Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

iphitus · 2008-08-04 09:43:33

For the running netcfg twice thingy...

Use netcfg from testing, and try various combinations of the quirks option. There's bound to be a combination that will work for you.

For the rmmod/modprobe driver, try PRE_UP="rmmod iwl3945; modprobe iwl3945"

Top_se · 2008-08-04 14:16:27

vertimyst wrote:

Another thing I'm confused about is how to get the connection to automatically connect on boot. I tried following the instructions in the Network Profiles wiki entry (http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Network_Profiles), but I can't find a NETWORKS=() line in my rc.conf. Is NET_PROFILES=() the line it's talking about, INTERFACES=(), or do I need to make a new line?

In my /etc/rc.conf there is the following section:

# Enable these network profiles at boot-up.  These are only useful
# if you happen to need multiple network configurations (ie, laptop users)
#   - set to 'menu' to present a menu during boot-up (dialog package required)
#   - prefix an entry with a ! to disable it
#
# Network profiles are found in /etc/network.d
#
# This now requires the netcfg package
#
NETWORKS=(home)

Where "home" is my network profile. So if this section isn`t present in your /etc/rc.conf than try to add at least this line: "NETWORK=(*profile*)" (where *profile* should be edge1 in your case I gess). Now netcfg2 should try to connect to your network during booting.

Top_se

vertimyst · 2008-08-06 21:14:18

I do have a similar section in my rc.conf:

# Enable these network profiles at boot-up.  These are only useful
# if you happen to need multiple network configurations (ie, laptop users)
#   - set to 'menu' to present a menu during boot-up (dialog package required)
#   - prefix an entry with a ! to disable it
#
# Network profiles are found in /etc/network-profiles
#
NET_PROFILES=(edge1)

And that's what I have. Netcfg2 doesn't start automatically, though. This may be because of the rmmod/modprobe thing. I'll also try iphitus' suggestion.

fosco · 2008-08-07 20:10:37

Regarding the modules: please try leaving them both in rc.conf, albeit transposing their order (the second one first).
About the network manager: I strongly suggest using wicd (http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wicd). If it works, you may even load it when the system boots up, by a simple modification of rc.conf. Follow the wiki.

Top_se · 2008-08-08 06:18:36

Hello vertimyst

vertimyst wrote:

I do have a similar section in my rc.conf:

# Enable these network profiles at boot-up.  These are only useful
# if you happen to need multiple network configurations (ie, laptop users)
#   - set to 'menu' to present a menu during boot-up (dialog package required)
#   - prefix an entry with a ! to disable it
#
# Network profiles are found in /etc/network-profiles
#
NET_PROFILES=(edge1)

And that's what I have. Netcfg2 doesn't start automatically, though

NET_PROFILES is the line the former netcfg (version 1) used, since you are using netcfg2, this line must be changed into NETWORKS=(...)

And when you can make sure that the deamon net-profiles and the modules for your wifi card are loaded correctly (iphitus` sugestion is very very helpful in this case!) than netcfg2 will start automatically during booting.

good luck!

vertimyst · 2008-08-09 17:41:49

Well, I've managed to get netcfg2 to try and connect on boot, but it fails because I still need to rmmod/modprobe iwl3945 after bootup, as well as run netcfg2 edge1 twice. First time I get 'Wireless association failed', second time works. I'm using netcfg 2.1.0_RC-1 from testing, with some quirks options in my network profile (right place?).

Where do I put PRE_UP="rmmod iwl3945; modprobe iwl3945"? In rc.conf, my network profile..?

Last edited by vertimyst (2008-08-09 17:43:59)

Top_se · 2008-08-10 14:39:13

vertimyst wrote:

I'm using netcfg 2.1.0_RC-1 from testing, with some quirks options in my network profile (right place?).

jup, right place, but there is no garantee that it works ... just try around a little bit

vertimyst wrote:

Where do I put PRE_UP="rmmod iwl3945; modprobe iwl3945"? In rc.conf, my network profile..?

put this as another line into your network profile.

vertimyst · 2008-08-10 17:18:06

Still no luck, during bootup, I get these messages (or similar):

Starting network: [failed]
eth0 not responding

edge1 up [failed]

eth0 is logical because it's mywired connection, which I'm not using at the moment. At least netcfg2 is trying to start my wireless, but it's failing because I have to rmmod/modprobe after I log in. The line I added to my network profile doesn't seem to be making a difference in that regard.

Edit: Oddly, when I booted up today, I was unable to start my network via netcfg2 edge1. I was able to connect by following the Wireless Quickstart directions in the Wireless Setup wiki, though, something I couldn't do before. Weird.

Last edited by vertimyst (2008-08-11 20:26:53)

cjpembo · 2008-08-17 19:58:15

All I did to get my 3945 to work was:
1. Install iwlwifi-3945-ucode via pacman (everything else in kernel)
(not running a custom kernel are you?)
2. Blacklist (!ipw3945) the old 3945 driver module in rc.conf
3. Ensure the new (@iwl3945) driver is loaded via rc.conf
5. Install wicd package (simple software that "just works")
4. Config the wireless card:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wicd
Dont forget to start the wicd daemon via rc.conf after you get it configured.

It really should be that simple; follow the wicd wiki page very closely.

thayer · 2008-08-17 21:13:24

cjpembo wrote:

All I did to get my 3945 to work was:
1. Install iwlwifi-3945-ucode via pacman (everything else in kernel)
(not running a custom kernel are you?)
2. Blacklist (!ipw3945) the old 3945 driver module in rc.conf
3. Ensure the new (@iwl3945) driver is loaded via rc.conf
5. Install wicd package (simple software that "just works")
4. Config the wireless card:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wicd
Dont forget to start the wicd daemon via rc.conf after you get it configured.

Regarding #2, you don't need to blacklist ipw3945. Simply remove it from the MODULES array if present.
Regarding #3, the @ symbol implies it is a daemon service, which it isn't. Add iwl3945 to the MODULES array, not the DAEMONS array.

vertimyst · 2008-08-17 22:24:39

Thanks for the help, but I still need to run rmmod iwl3945 and modprobe iwl3945 every time I boot. Other than that, though, my wireless is working fine now. wicd is really handy!

DePingus · 2008-09-07 22:32:05

I would like to chime in on this thread. I have the same problem on my HP 6510b with the iwl3945 wireless card. I've even upgraded to the latest BIOS version. (Should I reinstall Arch after a BIOS upgrade?)

Here's some info:

$ dmesg | grep 3945
iwl3945: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG/BG Network Connection driver for Linux, 1.2.26ks
iwl3945: Copyright(c) 2003-2008 Intel Corporation
iwl3945: Detected Intel Wireless WiFi Link 3945ABG
iwl3945: Tunable channels: 11 802.11bg, 13 802.11a channels
phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'iwl-3945-rs'
iwl3945: Failed to register network device (error -12)
iwl3945: probe of 0000:10:00.0 failed with error -12

To 'fix' the problem I have to do:

$ rmmod iwl3945
$ modprobe iwl3945

Its strange, the drivers actually load during boot, but the interface isn't created. 'lsmod | grep 3945' shows it loaded, but there is no wlan0 interface when I 'ifconfig -a'. I have to unload then reload the drivers for it to create the interface. After that I can connect to my AP with no problem.

As a side note, I also tried it with a patched driver (aircrack-ng fragmentation patch). Aside from the above problem it would give me a kernel panic when I:

$ iwconfig wlan0 essid MyESSID key 1234567890

Even with the kernel panic problem when I tried to connect to my AP, aircrack-ng actually worked great! Cracked APs are useless if I can't connect to them (I know, I know...shame on me) so I uninstalled the patched drivers and went back to the original.

It would be nice if there was a solution to 'error -12' instead of just fix. The solution is far beyond my capabilities. Im a linux n00b.

Thanks for the help, the Arch community, the great wiki, and of course a fantastic distro!

peart · 2008-09-07 22:54:43

http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/bugzi … gi?id=1212
Apparently the solution is to compile mac80211 directly into the kernel, rather than a module. I don't get error -12, so I haven't tried it.

DePingus · 2008-09-08 15:09:14

Thanks for the link. Messing with the kernel might be a little beyond me right now...not that thats going to stop me from trying! When I have some time research how to actually go about doing it I'll give it a try. If I have any luck I'll report back here.

DePingus · 2008-09-11 14:07:36

Just wanted to post a quick update on this issue...
I never did get around to compiling the driver into the kernel. Instead I ended up reinstalling. This time I switched to i686 from x86_64 (for different reasons) and now everything works nicely.
Thanks for the help anyways.

Themaister · 2008-09-12 05:55:52

Are you sure arch loads the firmware?

In my case I had to add the firmware hook to /etc/mkinitcpio.conf, and reinstall the kernel to get iwl3945 working and ofc, blacklist ipw3945d and ipw3945.

edit: aww :\ too late

Last edited by Themaister (2008-09-12 05:57:23)

Arch Linux

#26 2008-08-04 09:43:33

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#27 2008-08-04 14:16:27

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#28 2008-08-06 21:14:18

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#29 2008-08-07 20:10:37

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#30 2008-08-08 06:18:36

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#31 2008-08-09 17:41:49

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#32 2008-08-10 14:39:13

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#33 2008-08-10 17:18:06

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#34 2008-08-17 19:58:15

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#35 2008-08-17 21:13:24

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#36 2008-08-17 22:24:39

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#37 2008-09-07 22:32:05

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#38 2008-09-07 22:54:43

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#39 2008-09-08 15:09:14

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#40 2008-09-11 14:07:36

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

#41 2008-09-12 05:55:52

Re: Problem with Intel 3945 Wireless card and drivers

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