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I have a Dell precision 7560 with an intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 With fresh Ubuntu 20.04 wifi didn't work, the upgraded kernel wasn't enough and I found on line I need to remove firmware, I removed iwlwifi-ty-a0-gf-a0.pnvm and it worked.

However, after a while, the file made a comeback (possibly after some relevant update) So I lose wifi, remove files again, unload and reload kernel drivers (iwlmvm,iwlwifi) and I'm back in business.

This happened a few times. I lost wifi again (probably a while ago, I've been wired) and needed to fix it again today, and I noticed the file to remove wasn't there. Today I needed to remove iwlwifi-ty-a0-gf-a0-63.ucode and reload drivers. And I have my wifi back.

The correct firmware appears to be: iwlwifi-ty-a0-gf-a0-59.ucode

Is there a more permanent solution, which won't have me semi-randomly losing wifi and then figuring out which files I want to delete? I can script something to delete stuff based on a file pattern but I feel I don't understand well enough what is going on, what these files are, what brings them back, will I always and forever want the file I currently use and not a slightly different name?

Error404
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Meir Maor
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1 Answers1

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There is a bug which is causing this issue, so each time the package linux-firmware gets updated or reinstalled, you have to repeat the process. Although you can hold the package and prevent it from updating, it will cause more and more issues. So, you've to repeat the process every time.

If you don't care about anything and want to give it a shot, run the following command to hold the package:

sudo apt-mark hold linux-firmware

You can unhold it using:

sudo apt-mark unhold linux-firmware
Error404
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    Thanks, not sure the cure is better than the disease. The bug seems open, but someone in comments suggested a fix in kernel 5.16 (Which is even newer than what will be in ubuntu 22.04). I guess I will continue with the hack in the meantime. – Meir Maor Jan 30 '22 at 13:00