Fedora 14 x86_64 NetworkManager fails to enable wireless

[aks]

Though a similar problems is posted at this thread, I needed to re-post because of the associated version of Fedora and NetworkManager.

I'm using a Lenovo B450 laptop with Fedora 14 x86_64. The laptop has a Atheros AR5001 wireless adapter and is identified at lscpi. Additionaly lspci reports that the kernel driver in use and the kernel module for that device is ath5k.

On a fresh install of Fedora 14, the NetworkManager applet seem to behave well at enabling and disabling wireless (remember the "Enable Wireless" checkbox). Though wireless was always at disabled state at every boot time, even if it was enabled at the toggle button on the laptop. Now that, after I have fully updated the system (yum -y update), I'm unable to enable wireless. Clicking on the "Enable Wireless" menu item on the NetworkManager applet has no effect, and I've a confirmed report that the update broke this functionality (I reinstalled F14, and then it was working, full system update broke the function).

After the update, the kernel version is 2.6.35.10-72.fc14.x86_64 and the NetworkManager version is 0.8.1-10.git20100831.fc14.x86_64.

The log file (/var/log/messages) has some clue (as posted below):


Does anyone else has a similar problem. Any one tried a fix?

Thank you.

[stoat]

It's a long shot, a pure guess, but harmless... Try deleting any existing connections in NetworkManager (right-click panel icon, Edit Connections, Wireless, Delete). Then try again.

[aks]

Originally Posted by stoat

It's a long shot, a pure guess, but harmless... Try deleting any existing connections in NetworkManager (right-click panel icon, Edit Connections, Wireless, Delete). Then try again.

Stoat:
There are no connection in the Wireless tab, and even if it had, deleting them would not solve the problem. I had tried this step earlier.

[gothiclovechild]

I had a similar issue a while back. what I did that fixed it for me was installed rfkill and typed su -c 'rfkill unblock wifi'

[marko]

It's also a good idea when you have network problems to run the system-config-network tool and make sure all the settings make sense. Select the wlan0 (wireless) interface and press the Edit button
and set:

Controlled by NetworkManager --> checked
Activate device when computer starts --> checked

[mlfisher]

Similar issue on an HP EliteBook 8540p. Wireless failed after update to NetworkManager 0.8.1-10.git20100831.fc14. downgrading to NetworkManager-0.8.1-9.git20100831.fc14 solved the problem.

[Imaginenz]

Similar problem on a Sony Vaio VPCYA15FG with Atheros AR9285 wifi, loading default ath9k driver. Worked fine with fresh F14 install, but after full update, cannot enable wireless via NetworkManager icon, even tho ath9k module is loaded.

Running NetworkManager 0.8.1-10.git20100831.fc14

Possible solution - acer_wmi module is broken and interfering with wireless.
modprobe -r acer_wmi
Success!!, instantly wifi starts working again.

See:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=665341

http://www.mail-archive.com/networkm.../msg16494.html

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=16570

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=655371

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=658003

[technolope]

Originally Posted by Imaginenz

Possible solution - acer_wmi module is broken and interfering with wireless.
modprobe -r acer_wmi
Success!!, instantly wifi starts working again.

Same problem, Lenovo S205, updated Fedora 14 x86_64 installation, AR9285 adaptor, 2.6.35.13-91.fc14.x86_64 kernel, NetworkManager-0.8.4-1.fc14.x86_64, same solution. Thanks!

[rksplash]

Has any body tried disabling NetworkManager and simply using iwconfig to connect. You can add it to /etc/rc.d/rc.local as default .

dhclient -r wlanX
dhclient -r ethX
ifconfig wlan0
iwconfig essid XXXXX key XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
dhclient wlan0

Works for me.

[thunderheights]

Originally Posted by gothiclovechild

I had a similar issue a while back. what I did that fixed it for me was installed rfkill and typed su -c 'rfkill unblock wifi'

Thanks so much for this