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#1 2020-11-03 13:50:26

ruthra
Member
Registered: 2020-02-11
Posts: 8

intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

Wifi has odd behavior where in,

#1 - Intermittently, internet doesn't work. If i reconnect it works for few mins, only to stop working after that. Only a reboot fixes this issue.
#2 - Can't connect over wifi. No password or configuration change. Still can't connect to my home wifi. Again, reboot seems to fixes this issue every time.

Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this issue?

Setup:
Thinkpad T420 - Dual booting. Windows 7 and Arch Linux. Wifi works fine on Windows 7.

Last edited by ruthra (2020-11-03 13:50:51)

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#2 2020-11-03 19:08:15

natervance
Member
Registered: 2017-04-20
Posts: 53

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

I've had transient wifi issues before that were fixed by taking out the wifi card, cleaning off / blowing out the contacts, and reinstalling it. I'd suspect a hardware issue before a driver issue.

There could still be a hardware issue even though it works fine on Windows 7. I've found, especially with RAM, that transient failures showed up earlier on Windows than Linux because Linux has better fault tolerance. It's certainly possible that Microsoft's wifi drivers have some level of built-in fault tolerance that the open source drives do not.

To actually answer your question rather than stab blindly at solutions, I'd start troubleshooting with `journalctl -e`. If some daemon starts complaining around the same time that wifi cuts out, then that's a place to start.

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#3 2020-11-03 19:47:11

fistrosan
Member
Registered: 2020-04-01
Posts: 171

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

What you describe sounds like the typical situation where: a) you have multiple systemd services trying to control the wifi (wpa_supplicant, iw, networkmanager, etc) and interfere with each other or, b) you have some power management service (such as tlp, powertop) that switches on/off the wifi whenever some conditions are met, or c) trying to connect simultaneously via wifi and ethernet.

Does it sound like it could be the case ? Post output of 

systemctl status

Last edited by fistrosan (2020-11-03 19:50:37)

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#4 2020-11-04 03:01:19

ruthra
Member
Registered: 2020-02-11
Posts: 8

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

fistrosan wrote:

b) you have some power management service (such as tlp, powertop) that switches on/off the wifi whenever some conditions are met

Can confirm that no power management service is installed.

fistrosan wrote:

c) trying to connect simultaneously via wifi and ethernet

I didn't connect simultaneously. But, when wifi starts to create trouble, i usually disconnect wifi and use ethernet (works always - no issues). Much easier than rebooting every time.

fistrosan wrote:

a) you have multiple systemd services trying to control the wifi (wpa_supplicant, iw, networkmanager, etc) and interfere with each other

Yes, it seems like NetworkManager and wpa_supplicant are active at the same time. But, i've only enabled NetworkManager service. wpa_supplicant seems to start only after i connect to wifi.

systemctl status

output:

● lenovo
    State: running
     Jobs: 0 queued
   Failed: 0 units
    Since: Wed 2020-11-04 13:27:47 IST; 5h 21min left
   CGroup: /
           ├─user.slice 
           │ └─user-1000.slice 
           │   ├─user@1000.service 
           │   │ ├─pulseaudio.service 
           │   │ │ ├─567 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --daemonize=no --log-target=journal
           │   │ │ └─696 /usr/lib/pulse/gsettings-helper
           │   │ ├─app.slice 
           │   │ │ ├─app-\x2fusr\x2flib\x2fDiscoverNotifier-bc359d213ee24255bde670108cc9d6c8.scope 
           │   │ │ │ └─566 /usr/lib/DiscoverNotifier -session 10e2d46e6f000160432039300000004910002_1604338140_778634
           │   │ │ ├─app-org.kde.dolphin-5681ec7a24f04ac3b6aa3c64bd9b83f5.scope 
           │   │ │ │ └─986 /usr/bin/dolphin
           │   │ │ ├─app-org.kde.konsole-b2a4d8e4d7664340bcb3ee1a850e6b3d.scope 
           │   │ │ │ ├─1973 /usr/bin/konsole
           │   │ │ │ ├─1985 /bin/bash
           │   │ │ │ └─2142 systemctl status
           │   │ │ ├─app-\x2fusr\x2fbin\x2fkmix-c415c7d1194d4900bec960a418168a44.scope 
           │   │ │ │ └─573 /usr/bin/kmix -session 10e2d46e6f000160240662200000005510004_1604338140_778285
           │   │ │ └─app-firefox-c490ea883975438ba15ff1567139b106.scope 
           │   │ │   ├─ 974 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox
           │   │ │   ├─1061 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 1 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 1 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1150 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 3 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 6443 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1312 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 5 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9406 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1592 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 6 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9585 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1631 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 7 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9585 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1646 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 8 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9585 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1695 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 9 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9585 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1718 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 10 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9585 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   ├─1739 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 11 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9585 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ │   └─1779 /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc -childID 12 -isForBrowser -prefsLen 9585 -prefMapSize 227094 -parentBuildID 20201001181215 -appdir /usr/lib/firefox/browser 974 true tab
           │   │ ├─init.scope 
           │   │ │ ├─426 /usr/lib/systemd/systemd --user
           │   │ │ └─427 (sd-pam)
           │   │ ├─obex.service 
           │   │ │ └─762 /usr/lib/bluetooth/obexd
           │   │ ├─at-spi-dbus-bus.service 
           │   │ │ └─1038 /usr/lib/at-spi-bus-launcher
           │   │ └─dbus.service 
           │   │   ├─442 /usr/bin/dbus-daemon --session --address=systemd: --nofork --nopidfile --systemd-activation --syslog-only
           │   │   ├─490 /usr/lib/kactivitymanagerd
           │   │   ├─496 /usr/lib/dconf-service
           │   │   ├─515 /usr/bin/kglobalaccel5
           │   │   ├─714 /usr/lib/telepathy/mission-control-5
           │   │   ├─764 /usr/lib/kf5/kscreen_backend_launcher
           │   │   └─961 /usr/lib/baloorunner
           │   └─session-2.scope 
           │     ├─ 424 /usr/lib/sddm/sddm-helper --socket /tmp/sddm-auth583a7e55-a263-4650-924c-3c0e244689de --id 1 --start /usr/bin/startplasma-x11 --user lenovo
           │     ├─ 436 /usr/bin/kwalletd5 --pam-login 7 3
           │     ├─ 437 /usr/bin/startplasma-x11
           │     ├─ 459 /usr/lib/kf5/start_kdeinit
           │     ├─ 460 kdeinit5: Running...
           │     ├─ 462 /usr/lib/kf5/klauncher --fd=9
           │     ├─ 481 /usr/bin/kded5
           │     ├─ 485 /usr/bin/kwin_x11
           │     ├─ 513 /usr/bin/ksmserver
           │     ├─ 522 /usr/lib/polkit-kde-authentication-agent-1
           │     ├─ 525 /usr/bin/baloo_file
           │     ├─ 528 /usr/bin/plasmashell
           │     ├─ 530 /usr/bin/xembedsniproxy
           │     ├─ 537 /usr/bin/kaccess
           │     ├─ 558 /usr/bin/gmenudbusmenuproxy
           │     ├─ 563 /usr/lib/kdeconnectd
           │     ├─ 607 /usr/lib/org_kde_powerdevil
           │     ├─ 609 /usr/bin/korgac
           │     ├─ 611 /opt/xdman/jre/bin/java -Xmx1024m -jar /opt/xdman/xdman.jar -m
           │     ├─ 703 /usr/bin/akonadi_control
           │     ├─ 723 /usr/bin/akonadiserver
           │     ├─ 768 /usr/bin/mysqld --defaults-file=/home/lenovo/.local/share/akonadi/mysql.conf --datadir=/home/lenovo/.local/share/akonadi/db_data/ --socket=/run/user/1000/akonadi/mysql.socket --pid-file=/run/user/1000/akonadi/mysql.pid
           │     ├─ 797 /usr/bin/akonadi_archivemail_agent --identifier akonadi_archivemail_agent
           │     ├─ 798 /usr/bin/akonadi_birthdays_resource --identifier akonadi_birthdays_resource
           │     ├─ 799 /usr/bin/akonadi_followupreminder_agent --identifier akonadi_followupreminder_agent
           │     ├─ 800 /usr/bin/akonadi_indexing_agent --identifier akonadi_indexing_agent
           │     ├─ 801 /usr/bin/akonadi_maildir_resource --identifier akonadi_maildir_resource_0
           │     ├─ 803 /usr/bin/akonadi_maildispatcher_agent --identifier akonadi_maildispatcher_agent
           │     ├─ 805 /usr/bin/akonadi_mailfilter_agent --identifier akonadi_mailfilter_agent
           │     ├─ 809 /usr/bin/akonadi_migration_agent --identifier akonadi_migration_agent
           │     ├─ 812 /usr/bin/akonadi_newmailnotifier_agent --identifier akonadi_newmailnotifier_agent
           │     ├─ 815 /usr/bin/akonadi_notes_agent --identifier akonadi_notes_agent
           │     ├─ 819 /usr/bin/akonadi_sendlater_agent --identifier akonadi_sendlater_agent
           │     ├─ 827 /usr/bin/akonadi_unifiedmailbox_agent --identifier akonadi_unifiedmailbox_agent
           │     ├─ 865 /usr/bin/akonadi_contacts_resource --identifier akonadi_contacts_resource_0
           │     ├─ 873 /usr/bin/akonadi_ical_resource --identifier akonadi_ical_resource_0
           │     ├─ 880 /usr/bin/akonadi_akonotes_resource --identifier akonadi_akonotes_resource_0
           │     ├─1012 file.so [kdeinit5] file local:/run/user/1000/klauncherDrySFb.1.slave-socket local:/run/user/1000/dolphinqNjisp.5.slave-socket
           │     └─1126 file.so [kdeinit5] file local:/run/user/1000/klauncherDrySFb.1.slave-socket local:/run/user/1000/kded5xFNiow.1.slave-socket
           ├─init.scope 
           │ └─1 /sbin/init
           └─system.slice 
             ├─systemd-udevd.service 
             │ └─233 /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-udevd
             ├─polkit.service 
             │ └─523 /usr/lib/polkit-1/polkitd --no-debug
             ├─rtkit-daemon.service 
             │ └─596 /usr/lib/rtkit-daemon
             ├─wpa_supplicant.service 
             │ └─379 /usr/bin/wpa_supplicant -u -s -O /run/wpa_supplicant
             ├─systemd-journald.service 
             │ └─219 /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-journald
             ├─NetworkManager.service 
             │ └─352 /usr/bin/NetworkManager --no-daemon
             ├─lvm2-lvmetad.service 
             │ └─237 /usr/bin/lvmetad -f
             ├─upower.service 
             │ └─639 /usr/lib/upowerd
             ├─sddm.service 
             │ ├─370 /usr/bin/sddm
             │ └─378 /usr/lib/Xorg -nolisten tcp -auth /var/run/sddm/{d1cac1f1-6b2f-42e7-922b-92cdddbd103c} -background none -noreset -displayfd 17 -seat seat0 vt1
             ├─udisks2.service 
             │ └─589 /usr/lib/udisks2/udisksd
             ├─dbus.service 
             │ └─351 /usr/bin/dbus-daemon --system --address=systemd: --nofork --nopidfile --systemd-activation --syslog-only
             └─systemd-logind.service 
               └─353 /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-logind

Edit: output wrapped in [ code ] tag.

Last edited by ruthra (2020-11-04 09:28:48)

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#5 2020-11-04 09:01:48

fistrosan
Member
Registered: 2020-04-01
Posts: 171

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

Ok, we have narrowed it down a little bit. I think (not sure though) that wpa_supplicant will interfere with NetworkManager, so you could try to see the contents of /etc/systemd/network and if there is a symlink to wpa_supplicant then disable it with:

systemctl disable wpa_supplicant@[nameofinterface].service

and then (for good measure) reboot. That should leave you with just NetworkManager (check again with systemctl status) and hopefully it will work.

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#6 2020-11-04 09:12:56

V1del
Forum Moderator
Registered: 2012-10-16
Posts: 25,363

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

Please wrap the output in [ code ] tags as well.

Nothing sticking out here, check your journal during connection/dropouts in particular the messages of NetworkManager and wpa_supplicant, potentially also kernel driver if it logs something

Edit: That networkmanager starts wpa_supplicant itself is normal and expected, as long as the wpa_supplicant service is not explicitly enabled and auto-invoked by NetworkManager it's unlikely to be the underlying issue.

Last edited by V1del (2020-11-04 09:14:18)

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#7 2020-11-04 17:06:17

paulkerry
Member
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: 2014-10-02
Posts: 611

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

Make sure you have updated and are using the latest linux 5.9.3 kernel which I believe has some fixes.

If you are already running 5.9.3, maybe investigate the wifi driver you are using

lspci -k

will show you.

Does this happen on more than one network? If it's just your home network, possibly reboot your router?
Also possibly remove your NetworkManager connection for your home wifi and re-add it.

Cheers
Paul.

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#8 2020-11-07 06:21:37

ruthra
Member
Registered: 2020-02-11
Posts: 8

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

So, after many attempts to replicate this without any success. It happend, completely random, and only once today morning. Internet was working fine for 5 mins, then suddenly nothing loaded.

Looked through the journalctl logs and dmesg output
No issues reported by NetworkManager or wpa_supplicant. So, i tried ping archlinux.org which resulted in temporary name resolution error.  

arp -a

tells that no mac address is assigned to default gateway. This explains the name resolution error and loss of internet connection.

_gateway (192.168.1.1) at <incomplete> on wlan0

Reconnected to wifi and its working now. But, still not sure why the mac address disappeared suddenly. I'm still trying to replicate this issue on demand, so that i can find the root cause.

paulkerry wrote:

Does this happen on more than one network? If it's just your home network, possibly reboot your router?

Haven't connected my thinkpad to other networks till now. But, there are other devices(laptop and smartphone) which doesn't face this issue. Will try rebooting the router next time this occurs.

fsitrosan wrote:

so you could try to see the contents of /etc/systemd/network and if there is a symlink to wpa_supplicant then disable it

. That directory is empty.

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#9 2020-11-07 08:00:33

seth
Member
From: Won't reply 2 private help req
Registered: 2012-09-03
Posts: 77,697

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

That's the session journal, please use "sudo journalctl -b" (sudo because you're not in the system journal enabled groups, and esp. NOT "-x" because it only clutters the output with useless nonsense)
Also post the output of 

find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print | awk -F'/' '{ printf ("%-40s | %s\n", $(NF-0), $(NF-1)) }' | sort -f

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#10 2020-11-07 09:39:46

ruthra
Member
Registered: 2020-02-11
Posts: 8

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

journalctl logs updated with 'sudo journalctl -b'.
And output of 

find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print | awk -F'/' '{ printf ("%-40s | %s\n", $(NF-0), $(NF-1)) }' | sort -f

is

[lenovo@lenovo ~]$ find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print | awk -F'/' '{ printf ("%-40s | %s\n", $(NF-0), $(NF-1)) }' | sort -f
dbus-org.freedesktop.nm-dispatcher.service | system
default.target                           | system
dirmngr.socket                           | sockets.target.wants
display-manager.service                  | system
getty@tty1.service                       | getty.target.wants
gpg-agent-browser.socket                 | sockets.target.wants
gpg-agent-extra.socket                   | sockets.target.wants
gpg-agent.socket                         | sockets.target.wants
gpg-agent-ssh.socket                     | sockets.target.wants
NetworkManager.service                   | multi-user.target.wants
NetworkManager-wait-online.service       | network-online.target.wants
p11-kit-server.socket                    | sockets.target.wants
pipewire.socket                          | sockets.target.wants
pulseaudio.socket                        | sockets.target.wants
remote-fs.target                         | multi-user.target.wants

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#11 2020-11-07 14:24:21

seth
Member
From: Won't reply 2 private help req
Registered: 2012-09-03
Posts: 77,697

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

No conflicting services, connection est. at 14:41:33 (24h lease) and 14:46:53 (global) and 14:57:03 (site)
There're no disconnects etc. no iwlwifi errors etcetc.

I'd try to disable https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ne … domization

Can confirm that no power management service is installed.

You're using KDEs powerdevil… (but I don't think this is the cause)

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#12 2020-11-09 11:15:06

paulkerry
Member
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: 2014-10-02
Posts: 611

Re: intermittent disconnection of internet over wifi - thinkpad t420

Your pastebin log shows this...

Nov 07 14:39:38 lenovo kernel: Linux version 5.8.14-arch1-1 (linux@archlinux) (gcc (GCC) 10.2.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.35) #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed, 07 Oct 2020 23:59:46 +0000

why are you using 5.8.14 when current versions for instance are...
linux: 5.9.6.arch1-1
linux-lts: 5.4.75-1

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