Kubuntu 14.04 WIFI hangs Intel Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300

[M_Sterba]

Hello Team and Happy Sunday,

I'm a bit at odds with my recent upgrade from 13.10 to 14.04 (Both 64bit) surrounding my WIFI performance. The problem is of a random nature in that I can connect and handshake with my router without a problem. The issue surfaces randomly when doing a video download or when I'm playing an online game. The connection appears to go to sleep on me thus timing out my connection. This happens regardless of webbrowers or game I'm playing.
Prior to the upgrade, I didn't have any isses so this really has caught me off gaurd. I have read about simuliar issues in earlier releases such as 12.04 surrounding the Intel chipset.
Is this a unique problem and/or what can I do to dianose the this issue? I understand we will need additional informaiton besides the WIFI card so pleas feel free to let me know what I can provide to walk through this.

Thank you,

Michael

[kc1di]

Hi Michael,

You can try this in a terminal and see if it makes a difference, don't have that wireless card here so can't test it for you.

sudo sh -c 'modprobe -r iwlwifi && modprobe iwlwifi 11n_disable=1'

if that works for you you can make it permanent by issuing this command

sudo sh -c 'echo "options iwlwifi 11n_disable=1" >> /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf'

Good luck

[M_Sterba]

Hello,

I gave the below a try. The WIFI conection went into a reset but would not reconnect afterwards. I then tried deleting the connection profile and re-establishing it without success. It wasn't till I rebooted did the computer handshake with the router. I did a quick test and found that my original problem still exists.

I'm wondering if there is a way to reinstall the driver? It worked perfectly until I did the upgrade. Thoughts?

Michael

Hi Michael,

You can try this in a terminal and see if it makes a difference, don't have that wireless card here so can't test it for you.

sudo sh -c 'modprobe -r iwlwifi && modprobe iwlwifi 11n_disable=1'

if that works for you you can make it permanent by issuing this command

sudo sh -c 'echo "options iwlwifi 11n_disable=1" >> /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf'

Good luck

[kc1di]

you can try going to System Settings > Driver Manager and see if it's there or if there are other options.

[Snowhog]

Since you did the upgrade, have you checked System Settings > Driver Manager to see if your wifi driver is identified and in use?

[M_Sterba]

Hello,

Well that was interesting. After collecting information on my system, Driver Manager doesn't show any drivers.

Since you did the upgrade, have you checked System Settings > Driver Manager to see if your wifi driver is identified and in use?

[kc1di]

do this in a terminal

lsmod

then post the output here.

[Snowhog]

Also, lspci.

[M_Sterba]

Per both requests...

lsmod:

Module                  Size  Used by
ctr                    13049  2 
ccm                    17773  2 
rfcomm                 69160  12 
bnep                   19624  2 
joydev                 17381  0 
hid_generic            12548  0 
usbhid                 52616  0 
hid                   106148  2 hid_generic,usbhid
arc4                   12608  2 
iwldvm                232285  0 
mac80211              626489  1 iwldvm
uvcvideo               80885  0 
videobuf2_vmalloc      13216  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops       13362  1 videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_core         40664  1 uvcvideo
videodev              134688  2 uvcvideo,videobuf2_core
coretemp               13435  0 
kvm                   451511  0 
pcmcia                 62299  0 
psmouse               102222  0 
serio_raw              13462  0 
snd_hda_codec_conexant    57441  1 
r852                   18058  0 
snd_hda_intel          52355  6 
sm_common              16860  1 r852
snd_hda_codec         192906  2 snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep              13602  1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm               102099  2 snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
snd_page_alloc         18710  2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
thinkpad_acpi          80817  0 
nand                   64233  2 r852,sm_common
nvram                  14411  1 thinkpad_acpi
lpc_ich                21080  0 
snd_seq_midi           13324  0 
snd_seq_midi_event     14899  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi            30144  1 snd_seq_midi
nand_ecc               13312  1 nand
nand_bch               13227  1 nand
bch                    17397  1 nand_bch
snd_seq                61560  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
nand_ids                8627  1 nand
mtd                    55529  2 nand,sm_common
snd_seq_device         14497  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
r592                   18023  0 
yenta_socket           41027  0 
snd_timer              29482  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
memstick               16966  1 r592
pcmcia_rsrc            18407  1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core            23592  3 pcmcia,pcmcia_rsrc,yenta_socket
iwlwifi               169932  1 iwldvm
btusb                  32412  0 
cfg80211              484040  3 iwlwifi,mac80211,iwldvm
bluetooth             395423  22 bnep,btusb,rfcomm
snd                    69238  23 snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,thinkpad_acpi,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_midi
mei_me                 18627  0 
mei                    82274  1 mei_me
soundcore              12680  1 snd
mac_hid                13205  0 
parport_pc             32701  0 
ppdev                  17671  0 
lp                     17759  0 
parport                42348  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
radeon               1514165  3 
ahci                   25819  2 
libahci                32168  1 ahci
firewire_ohci          40409  0 
sdhci_pci              23172  0 
sdhci                  43015  1 sdhci_pci
i2c_algo_bit           13413  1 radeon
firewire_core          68769  1 firewire_ohci
ttm                    85115  1 radeon
crc_itu_t              12707  1 firewire_core
drm_kms_helper         52758  1 radeon
drm                   302817  5 ttm,drm_kms_helper,radeon
wmi                    19177  0 
e1000e                254433  0 
ptp                    18933  1 e1000e
pps_core               19382  1 ptp
video                  19476  0

lspci:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub (rev 07)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset PCI Express Graphics Port (rev 07)
00:03.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset MEI Controller (rev 07)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 03)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev 93)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation ICH9M-E LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801IBM/IEM (ICH9M/ICH9M-E) 4 port SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV635/M86 [Mobility Radeon HD 3650]
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300
15:00.0 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (rev ba)
15:00.1 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller (rev 04)
15:00.2 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 21)
15:00.4 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 11)
15:00.5 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 11)

[Snowhog]

Maybe this will help: Intel Wireless WiFi Link, Wireless-N, Advanced-N, Ultimate-N devices
(Suggested solution via Google search and finding: HP EliteBook 8730w/ Intel Ultimate 5300 Network Issue on ubuntuforums.org)

[M_Sterba]

Hello Snowhog,

I was looking for the repository that would contain this. I thought this would be in the multiverse due to being non-free but so far I haven't been able to find and attach the correct one. Thoughts?

Thank you....

Maybe this will help: Intel Wireless WiFi Link, Wireless-N, Advanced-N, Ultimate-N devices
(Suggested solution via Google search and finding: HP EliteBook 8730w/ Intel Ultimate 5300 Network Issue on ubuntuforums.org)

[M_Sterba]

Hello Team,

Well... My assumption appears to be in error. I have been running a constant ping at the same time as web browsing and game playing. Even though both game playing and browsing (Browser type doesn't make a difference) freeze up but the pings remain at a healthy return rate. Now I'm fully stumped. This doesn't make any sense. It is almost like the ports are being blocked or delayed? I'm running on Comcast and have never even came close to my data limits.

I am one stumped puppy!

[Teunis]

So how does something like wget work during a browser lock-up?

Is it maybe port dependent, like does https work?
Or (s)ftp(s)?

[SteveRiley]

I was looking for the repository that would contain this. I thought this would be in the multiverse due to being non-free but so far I haven't been able to find and attach the correct one. Thoughts?

Unlike Debian, Ubuntu includes all the necessary firmware in a default install. You don't need to add any repositories.

---

You can try this in a terminal and see if it makes a difference, don't have that wireless card here so can't test it for you.

sudo sh -c 'modprobe -r iwlwifi && modprobe iwlwifi 11n_disable=1'

Hm. Are you sure this is an appropriate troubleshooting step? Let's see what that module parameter does...

steve@t520:~$ [B]modinfo iwlwifi[/B]                                                                                                                                                            
filename:       /lib/modules/3.14-2.dmz.1-liquorix-amd64/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwlwifi.ko                                                                                  
...
parm:           swcrypto:using crypto in software (default 0 [hardware]) (int)
[B][COLOR="#800000"]parm:           11n_disable:disable 11n functionality, bitmap: 1: full, 2: disable agg TX, 4: disable agg RX, 8 enable agg TX (uint)[/COLOR][/B]
parm:           amsdu_size_8K:enable 8K amsdu size (default 0) (int)
parm:           fw_restart:restart firmware in case of error (default true) (bool)
parm:           antenna_coupling:specify antenna coupling in dB (defualt: 0 dB) (int)
parm:           wd_disable:Disable stuck queue watchdog timer 0=system default, 1=disable, 2=enable (default: 0) (int)
parm:           nvm_file:NVM file name (charp)
parm:           bt_coex_active:enable wifi/bt co-exist (default: enable) (bool)
parm:           led_mode:0=system default, 1=On(RF On)/Off(RF Off), 2=blinking, 3=Off (default: 0) (int)
parm:           power_save:enable WiFi power management (default: disable) (bool)
parm:           power_level:default power save level (range from 1 - 5, default: 1) (int)

Setting 11n_disable to 1 completely disables all 802.11n functionality. Yes, there are numerous reports scattered about the web that mention setting that parameter to solve certain wireless problems. But I think it's a good idea to explain this -- the OP may not want to operate without 802.11n. And those recommendations applied to older, early 3.x kernels.

We have had some success here at KFN recommending that wi-fi drivers be switched to doing the crypto on the CPU rather than on the wi-fi card. You can test this with a command similar to the one kc1di suggested:

sudo sh -c 'modprobe -r iwlwifi && modprobe iwlwifi swcrypto=1'

Try that, play around a bit, and let us know if this works.