Wireless network not working after the last update

[pgeorgep84]

Hello,

I just updated my fedora 15 which, between others, included a kernel update. After reboot no wireless network is shown.

lsmod | grep 'b43 \| bcma \| wl'

returned

Module Size Used by
ppp_deflate 3130 0
zlib_deflate 16319 1 ppp_deflate
ppp_async 5640 1
crc_ccitt 1245 1 ppp_async
ppp_generic 18372 6 ppp_deflate,ppp_async
slhc 4032 1 ppp_generic
usb_storage 36519 0
uas 6207 0
option 13845 2
usb_wwan 9044 1 option
ppdev 6216 0
parport_pc 17816 0
lp 6973 0
parport 26550 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
cpufreq_ondemand 4782 2
8021q 14154 0
garp 4938 1 8021q
stp 1391 1 garp
llc 3726 2 garp,stp
acpi_cpufreq 8212 1
mperf 1137 1 acpi_cpufreq
ip6t_REJECT 3395 4
nf_conntrack_netbios_ns 901 0
rfcomm 49712 4
nf_conntrack_ipv6 6429 12
nf_defrag_ipv6 7174 1 nf_conntrack_ipv6
nf_conntrack_broadcast 987 1 nf_conntrack_netbios_ns
ip6table_filter 1215 1
nf_conntrack_ipv4 6874 12
nf_defrag_ipv4 1093 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
xt_state 942 24
nf_conntrack 56146 5 nf_conntrack_netbios_ns,nf_conntrack_ipv6,nf_connt rack_broadcast,nf_conntrack_ipv4,xt_state
ip6_tables 9828 1 ip6table_filter
bnep 11748 2
fuse 53547 13
btusb 12468 2
bluetooth 165011 23 rfcomm,bnep,btusb
uvcvideo 51089 0
videodev 64085 1 uvcvideo
media 9214 2 uvcvideo,videodev
r852 8045 0
sm_common 6580 1 r852
nand 38329 2 r852,sm_common
nand_ids 3778 1 nand
nand_ecc 3440 1 nand
r592 8656 0
mtd 24320 2 sm_common,nand
memstick 7187 1 r592
i2c_i801 8021 0
snd_hda_codec_idt 47537 1
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 20135 1
snd_hda_intel 20567 2
snd_hda_codec 71160 3 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 4905 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_seq 43528 0
snd_seq_device 5033 1 snd_seq
snd_pcm 63457 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_timer 15245 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd 48471 13 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel ,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,sn d_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 5027 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 6035 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
iTCO_wdt 10436 0
iTCO_vendor_support 2070 1 iTCO_wdt
sky2 35723 0
serio_raw 3394 0
dell_laptop 7267 0
rfkill 12939 4 bluetooth,dell_laptop
dell_wmi 1313 0
dcdbas 6152 1 dell_laptop
sparse_keymap 2746 1 dell_wmi
joydev 7219 0
microcode 11689 0
ipv6 235841 31 ip6t_REJECT,nf_conntrack_ipv6,nf_defrag_ipv6
sdhci_pci 7240 0
sdhci 19920 1 sdhci_pci
firewire_ohci 22642 0
mmc_core 66087 1 sdhci
firewire_core 41740 1 firewire_ohci
crc_itu_t 1243 1 firewire_core
wmi 7601 1 dell_wmi
i915 332204 3
drm_kms_helper 23178 1 i915
drm 156263 4 i915,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit 4206 1 i915
i2c_core 21572 6 videodev,i2c_i801,i915,drm_kms_helper,drm,i2c_algo _bit
video 10684 1 i915

[bbfuller]

Hello pgeorgep84

The answer to that could vary depending on which driver you were using before the upgrade. What was that?

Until the problem is fixed, try booting with the previous kernel. Tapping down arrow as the machine boots should reveal the boot menu with previous kernels to boot from.

[pgeorgep84]

Hello pgeorgep84

The answer to that could vary depending on which driver you were using before the upgrade. What was that?

Until the problem is fixed, try booting with the previous kernel. Tapping down arrow as the machine boots should reveal the boot menu with previous kernels to boot from.

hello bbfuller,

I booted with the previous kernel and the wireless network is working. I have installed the following packages:

abrt-addon-kerneloops-2.0.3-1.fc15.i686
akmod-wl-5.60.48.36-2.fc15.1.i686
broadcom-wl-5.60.48.36-1.fc13.noarch
kernel-2.6.38.8-35.fc15.i686
kernel-2.6.40.3-0.fc15.i686
kernel-2.6.40-4.fc15.i686
kernel-devel-2.6.38.8-35.fc15.i686
kernel-devel-2.6.40.3-0.fc15.i686
kernel-devel-2.6.40-4.fc15.i686
kernel-headers-2.6.40.3-0.fc15.i686
kmod-wl-2.6.38.8-35.fc15.i686-5.60.48.36-2.fc15.5.i686
kmod-wl-2.6.40.3-0.fc15.i686-5.60.48.36-2.fc15.1.i686
kmod-wl-2.6.40-4.fc15.i686-5.60.48.36-2.fc15.6.i686
kmod-wl-5.60.48.36-2.fc15.6.i686

but i don't know how to check which driver is actually loaded, kmod-wl or akmod.

[bbfuller]

Hello pgeorgep84

The job of "akmod-wl" is to generate a "kmod-wl" for each new kernel. It doesn't actually load by itself.

There has been a problem recently with the latest set of kernels for Fedora and the broadcom-wl driver. It came about when a new open source driver was included in the 3.0 series of kernels that prevented the "wl" driver loading. The 3.0 series of kernels has been renamed 2.6.40 by Fedora to avoid other complications.

However, if it was the usual problem that this new kernel/driver caused it should be causing the problem in both the 2.6.40-4 kernel and the newer 2.6.40.3-0 kernel.

Just to clarify a point, could you run:

uname -r

followed by:

lsmod | grep wl

for the kernel where you now have wireless running, followed by the same commands for the most recent kernel you have installed (where the wireless doesn't work) and copy and paste back the result.

[evilsquelch]

I had to do the following for Broadcom it worked for me then

echo “blacklist bcma” >> /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-wl-blacklist.conf

There was something in the update that required that I add BCMA to the blacklist.



upon initial installation i had to do the following

echo “blacklist acer-wmi” >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

My wireless works fine now. It does take a little longer to resolve with my router and it doesn't see anything if my computer goes to sleep but. One thing at a time.

I have a Lenovo B560.

EDITED:::::

So, this is weird. As I was saying my WiFi was working after the last update. My laptop went to sleep so I knew that it wouldn't be working when it woke up. I restarted my laptop to remedy this (i am sure there is another way but I currently don't know how.) After reboot, my WiFi doesn't even register. I did the commands up above such as the lsmod | grep 'b43 \| bcma \| wl' but it returns nothing at all. At one point in time the wl is what the software would show up under. Anyways I was thinking that maybe my hardware stopped working on me so I ran the following.

lspci

but in return i did receive what I wanted.
04:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11b/g LP-PHY (rev 01)


So apparently the hardware is there but the software isn't. I will re-install kmod-wl later and post the results. Sorry that something simple went wonky on us and just gave us more problems.

[pgeorgep84]

Hello pgeorgep84

Just to clarify a point, could you run:

uname -r

followed by:

lsmod | grep wl

for the kernel where you now have wireless running, followed by the same commands for the most recent kernel you have installed (where the wireless doesn't work) and copy and paste back the result.

Ok, here are the results:

for the kernel where wireless is running:

uname -r

2.6.38.8-35.fc15.i686

lsmod | grep wl

wl 1954479 0
lib80211 4103 2 lib80211_crypt_tkip,wl

and for the kernel where wireless doesn't work:

uname -r

2.6.40.3-0.fc15.i686

lsmod | grep wl

nothing is displayed

[bbfuller]

Hello pgeorgep84

Then it's probably the problem that"evilsquelch" talks about in his post. A driver named "bcma" is included in the new kernel that works with a few of the broadcom cards but unfortunately causes the "wl" driver to not load.

Blacklisting the driver by adding:

blacklist bcma

to the end of the file:

/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

and then rebooting will hopefully cause the wl to be able to work again.

Post back with questions or problems.

[pgeorgep84]

i have tried this yesterday and now , once again, but it didn't fixed the problem

[bbfuller]

Hello pgeorgep84

Well, it had to be tried as it is the most usual solution.

The other solution that has been used recently is to blacklist a module:

acer_wmi

which evilsquelch suggested as well.

You don't have that module loading, but you do have a:

dell_wmi

it may be worth trying to blacklist that, but I can't predict the outcome for the rest of your installation.

It might also be worth trying:

dmesg | grep wl

to see if the wl module is trying to load and if we get any error messages.

[pgeorgep84]

i have added dell_wmi to blacklist then rebooted my computer, but the problem remained.

dmesg | grep wl

doesn't return nothing

[bbfuller]

Hello pgeorgep84

I notice that you have the kmods for two recent 2.6.40 kernels installed. The earlier:

2.6.40-4

and the newest:

2.6.40.3-0

However, when you have working wireless you show that you are using the even earlier:

2.6.38.8-35 kernel

As you have the wireless module for the 2.6.40-4 kernel installed, I assume that you have that kernel installed as well.

Does the wireless work if you boot into the 2.6.40-4 kernel? Or does it not work with either 2.6.40 kernel.

[pgeorgep84]

yes, it works on 2.6.40-4. the problem appeared after the last update to 2.6.40.3-0

---------- Post added at 01:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:44 PM ----------

Hello pgeorgep84

I notice that you have the kmods for two recent 2.6.40 kernels installed. The earlier:

2.6.40-4

and the newest:



However, when you have working wireless you show that you are using the even earlier:

2.6.38.8-35 kernel

As you have the wireless module for the 2.6.40-4 kernel installed, I assume that you have that kernel installed as well.

Does the wireless work if you boot into the 2.6.40-4 kernel? Or does it not work with either 2.6.40 kernel.

i just received an update for kmod-wl and the problem is solved. thank you for helping me

[bbfuller]

Hello pgeorgep84

I don't pretend to know if this is relevant, but, your list of installed kernel modules shows this:

kmod-wl-2.6.40.3-0.fc15.i686-5.60.48.36-2.fc15.1.i686

for the latest kernel that doesn't work. Whereas the "rpmfusion" repository shows this:

kmod-wl-2.6.40.3-0.fc15.i686-5.60.48.36-2.fc15.7.i686

as being the distributed module. Note the one number difference near the end.

Now if your machine is generating it's own modules with the akmod program, which I don't think we know, then that may account for the number difference.

I think though that it would be worth either trying an update and see if that newer kmod comes in, or, forcibly removing that earlier kmod with yum and forcing it not to take out dependencies, followed by installing the newer kmod from rpmfusion.

EDIT:

It looks like our last posts crossed and that we had both got to the same conclusion.

Glad the wireless works.

[evilsquelch]

I had BCMA and acer-wmi blacklisted. I just had to re-install the kmod-wl and broadcom-wl packages.

all is good now, I had a completely different problem, but I know the blacklist worked after the last update. Sorry for the confusion.