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I'm trying to install 14.04.2 on a new Lenovo Z70, replacing Win 8.1, but on this hardware but no wireless capabilities seem to be found. Elsewhere I see that the 3.16 kernel is required, but 14.04.2 seems to use that kernel. Can someone please point me in the right direction? Thanks!

The diagnostic output from this script can be found here.

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grymoire
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1 Answers1

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Your very new device, Qualcomm Atheros Device [168c:003e], is covered in the mainline kernel version 4.0: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.0-vivid/ The module ath10k_pci covers the subject device:

modinfo ath10k_pci
filename:       /lib/modules/4.0.1-040001-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/ath10k_pci.ko
firmware:       ath10k/QCA988X/hw2.0/board.bin
firmware:       ath10k/QCA988X/hw2.0/firmware-3.bin
firmware:       ath10k/QCA988X/hw2.0/firmware-2.bin
firmware:       ath10k/QCA988X/hw2.0/firmware.bin
license:        Dual BSD/GPL
description:    Driver support for Atheros QCA988X PCIe devices
author:         Qualcomm Atheros
srcversion:     837C8B320227AB6A933D58D
alias:          pci:v0000168Cd0000003Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v0000168Cd0000003Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
<snip>

As you can see, the driver requires firmware. My default 15.04 install includes most of it. If firmware is an issue, according to dmesg, I suggest you do:

sudo apt-get install git
git clone https://github.com/sumdog/ath10k-firmware.git
cd ath10k-firmware/ath10k
sudo cp -r QCA6174/  /lib/firmware/ath10k

Correct the permissions of the files:

sudo chmod +x /lib/firmware/ath10k/QCA6174/hw2.1/*

Now unload and reload the driver:

sudo modprobe -r ath10k_pci  &&  sudo modprobe ath10k_pci

And check:

dmesg | grep ath

I have been unable to find cal-pci-000:03:0.0.bin anywhere, nor any method to extract it by any means. I did read that a module parameter may help. Let's try:

sudo -i
echo "options ath10k_core skip_otp=y"  >  /etc/modprobe.d/ath10k_core.conf
exit

Reboot. Check as above.

If you need guidance about how to install the 4.0 kernel, please check here: http://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2015/04/upgrade-to-linux-kernel-4-0-in-ubuntu/

chili555
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  • I installed 15.04 and the 4.0 kernel as suggested. You can see new diagnostic info here. It looks like firmware is an issue according to dmesg. Thanks for your help so far. Any help with the firmware issues would be greatly appreciated. – grymoire May 09 '15 at 14:54
  • Please see my edit above. I think I have solved most of it. Is this a dual-boot with Windows? Is `cal-pci-0000:03:00.0.bin' on your Windows partition? – chili555 May 09 '15 at 15:22
  • No, this is not dual boot. I'm not sure about 'cal-pci-000:03:0.0.bin'. I will try the firmware suggestions above and respond when I have results. Thanks. – grymoire May 09 '15 at 15:48
  • Yikes. dmesg is still reporting a bunch of errors. New log is here. I appreciate you sticking with me here. The last time I trouble shot a hardware issue it involved a 9 track mag tape reel. Maybe that's what pushed me towards software. :-) – grymoire May 09 '15 at 16:29
  • Up through 3.59xx are the same as before. Please see my further edit above. My first experience was an IBM 360 and COBOL. – chili555 May 09 '15 at 19:47
  • The dmesg log is at least changing. Here's the new one. Also, I went through all the steps again this time, starting with 15.04 reinstall, just to be sure I hadn't missed anything before. Thanks. – grymoire May 09 '15 at 20:58
  • It looks like until we can find or bypass cal-pci-0000:03:00.0.bin, we are stuck. I will keep searching and suggest you do also. Leave a message here if you see any possibilities. FWIW, I don't believe anyone has one of these working, but you are very close. – chili555 May 09 '15 at 21:05
  • Please see a new edit above! Reboot and paste diagnostics, please. – chili555 May 09 '15 at 21:48
  • Doh. That seemed promising but sadly the new log doesn't look much different. – grymoire May 09 '15 at 22:44
  • I'll keep checking. – chili555 May 09 '15 at 23:04
  • FYI: I tried two different usb wireless products (ASUS USB-N13 Wireless N-300, and TP-Link TL-WN823N). With both the connection stops working after several minutes. Disabling/enabling network and/or wifi or even rebooting has no effect. Deleting the wifi connection then recreating it seems work. That is, you get a few more minutes. Highly frustrating. Any ideas would be a appreciated. – grymoire Jul 03 '15 at 16:25
  • Is this finally solved? I am having Lenovo Z70-80 and planning to install Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Also, I have gone through this link (https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2308578) which talks about getting the firmware to have the wifi work for the Atheros QCA61x4.

    Can somebody let know if this ever been made to work on Lenovo Z70-80?

     – Uresh Kuruhuri Nov 06 '19 at 00:31
  • @UreshKuruhuri The firmware and driver are present by default in 18.04 LTS. – chili555 Nov 06 '19 at 02:35
  • Thanks @chili555 for confirming. I am able to successfully install Ubuntu 18.04 LTS on Lenovo Z70. It is working fine. – Uresh Kuruhuri Nov 09 '19 at 23:03