Arch Linux

oliverpool

Member

Registered: 2021-10-26

Posts: 5

[solved] Unstable wifi since kernel 5.16.15 (is stable on 5.16.14)

Hi everyone,

after I upgraded to the latest kernel (linux-5.16.15.arch1-1-x86_64) my wifi connection became very unstable.
Especially when download large file over the internet, the following logs would appear: "wlan0: Lost carrier"
The wifi immediately re-connects afterwards, but the large download would fail.

Here is the journal ("systemd-networkd" and "iwd" log lines are relevant)

Mar 21 23:16:52 olibrem kernel: audit: type=1105 audit(1647901012.848:137): pid=1727 uid=1000 auid=1000 ses=1 msg='op=PAM:session_open grantors=pam_systemd_home,pam_limits,pam_unix,pam_permit acct="root" exe="/us>
Mar 21 23:16:55 olibrem dnscrypt-proxy[329]: [2022-03-21 23:16:55] [NOTICE] [opennic-luggs2] TIMEOUT
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem systemd-networkd[332]: wlan0: Lost carrier
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem systemd-networkd[332]: wlan0: DHCPv6 lease lost
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Withdrawing address record for 2003:f2:870e:a00:1acf:5eff:fef3:f995 on wlan0.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv6 with address 2003:f2:870e:a00:1acf:5eff:fef3:f995.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem iwd[330]: Received Deauthentication event, reason: 4, from_ap: false
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem iwd[330]: WARNING: src/resolve.c:resolve_systemd_revert() condition !systemd_state.is_ready failed
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv6 with address 2003:f2:870e:a00:75b1:710b:f72c:f646.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Withdrawing address record for 2003:f2:870e:a00:75b1:710b:f72c:f646 on wlan0.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv6 with address 2003:f2:870e:a00:75b1:710b:f72c:f646.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv6 with address fe80::1acf:5eff:fef3:f995.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Registering new address record for fe80::1acf:5eff:fef3:f995 on wlan0.*.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Withdrawing address record for 192.168.178.104 on wlan0.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv4 with address 192.168.178.104.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Interface wlan0.IPv4 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem systemd-timesyncd[309]: No network connectivity, watching for changes.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Withdrawing address record for fe80::1acf:5eff:fef3:f995 on wlan0.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv6 with address fe80::1acf:5eff:fef3:f995.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem avahi-daemon[327]: Interface wlan0.IPv6 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Mar 21 23:16:57 olibrem iwd[330]: netconfig: Failed to delete IP address. Error -99: Cannot assign requested address
Mar 21 23:16:58 olibrem kernel: wlan0: authenticate with 34:31:c4:04:f9:2c
Mar 21 23:16:58 olibrem kernel: wlan0: send auth to 34:31:c4:04:f9:2c (try 1/3)
Mar 21 23:16:58 olibrem kernel: wlan0: send auth to 34:31:c4:04:f9:2c (try 2/3)
Mar 21 23:16:58 olibrem kernel: wlan0: authenticated
Mar 21 23:16:58 olibrem kernel: wlan0: associate with 34:31:c4:04:f9:2c (try 1/3)
Mar 21 23:16:58 olibrem kernel: wlan0: RX AssocResp from 34:31:c4:04:f9:2c (capab=0x1031 status=0 aid=8)
Mar 21 23:16:58 olibrem kernel: wlan0: associated

Here is the relevant part of "lspci -kvv" (on kernel 5.16.14):

01:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros AR9462 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Lite-On Communications Inc Device 0802
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
	Region 0: Memory at d1200000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
	Expansion ROM at d1280000 [disabled] [size=64K]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel driver in use: ath9k
	Kernel modules: ath9k

I have tried to add "ControlPortOverNL80211=False" to "/etc/iwd/main.conf" (since it was mentioned on other topics), but it did not seem to help.
Adding "nohwcrypt=1 blink=1 btcoex_enable=1" to the ath9k module didn't help either.

When I downgraded to "linux-5.16.14.arch1-1-x86_64" and rebooted the problem disappeared (so at least I have a solution : )

I skimmed at the diff of the kernel, but didn't see anything related to wireless devices: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/ke … 16.14&dt=2
and was also without luck looking at the arch-linux kernel diff: https://github.com/archlinux/linux/comp … 6.15-arch1

What can I do to further debug this issue, which seems to be very specific to the kernel 5.16.15? (to at least know where it should be reported)

Thank you

Last edited by oliverpool (2022-03-30 14:17:20)

progandy

Member

Registered: 2012-05-17

Posts: 5,280

Re: [solved] Unstable wifi since kernel 5.16.15 (is stable on 5.16.14)

That has come up frequently in the last few days for atheros, e.g. [1], [2]. There is even an upstream bug:
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=215703

Last edited by progandy (2022-03-21 23:10:31)

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oliverpool

Member

Registered: 2021-10-26

Posts: 5

Re: [solved] Unstable wifi since kernel 5.16.15 (is stable on 5.16.14)

Thank you for the quick reply and the links!

There is even a fix suggestion: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=215703#c3

PS: the link in your signature is broken (domain for sale), I guess it should point to https://xyne.dev/projects/locale-en_xx/index.html

jakalof

Member

Registered: 2020-05-15

Posts: 11

Re: [solved] Unstable wifi since kernel 5.16.15 (is stable on 5.16.14)

@oliverpool

Regarding the issue:  https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=215703

I have been watching this for the last few days as I have a couple of computers with older wifi cards which use ath9k.

The bug/feature/issue reported has not been resolved as far as I can tell.

Rolling back the kernel is the easiest short term solution but its unclear if/when this will get fixed.  I speculate in saying I don't think its getting much attention:( 

In reading the commit messages (the ones that can be reverted to make the problem go away), the situation was left in a bit of an un-settled state.  In the second commit message, the person(s) who made the commit admitted that they didn't actually know how that bit of code is suppose to work!  Because I am absolutely clueless wrt kernel source code I can't really tell how/if the offensive commits are related to ath9k.  Its a very tiny bit of code that made my wifi go off the rails.  But its totally clear to me that that bit of code does break my ath9k wifi.  When I backed out those two commits and recompiled the kernel-- my wifi was working again and I didn't have any other deleterious side effects.  I'm running kernel 5.15.30 (lts branch) but with the 2 commits reverted.  I haven't had any issues.  As someone pointed out, reverting the commits is not a great solution.  An actual fix is needed.  If I could do it I would -- but needless to say I have no clue:)

As a final caveat:)  I am always wandering if somehow I have my arch installation configured wrong:)

Last edited by jakalof (2022-03-25 02:13:53)

oliverpool

Member

Registered: 2021-10-26

Posts: 5

Re: [solved] Unstable wifi since kernel 5.16.15 (is stable on 5.16.14)

Fixed in  linux 5.17.1.arch1-1

https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/74187