi | permissions=user:snerx:;
[wifi] bssid=<MAC address> | mac-address=60:6D:C7:C8:95:FF | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=TPG-*******
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=ignore

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Fon WiFi]] (600 root)
[connection] id=Fon WiFi | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=Fon WiFi
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Telstra Air]] (600 root)
[connection] id=Telstra Air | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=Telstra Air
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Telstra7301E3]] (600 root)
[connection] id=Telstra7301E3 | type=wifi | permissions=
[wifi] mac-address=<MAC address> | mac-address-blacklist= | ssid=Telstra7301E3
[ipv4] method=auto
[ipv6] method=auto

##### Netplan config ####################

##### iw reg get ########################

nl80211 not found.

##### iwlist channels ###################

lo        no frequency information.

##### iwlist scan #######################

lo        Interface doesn't support scanning.

##### module infos ######################

##### module parameters #################

##### /etc/modules ######################

##### modprobe options ##################

[/etc/modprobe.d/amd64-microcode-blacklist.conf]
blacklist microcode

[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ath_pci.conf]
blacklist ath_pci

[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf]
blacklist b43
blacklist b43legacy
blacklist ssb
blacklist bcm43xx
blacklist brcm80211
blacklist brcmfmac
blacklist brcmsmac
blacklist bcma

[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf]
blacklist evbug
blacklist usbmouse
blacklist usbkbd
blacklist eepro100
blacklist de4x5
blacklist eth1394
blacklist snd_intel8x0m
blacklist snd_aw2
blacklist i2c_i801
blacklist prism54
blacklist bcm43xx
blacklist garmin_gps
blacklist asus_acpi
blacklist snd_pcsp
blacklist pcspkr
blacklist amd76x_edac

[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rare-network.conf]
alias net-pf-3 off
alias net-pf-6 off
alias net-pf-9 off
alias net-pf-11 off
alias net-pf-12 off
alias net-pf-19 off
alias net-pf-21 off
alias net-pf-36 off

[/etc/modprobe.d/intel-microcode-blacklist.conf]
blacklist microcode

[/etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf]
options iwlwifi 11n_disable=8

[/etc/modprobe.d/mlx4.conf]
softdep mlx4_core post: mlx4_en

[/etc/modprobe.d/network_drivers.conf]
install rt2800usb /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install rt2800usb $CMDLINE_OPTS; /bin/echo "2001 3c25" > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/rt2800usb/new_id

##### rc.local ##########################

grep: /etc/rc.local: No such file or directory

##### pm-utils ##########################

##### udev rules ########################

##### dmesg #############################

########## wireless info END ############

That doesn't make too much sense to me but wiser heads may be able to tell me what may be the problem...

I ran the following command and got nothing really:

snerx@snerx:~/Desktop/wireless-info$ sudo modprobe wl && dmesg | grep wl  
[sudo] password for snerx:  
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'wl': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg) 
snerx@snerx:~/Desktop/wireless-info$

And I'll add this for good measure:

snerx@snerx:~$ sudo lshw -C network
  *-network UNCLAIMED       
       description: Ethernet controller
       product: RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
       version: 07
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: ioport:e000(size=256) memory:81300000-81300fff memory:a0000000-a0003fff
  *-network UNCLAIMED
       description: Network controller
       product: BCM43142 802.11b/g/n
       vendor: Broadcom Limited
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
       version: 01
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:81200000-81207fff
snerx@snerx:~$

And this:

snerx@snerx:~$ lspci -nn | grep -i network
03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Limited BCM43142 802.11b/g/n [14e4:4365] (rev 01)
snerx@snerx:~$

I think this might be relevant:

snerx@snerx:~$ sudo iw reg get
n180211 not found.
snerx@snerx:~$

I doubt that it is stuffed. Let's have a look at the full diagnostics: https://askubuntu.com/questions/425155/my-wireless-wifi-connection-does-not-work-what-information-is-needed-to-diagnos/425180#425180 Welcome to Ask Ubuntu. — chili555, May 23 '18 at 00:14
Thanks @chili555. I copied the wireless-info script onto a USB and ran it on my Ubuntu machine and the output is copied above. — ThorF, May 23 '18 at 01:13
Please run: sudo modprobe wl && dmesg | grep wl and edit your question to add the result. — chili555, May 23 '18 at 01:25
Wow! You have no drivers at all for either ethernet or wireless. If you interrupt the boot process and get to the GRUB menu, can you boot into an earlier kernel version than 4.13.0-43 and does everything work? — chili555, May 23 '18 at 13:13
Well I be damned if that didn't work! I fired up Ubuntu with kernel version 4.13.0-41-generic and Wifi is up and running again. Thanks for your help Chili555. — ThorF, May 23 '18 at 22:38

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 30 '18 at 09:08

0

I suggest that you reinstall the faulty 4.13.0-43 kernel and associated parts. From the terminal:

sudo apt install --reinstall linux-image-4.13.0-43-generic
sudo apt install --reinstall linux-headers-4.13.0-43-generic

Reboot.

EDIT: Next, reinstall the driver. While booted into x.41 where you have internet access, open a terminal and do:

cd ~/Desktop
wget http://mirrors.kernel.org/ubuntu/pool/restricted/b/bcmwl/bcmwl-kernel-source_6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubuntu3_amd64.deb

Now reboot into x.43 and do:

cd ~/Desktop
sudo dpkg -i bcmwl*.deb

Any errors? If not, load the driver:

sudo modprobe wl

Any improvement?

ThorF wrote 05/30/2018 at 6:04 PM

Done a reinstall but got the error message you mentioned below (see output)

snerx@snerx:~/Desktop$ sudo dpkg -i bcmwl-kernel-source_6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubuntu3_amd64.d
eb  
[sudo] password for snerx:  
(Reading database ... 345297 files and directories currently installed.) 
Preparing to unpack bcmwl-kernel-source_6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubuntu3_amd64.deb ... 
Removing all DKMS Modules 
Done. 
Unpacking bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubuntu3) over (6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubunt
u3) ... 
Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubuntu3) ... 
Loading new bcmwl-6.30.223.271+bdcom DKMS files... 
Building for 4.13.0-43-generic 
Building for architecture x86_64 
Building initial module for 4.13.0-43-generic 
Done. 

wl: 
Running module version sanity check. 
- Original module 
  - No original module exists within this kernel 
- Installation 
  - Installing to /lib/modules/4.13.0-43-generic/updates/dkms/ 

depmod... 

DKMS: install completed. 
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'wl': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see
dmesg) 
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated) 
Processing triggers for shim-signed (1.33.1~17.10.1+13-0ubuntu2) ... 
Secure Boot not enabled on this system. 
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.125ubuntu12.1) ... 
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-43-generic
snerx@snerx:~/Desktop$

edited May 30 '18 at 09:08

ThorF

3

answered May 23 '18 at 23:35

chili555

60,188

I reinstalled the 0.43 kernel as per these instructions (with two dashes in --reinstall) but the "invisible" wifi problem persisted. Went back and tried recovery mode but this too made no difference. I'm back to kernel version 0.41 again. Is this a systemic issue with version 0.43? – ThorF May 24 '18 at 01:00
Please see my edit above in a few minutes. – chili555 May 24 '18 at 12:24
Still no improvement with the bcmwl-kernel-source install (see outputs above). Bit of a mystery this really... – ThorF May 27 '18 at 06:25
Did the reinstall of bcmwl-kernel-source go without errors or warnings? Is the response still: "ERROR: could not insert 'wl': Unknown symbol in module"? – chili555 May 28 '18 at 11:31
I posted the output fro the reinstall but it's been edited out it seems. Thought I'd copied and pasted it to a word document but can't seem to find it. From memory there were no error messages with the second reinstall. Perhaps I should try again. Am running kernel 0-41 at the moment. – ThorF May 30 '18 at 07:50
When I reinstalled the bcmwl patch on the 0-43 kernel the wifi dropped out on kernel 0-41. But then it's rescued by reinstalling the patch again. I've posted the output from that install. – ThorF May 30 '18 at 12:28
I don't understand. There is no error in what you've edited above. If you have results to show me, paste them here and give me the link: http://paste.ubuntu.com – chili555 May 30 '18 at 13:43
I've pasted the installation output from bmcwl patch on the 0-41 kernel as well as an updated wireless-info report. https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/PPXTcd85Xj/ – ThorF May 30 '18 at 23:54
I've upgraded to Ubuntu 18.04 with kernel version 4.15.0-20 and wifi connection is working straight out of the box. That solved the problem of no connectivity with kernel version 4.13.0-43. – ThorF Jun 13 '18 at 10:54

Wireless LAN dropped out--IS IT WORN OUT?

1 Answers1