System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

Skipper_the_eye_child · 2011-09-15 16:11:52

Since upgrading to the latest kernel (via standard Arch repos - not testing!) my system now hangs with a general protection fault error when shutting down, or though infrequent, randomly when browsing. Through some searching I have discovered this error is related to the use of the rt73usb module, and am able to reproduce the error by removing it (modprobe -r rt73usb).

I have seen that others have experienced the same problem, and in some cases reverted to the legacy rt73 drivers, an option I have tried by compiling and installing from AUR source. However, whilst the new module is 'hang free' and able to pick up my dongle, getting a network connection with a WPA encrypted key is not something I have achieved with either wicd or netcfg, in the first instance getting a 'bad password error' and in the latter an "ioctl[SIOCSIWENCODEEXT]: Operation not permitted"; each of these tools use the wext driver to 'talk' to the rt73 module, which I think is where things fall down.

Before upgrading to the 3.0 kernel (coming from a CD install), the rt73usb and kernel were harmonious, but I had bigger problems in random x-server closures, so downgrading is not a remedy.

What therefore is my best solution in terms of (a) getting a connection with the rt73 module, or (b) getting stable rt73usb modules?

Last edited by Skipper_the_eye_child (2011-11-12 04:11:00)

Skipper_the_eye_child · 2011-09-18 23:01:29

As a follow up, I have just attempted to compile Rutilt for use with the rt73 module, but a GCC bug means it won't work, though it appears a couple of bright sparks have written some fixes awaiting review/inclusion for 4.7 (and skipped out 4.6 annoyingly!)

http://old.nabble.com/PING%3A--patch--f … #a30514789
(no idea how or if I can apply these myself!?)

Alternatively, and going for my option (b), I have also tried compiling and using the rt73usb and dependent modules from the compat-wireless-patched source provided in the AUR, but this remedies nothing, i.e. the same old general protection error.

EDIT: Just pulled the rutilt package from ARM repos.

Last edited by Skipper_the_eye_child (2011-09-19 00:57:08)

Jauch · 2011-09-19 20:49:55

I'm having exactly this problem... https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=125656
Have you figured out a solution?

Skipper_the_eye_child · 2011-09-21 18:57:05

I've not investigated the issue within the last few days, but only got so far with rutilit: as before rt73's rausb0 interface was picked up, but no connection was made. Frustratingly, Rultilt gave me nothing in the way of error reporting : all i've so far is an excerpt from /var/log/message:

[stuart@myhost ~]$ sudo cat /var/log/messages.log* | grep rutilt
Password: 
Sep 19 16:08:08 myhost kernel: [   60.675310] rutilt[819]: segfault at 84 ip 00007effa9ac1c64 sp 00007fffa0728660 error 4 in libgdk-x11-2.0.so.0.2400.6[7effa9a53000+ad000]

libgdk-x11-2.0.so.0 is provided by the GTK2 package, so I am not convinced this error is related to my connection, or lack thereof. This however is all I have.

If you are wanting to try out rutilt w/ the rt73 module for your own exploration, to save you some time...

Rutilt can be got here:
(snapshots exist at later dates)
http://arm.konnichi.com/2009/11/01/community/os/

The patched rt73 module can be compiled and installed with yaourt. If you receive an 'smp_lock.h error' at compilation then creating a null file at /usr/include/linux should resolve this:

http://idratherhack.blogspot.com/2011/0 … lockh.html

Jauch · 2011-09-21 21:20:48

Thanks Skipper
I'll try it on weekend.

But I was looking on AUR and all the packages are orfans, except one, but seens to be a litle old...
How did you applyed the patch you talked about?

Thanks!

Last edited by Jauch (2011-09-21 21:49:14)

Skipper_the_eye_child · 2011-09-21 23:00:31

rt73-k2wrlz 3.0.3-2 (the non orphaned tarball) is patched automatically with yaourt. I'd meant - by "patched rt73 module" - that Merkil (maintainer) has supplied and written them in for inclusion: originally there were issues with compilation for the 3.0.3 release that are resolved here.

I've not much time to investigate this issue either atm, but hopefully later, and together we'll crack it...

Last edited by Skipper_the_eye_child (2011-09-21 23:03:07)

Jauch · 2011-09-22 08:38:59

I'll try the k2wrlz module this night. Have to use the power buttom every time I want to shut down the system is a big motivator rsrs
Anyway, I'm learning a lot trying to fix this and foresee a lot more learning on the way...

Thanks Skipper

Jauch · 2011-10-05 11:16:42

I tried the k2wrlz module, but couldn't make a connection...
Probably I did something wrong, because some modules that that rt73usb driver uses (like a cfg811 whatever) and others where not loaded when I used the k2wrlz driver...

Skipper_the_eye_child · 2011-10-06 19:53:43

I didn't use Yaourt to compile and install, but did download the patch files Merkil created for use with the 3.0.3 source tarball i'd already got elsewhere. You need to run 'depmod -a' so that the mac80211 and cfg80211 module dependencies for the newly built rt73.ko module are written to the /lib/modules/3.0-ARCH/modules.dep file. For me this was done automatically at the 'make install' stage of the build process, but providing you've the rt73.ko module at /lib/modules/3.0-ARCH/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/ then running 'depmod -a' ought to work.

You can check to see that mac80211 and cfg80211 have been (mod)probed by typing the following:

 lsmod | grep cfg

I've been really busy lately, and haven't been spending any time on this issue, so no further successes unfortunately! Do let me know if you get somewhere, because having to shutdown-reset-shutdown everytime is a pain.

EDIT: You are modprobe(ing) the module and not insmod(ing) aren't you? The latter doesn't dependency check.

modprobe -i rt73

Last edited by Skipper_the_eye_child (2011-10-07 01:46:28)

Jauch · 2011-11-09 22:49:01

I just updated my system, for kernel 3.1 and other things and now, everything is working. I can shut down my machine with no problems :-)

Skipper_the_eye_child · 2011-11-12 04:09:31

Man! I have been running 'pacman -Syu' every few days for weeks, and each time have never bothered to upgrade for the simple reason that unlike previously, there was no 'upgrade kernel' prompt.

But anyway, I now have and am very pleased to have that fixed: if the random crashes are gone, and the updated browsers (opera and firefox) are good and stable now then my system should be cleared of its errors, and running pretty perfectly.

Thank you for posting back after all this time! I'm glad you've got this sorted.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-09-15 16:11:52

System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#2 2011-09-18 23:01:29

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#3 2011-09-19 20:49:55

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#4 2011-09-21 18:57:05

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#5 2011-09-21 21:20:48

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#6 2011-09-21 23:00:31

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#7 2011-09-22 08:38:59

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#8 2011-10-05 11:16:42

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#9 2011-10-06 19:53:43

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#10 2011-11-09 22:49:01

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

#11 2011-11-12 04:09:31

Re: System hangs at shutdown with rt73usb module [SOLVED]

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