2.6.29-0.172.rc6.git3.fc11.i586: Problems with wlan and display

cheesie · #1 1st March 2009, 08:14 PM

after today's update I have to major problems:

1) I can't connect to my WLAN (D-Link Router DIR-615); it is not visible. I could connect to an older WLAN router from Buffalo with the same linux kernel (Fedora (2.6.29-0.172.rc6.git3.fc11.i586). I could also connect to a wlan of a neighbor (but it is not an open wlan)

2) Display : I can see just a part of most web pages (Firefox); also in a terminal the background is red. I have installed the NVIDIA drivers.

What should I do? Waiting for a linux kernel without bugs?

MetaCarpal · #2 2nd March 2009, 05:09 AM

I've encountered the same display issues you've described, but I do not believe this is related to the kernel. (I'm on kernel 2.6.29-0.176.rc6.git5.fc11.x86_64, btw)

If I log into KDE and use Konsole, I don't get the red background problem, and using Konqueror for web browsing fixes the web page display problems. But if I open gnome-terminal or firefox from inside KDE, I get the problem in those apps - which leads me to believe this may be related to the gtk package(s).

cheesie · #3 3rd March 2009, 05:15 PM

thanks. And what should I do? I can't user Linux without working wlan and with the display problems. I'am using Gnome. I have a HP notebook with integrated wlan card.

leigh123linux · #4 3rd March 2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesie

thanks. And what should I do? I can't user Linux without working wlan and with the display problems. I'am using Gnome. I have a HP notebook with integrated wlan card.

File a bug report.

Quote:

I can't user Linux without working wlan and with the display problems. I'am using Gnome. I have a HP notebook with integrated wlan card.

Any one with common sense would have another O/S installed, so use that instead till Rawhide is sorted.

MetaCarpal · #5 3rd March 2009, 07:28 PM

The package (vte) causing the issues with the red highlighting in gnome-terminal has been fixed, so running updates will resolve that.
(Here's the bug report for that if you're interested.)

The firefox issue is being caused by nspr, and they're currently working on it (bug report). If you don't want to wait on the fix, you can manually revert to the previous version.

You'll need two packages: nspr and nspr-devel. <<EDIT: fixed the nspr-devel link; thanks, bob!>> (Links go to pages on rpm.pbone.net, and are not direct downloads. Download links are about 1/2-way down the page.) Once you've downloaded them, you can install them with

Code:

rpm -ivh --oldpackage nspr-4.7.3-3.fc11.i386.rpm nspr-devel-4.7.3-3.fc11.i386.rpm

Or you can wait for the updates, which will probably come down the pipe tomorrow morning or the day after.

As for your WLAN issues, I can't help too much there because I don't know what model of wireless card you're using. Go to the RedHat/Fedora Bugzilla page and search for your problem. If you don't find it, file a new bug report so the developers know to fix it.

***bob*** · #6 3rd March 2009, 07:44 PM

Just as info, the link to nspr-devel is borked. You can certainly google it and grab it easily. Also, use 'rpm -Uvh' rather than 'rpm-ivh' to have it work.

MetaCarpal · #7 3rd March 2009, 08:14 PM

Thanks, bob. Link fixed in previous post.

cheesie · #8 7th March 2009, 08:18 AM

thanks for the help. Display problems are gone.

It is still not possible to connect to WLAN with a new kernel; card Intel Corporation Pro Wireless 3945 ABG (rather common I think with a notebook).
It isn't possible to make any changes with the Network Device Control. Activate/Deactivate is grey.
(this problem is with both kernel).

MetaCarpal · #9 11th March 2009, 08:04 PM

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond to this; it's been a crazy week.

I'm also using the Intel 3945 ABG wireless card, and it's a nightmare. Sometimes it connects just fine, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it keeps prompting for the wireless key over and over without actually connecting. More often than not, the connection just quietly dies in the middle of downloading a large file, particularly if I was getting a decent download speed.

There are a number of bugs filed on this, so you're not alone. The kernel devs and the team at IntelLinuxWireless.org and LinuxWireless.org* are working hard on this. It's just slow going.

The best work-around I can offer you is this: when your connection dies and/or you don't see your wireless AP listed, right-click the NetworkManager applet, uncheck "Enable Networking", count to 20, and re-enable networking through the applet. It takes anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute to get the wireless up and going again, but you'll be able to connect... at least, until the next time it flops out on you.

Keep your fingers crossed, and I'll be suffering right along side you.

*Unless you're really keen on recompiling your kernel yourself, I wouldn't advise downloading the packages from these sites yourself. One of the developers there also builds the Fedora kernels, so they keep the updates pretty well synced.

cheesie · #10 11th March 2009, 10:32 PM

thanks for your help. I "only" have the problem that I can't find my wireless AP. Even today's update didn't change.
Until now it helps most to try to access to the wrong AP and wait until my AP is listed. It seems to me to be a Fedora problem as I can use another distribution/live CD and I don't have any problems with WLAN.
Too bad that I bought a new WLAN router; I didn't have the problem with the old one.

cheesie · #11 30th March 2009, 09:37 PM

it seems to be that the wlan problem is solved with today's update to
Fedora (2.6.29-16.fc11.i586); the problem was only with fedora; with every live cd I tried (Knoppix, Ubuntu Beta 9.0.4, Mandriva 2009.1 beta) it didn't exist.