[SOLVED] iwctl device in live environment but not in the installation

Stargarth · 2023-04-17 16:17:37

I can connect to wi-fi when in live environment and on an other arch installation(same PC). However it doesn't work with my new installation.
I run "iwctl" -> "device list" but the list is empty. When I run the same sequence of commands, but on live iso/my other installation I get the wi-fi device.
Wi-fi card is the same(Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210), most of the software is the same(there might be some relevant stuff on iso that I'm not aware of). Any ideas?

It seems that my new installation doesn't see the wi-fi card at all. Just by looking at arch-wiki it seems that iwd should be enough.
I've ran the rfkill and it didn't help. Curiously, on the new installation rfkill lists only a bluetooth device but no the wi-fi one. It's weird because physically it's the same card connected through pci.

The only software difference that I can think of is that new installation runs a LTS kernel and ZFS file system. However, that should be irrelevant to the iwd.

Last edited by Stargarth (2023-04-17 17:21:19)

Trilby · 2023-04-17 16:20:52

Iwd isn't relevant at all here as that is just a tool for establishing connections. You need to driver/firmware for the device. The iso includes drivers for some hardware that is not part of a base install, but perhaps more likely could be a missing linux-firmware package.

EDIT: AX210 is listed as supported by the iwlwifi module - so I'd suspect you just didn't install the linux-firmware package. If you did, is that module loaded?

Last edited by Trilby (2023-04-17 16:23:25)

Stargarth · 2023-04-17 17:17:26

Yup, that was it. Thanks Trilby! I didn't have firmware for the card<facepalm>.
I've installed the linux-firmware, enabled dhcpcd and it started to work.

I thought that drivers are usually baked into the kernel. Does that mean that there is a proprietary blob in the firmware package that is required for my wi-fi card?

Last edited by Stargarth (2023-04-17 17:21:47)

Trilby · 2023-04-17 23:30:21

Some drivers are compiled into the kernel, but firmware is not (and has never been). Previously all the firmware blobs were distributed with the kernel package, but as of some time ago (perhaps a year in my not so good estimation / recollection) these were split out into their own package. The installation guide clearly states that the linux-firmware package must be installed along with the kernel and base package group.

Arch Linux

#1 2023-04-17 16:17:37

[SOLVED] iwctl device in live environment but not in the installation

#2 2023-04-17 16:20:52

Re: [SOLVED] iwctl device in live environment but not in the installation

#3 2023-04-17 17:17:26

Re: [SOLVED] iwctl device in live environment but not in the installation

#4 2023-04-17 23:30:21

Re: [SOLVED] iwctl device in live environment but not in the installation

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