[Tech] wifi issues with Ubuntu
Christian Einfeldt
einfeldt at gmail.com
Fri Aug 31 21:31:36 PDT 2018
Hi, with the help of my hardware guru, Holden Aust, I was able to solve a
wifi problem with the wifi not working on the Alamo SFUSD Thinkpad x140e
notebooks that teacher Owen Peery is using to replace Microsoft Windows
machines for students in at least one classroom, and probably several
classrooms. The Lubuntu 18.04 was simply not seeing the wifi cards, due to
proprietary Broadcom drivers. All I had to do was install the drivers. It
was not really even all that terribly difficult, after Holden found the
proper instructions on line. Here are the instructions:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/847580/no-wifi-with-broadcom-43142-ubuntu-16-04
Here is the output, so that you can see how it played out on this
particular machine, which is machine 9:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HvEUIeeHpDqD1aNbb0DBE4qMQNRXRaFR0b5uha8__3s/edit
If you need an invitation to this document, please just let me know. I
have invited Holden, Lyz, and Grant, and am happy to invite others. Many
thanks to Holden in helping me solve this problem for the Alamo school,
which is a direct SFUSD school, not a public charter, like KIPP was. The
teachers were complaining that these Thinkpads were too slow to use
before. Now tech teacher Owen Peery thinks the machines are fast and
thinks they will be popular with teachers.
On Thu, Aug 30, 2018 at 12:33 AM Holden Aust wrote:
> It looks to me like the driver/firmware for the Broadcom BCM43142 network
> card is not loaded. I think that's why only the bluetooth and NOT the
> 802.11b/g/n circuit shows up when the rfkill utility is run. It looks like
> the Broadcom card has both bluetooth AND Wifi on the same card. But you
> have to install the driver/firmware for the WiFi part of the card to become
> operational and to be seen by the rfkill utility.
>
> This article seems to show how you can install the Broadcom driver:
>
>
> https://askubuntu.com/questions/847580/no-wifi-with-broadcom-43142-ubuntu-16-04
>
> When you install Ubuntu do you download the latest updates? I hope so,
> since updated network card drivers will be installed along with kernel
> updates when you do an update.
>
> If you run lsmod in a console, it will (as the name says list the modules
> which are loaded and running). I don't know exactly how the Broadcom module
> be named, but it will probably have the number 43142 in it. If that doesn't
> show up in the list generated by lsmod, it isn't loaded and that's why the
> WiFi isn't working.
>
> If you know the name of the Broadcom WiFi module, you can get more
> information about it by running sudo modinfo [module name].
>
> In my case, sudo modinfo r8169 this is what I get (r8169 is the name of
> the wired Ethernet module on my motherboard)
>
> filename:
> /lib/modules/4.12.14-lp150.12.16-default/kernel/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169.ko
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8107e-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8107e-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168h-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168h-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168g-3.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168g-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8106e-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8106e-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8411-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8411-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8402-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168f-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168f-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8105e-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168e-3.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168e-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168e-1.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168d-2.fw
> firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168d-1.fw
> version: 2.3LK-NAPI
> license: GPL
> description: RealTek RTL-8169 Gigabit Ethernet driver
> author: Realtek and the Linux r8169 crew <netdev at vger.kernel.org>
> suserelease: openSUSE Leap 15.0
> srcversion: D9FE583C1D2FE3D0A0E8550
> alias: pci:v00000001d00008168sv*sd00002410bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v00001737d00001032sv*sd00000024bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v000016ECd00000116sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v00001259d0000C107sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v00001186d00004302sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v00001186d00004300sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v00001186d00004300sv00001186sd00004B10bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v000010ECd00008169sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v000010ECd00008168sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v000010ECd00008167sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v000010ECd00008161sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v000010ECd00008136sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> alias: pci:v000010ECd00008129sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
> depends: mii
> retpoline: Y
> intree: Y
> vermagic: 4.12.14-lp150.12.16-default SMP mod_unload modversions
> retpoline
> parm: use_dac:Enable PCI DAC. Unsafe on 32 bit PCI slot. (int)
> parm: debug:Debug verbosity level (0=none, ..., 16=all) (int)
>
> The lines ending with "fw" are the indication that the r8169 module
> includes the firmware for the various versions of the Ethernet chip that
> the module supports (8107, 8168, 8106, 8411, etc.)
>
> On Wed, Aug 29, 2018 at 11:55 PM Christian Einfeldt <einfeldt at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi thanks,
>>
>> Could you please try to copy and past this command
>>
>> rfkill
>>
>> and then copy and paste the output from that command? Thanks!
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 29, 2018 at 8:44 PM Peery, Owen <peeryo at sfusd.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> I tried that earlier script you mentioned and here is that output
>>>
>>> ragingwaters at ragingwaters-op-09:~$ lspci -nn | grep -i network
>>> 01:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Limited BCM43142 802.11b/g/n
>>> [14e4:4365] (rev 01)
>>>
>>> It looks like there is a card because of the 802.11b/g/n but is it off
>>> or on?
>>>
>>> On Wed, Aug 29, 2018 at 8:39 PM Peery, Owen <peeryo at sfusd.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Christian,
>>>> I am at home, with an X140e, where the wifi is not working, I am
>>>> plugged into my router with a ethernet cable. Here is the output after I do
>>>> rfkill
>>>>
>>>> ragingwaters at ragingwaters-op-09:~$ sudo sh -c 'printf
>>>> "[Seat:*]\nallow-guest=true\n"
>>>> >/etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/40-enable-guest.conf'
>>>> [sudo] password for ragingwaters:
>>>> ragingwaters at ragingwaters-op-09:~$ rfkill
>>>>
>>>> ID TYPE DEVICE SOFT HARD
>>>> 0 bluetooth tpacpi_bluetooth_sw unblocked unblocked
>>>> 1 bluetooth hci0 unblocked unblocked
>>>> ragingwaters at ragingwaters-op-09:~$
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Aug 29, 2018 at 7:29 PM Christian Einfeldt <einfeldt at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> hi Owen,
>>>>>
>>>>> My current theory is that the wifi adapters on these machines have
>>>>> been manually turned off by pressing fn+f5. All you have to do is press
>>>>> fn+f5 again to turn the wifi on (if my theory is correct).
>>>>>
>>>>> Before you hit the fn+f5, you could try to just run
>>>>>
>>>>> rfkill
>>>>>
>>>>> just like that and you should get output that looks like this, except
>>>>> that this is rfkill with the wifi working:
>>>>>
>>>>> ID TYPE DEVICE SOFT HARD
>>>>> 0 wlan phy0 unblocked unblocked
>>>>>
>>>>> The formatting is a little confusing but this is what it means:
>>>>>
>>>>> ID (of the USB WiFi adapter) = 0
>>>>>
>>>>> Interface type = wlan
>>>>>
>>>>> Device type = phy0
>>>>>
>>>>> Software control = unblocked (i.e. not shut down but working)
>>>>>
>>>>> Hardware control = unblocked (i.e. not turned off by a hardware switch
>>>>> but working)
>>>>>
>>>>> If the report had said HARD blocked that would have meant that the
>>>>> hardware switch to physically turn the WiFi adapter OFF was turned OFF.
>>>>>
>>>>> So maybe please try running
>>>>>
>>>>> rfkill
>>>>>
>>>>> and put that in an email to me. Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, Aug 29, 2018 at 4:35 PM Peery, Owen <peeryo at sfusd.edu> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Christian,
>>>>>> I'm trying rfkill --help but I don't see anything about wifi.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Do I just have to open Terminal and type in rfkill --help?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Wed, Aug 29, 2018 at 12:23 AM Christian Einfeldt <
>>>>>> einfeldt at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Owen, it turns out that there is a tool called rfkill that you
>>>>>>> can use to help you diagnose whether the wifi adapter is on or off. Please
>>>>>>> see below for more. :-)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>>>>>>> From: Holden
>>>>>>> Date: Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 11:59 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: wifi issues with Ubuntu
>>>>>>> To: Christian Einfeldt <einfeldt at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There is a Linux console command named rfkill which can tell you if
>>>>>>> a WiFi adapter is switched off with a hardware switch and whether it is
>>>>>>> enabled or disabled by a software driver.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> rfkill --help
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Usage:
>>>>>>> rfkill [options] command [identifier ...]
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tool for enabling and disabling wireless devices.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Options:
>>>>>>> -J, --json use JSON output format
>>>>>>> -n, --noheadings don't print headings
>>>>>>> -o, --output <list> define which output columns to use
>>>>>>> -r, --raw use the raw output format
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -h, --help display this help
>>>>>>> -V, --version display version
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Available output columns:
>>>>>>> DEVICE kernel device name
>>>>>>> ID device identifier value
>>>>>>> TYPE device type name that can be used as identifier
>>>>>>> TYPE-DESC device type description
>>>>>>> SOFT status of software block
>>>>>>> HARD status of hardware block
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Commands:
>>>>>>> help
>>>>>>> event
>>>>>>> list [identifier]
>>>>>>> block identifier
>>>>>>> unblock identifier
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The output below is the output I got when I connected a USB WiFi
>>>>>>> adapter to my desktop and ran sudo rfkill. In this example it says that
>>>>>>> the USB WiFi adapter is named "wlan" and it is "phy" device and is
>>>>>>> unblocked (i.e. working) both with the software device driver and is not
>>>>>>> locked physically with a switch in the OFF position. I think it will
>>>>>>> probably be shown as "unblocked" when it doesn't have an on-off switch as
>>>>>>> well as when a device has an on-off switch that is set to the ON position.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ID TYPE DEVICE SOFT HARD
>>>>>>> 0 wlan phy0 unblocked unblocked
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 9:24 PM Christian Einfeldt <
>>>>>>> einfeldt at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi Owen,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Here is the command that we need to use to find out if the machines
>>>>>>>> have wifi built in. It tells you the exact name of the wifi adapter. I
>>>>>>>> ran this command on the Alamo Thinkpad x131e that you gave me to take
>>>>>>>> home. We need to run the same command on those x140e machines that are
>>>>>>>> having wifi problems. If you don't mind, please run this command on an
>>>>>>>> x140e and paste the output into an email for me. I wish I had taken home
>>>>>>>> one of those x131e machines. I will be busy tomorrow morning until about
>>>>>>>> 11:45 am and will check in with you then. Thanks!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ragingwaters at ragingwaters-op-13:~$ lspci -nn | grep -i network
>>>>>>>> 02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
>>>>>>>> RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter [10ec:8176] (rev 01)
>>>>>>>> ragingwaters at ragingwaters-op-13:~$
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Here is the link to the Partimus tech list, in case you want to get
>>>>>>>> on there and get some help.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://lists.partimus.org/listinfo.cgi/tech-partimus.org
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 5:56 PM Peery, Owen <peeryo at sfusd.edu>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> https://askubuntu.com/questions/235279/my-wifi-adapter-is-not-working-at-all-how-to-troubleshoot
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> -- "Harness Collective Intelligence" --
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Christian Einfeldt
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Christian Einfeldt
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> -- "Harness Collective Intelligence" --
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Owen Peery
>>>>>> K-5 Computer Science Teacher
>>>>>> Alamo Elementary School
>>>>>> 250 23rd Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121
>>>>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=250+23rd+Avenue,+San+Francisco,+CA+94121&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>>>>> @owenpeery on Twitter #CSinSF
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Christian Einfeldt
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> -- "Harness Collective Intelligence" --
>>>>
>>>> Owen Peery
>>>> K-5 Computer Science Teacher
>>>> Alamo Elementary School
>>>> 250 23rd Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121
>>>> @owenpeery on Twitter #CSinSF
>>>>
>>> --
>>> -- "Harness Collective Intelligence" --
>>>
>>> Owen Peery
>>> K-5 Computer Science Teacher
>>> Alamo Elementary School
>>> 250 23rd Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121
>>> @owenpeery on Twitter #CSinSF
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Christian Einfeldt
>>
>
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