Arch Linux

alexthelion

Member

From: Switzerland

Registered: 2004-03-06

Posts: 117

Frequent disconnects from WiFi

On my Thinkpad running Arch Linux, I experience problems with our WiFi network, which otherwise works fine. After connecting it usually works for a couple of minutes, then fails. NetworkManager claims it's still connected but I cannot transfer data, in fact even pinging the router fails. In such a situation, dis- and then reconnecting helps sometimes.

In the messages.log file, I find frequent blocks like this one:

Jan  1 20:03:59 localhost kernel: [11075.229049] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
Jan  1 20:03:59 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: completed -> disconnected
Jan  1 20:03:59 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning
Jan  1 20:04:03 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: scanning -> associating
Jan  1 20:04:03 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: associating -> associated
Jan  1 20:04:04 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: associated -> 4-way handshake
Jan  1 20:04:06 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: 4-way handshake -> group handshake
Jan  1 20:04:06 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: group handshake -> completed

Any ideas? Even just how to debug, I'm a bit clueless...

Thanks,
Alex

/dev/zero

Member

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2011-10-20

Posts: 1,247

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

In the messages.log file, I find frequent blocks like this one:

Jan  1 20:03:59 localhost kernel: [11075.229049] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
Jan  1 20:03:59 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: completed -> disconnected
Jan  1 20:03:59 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning
Jan  1 20:04:03 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: scanning -> associating
Jan  1 20:04:03 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: associating -> associated
Jan  1 20:04:04 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: associated -> 4-way handshake
Jan  1 20:04:06 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: 4-way handshake -> group handshake
Jan  1 20:04:06 localhost NetworkManager[743]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: group handshake -> completed

I don't use NetworkManager, so I'm just guessing here, but when I read your log block, it seems to say that first a disconnection happens (maybe as a result of your CRDA having problems?), then NM reconnects, but maybe it doesn't re-run DHCPCD or dhclient?

AurosGamma

Member

From: San Cristobal,Venezuela

Registered: 2011-02-22

Posts: 132

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

I have the exact same problem described here and it's getting a little bit annoying... My WiFi card is the Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN.
There's something I can do to help with this problem? I've never debugged anything, maybe is time for the first-time.

Regards

mksoft

Member

Registered: 2008-07-03

Posts: 9

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

I'm experiencing the same problems. Been  connected to various networks today, maybe it's a problem with WEP ?

At home I'm using WPA2 without a problem. Can you confirm that you're having problems with such networks ?

PS
On WEP networks killing NetworkManager and configuring ESS and KEY via iwconfig, bringing wlan0 up and running dhcpcd on it seems to help - looks like a problem with NM itself.

AurosGamma

Member

From: San Cristobal,Venezuela

Registered: 2011-02-22

Posts: 132

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

I'm experiencing the same problems. Been  connected to various networks today, maybe it's a problem with WEP ?

At home I'm using WPA2 without a problem. Can you confirm that you're having problems with such networks ?

PS
On WEP networks killing NetworkManager and configuring ESS and KEY via iwconfig, bringing wlan0 up and running dhcpcd on it seems to help - looks like a problem with NM itself.

In my home I'm using WPA Personal and I'm having this issue, also, I tried installing wicd but the problem persist... I'm lost here...

Regards

Last edited by AurosGamma (2012-01-03 17:02:44)

/dev/zero

Member

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2011-10-20

Posts: 1,247

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

What about if you disable all network managers and just use wpa_supplicant + dhcpcd?

alexthelion

Member

From: Switzerland

Registered: 2004-03-06

Posts: 117

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

Let's just make sure we all have the same issue. I have frequent blocks like the one below show up in dmesg:

[  430.871250] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:23:f8:0f:ef:bf (Reason: 1)
[  430.930161] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
[  434.235766] wlan0: authenticate with 00:23:f8:0f:ef:bf (try 1)
[  434.237999] wlan0: authenticated
[  434.240386] wlan0: associate with 00:23:f8:0f:ef:bf (try 1)
[  434.244496] wlan0: RX ReassocResp from 00:23:f8:0f:ef:bf (capab=0x471 status=0 aid=3)
[  434.244499] wlan0: associated

My gut feeling is that it's a driver issue.

AurosGamma

Member

From: San Cristobal,Venezuela

Registered: 2011-02-22

Posts: 132

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

Well, I changed my router's security mode from WPA Personal TKIP to WPA2 Personal AES and looks like the problem is gone... This is a little weird, but I still want to help. Anyway, maybe is a driver problem (anybody can confirm this?), so we'll have to wait until the kernel developers fix this...

Regards

clovenhoof

Member

From: Bulgaria

Registered: 2010-09-16

Posts: 82

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

I have the exact same problem described here and it's getting a little bit annoying... My WiFi card is the Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN.
There's something I can do to help with this problem? I've never debugged anything, maybe is time for the first-time.

Regards

Similar problem here with the same card (Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN).
My network connection on my laptop periodically stops and to restore it I have to restart networkmanager daemon.

On wired connection everything is OK.

May be I have to buy another wifi card.

Strike0

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2011-09-05

Posts: 1,491

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

May be I have to buy another wifi card.

.. Or try downgrading the kernel or just give it a bit more time. It seems to be a frequent error that is looked into.

Gusar

Member

Registered: 2009-08-25

Posts: 3,607

Re: Frequent disconnects from WiFi

Kernel 3.1.8 has what looked like quite an important iwlwifi fix, probably 3.2 has it as well. So, a bit of patience. And Strike0 is fully correct, buying a new card is way overkill when there's solutions that don't involve spending money.