Kubuntu 12.04: wireless not

[ptoche]

I just upgraded from 11.10 to 12.04 on two of my machines (an upgrade, not a clean install). One went fine, but I'm having a problem the wireless detection on my Lenovo U300S.

Everything else seems to work.

There is no hardware problem. I know this because: there is no problem on my windows partition and there is no problem when booting on the linuxlive usb.

Can I do a repair job from the linuxlive usb? or can I copy files from there to here? if so, which files should I overwrite?

many thanks,

I copy the diagnostics below.

patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ sudo rfkill list
[sudo] password for patrick:
0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
2: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ sudo lshw -C network
*-network UNCLAIMED
description: Network controller
product: Centrino Wireless-N 1030
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
version: 34
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:f7d00000-f7d01fff
patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 1030 [8086:008b] (rev 34)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 1030 BGN [8086:5315]
Kernel modules: iwlagn
patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ rfkill list all
0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
2: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
dm_crypt 23199 0
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 32040 1
snd_hda_codec_conexant 62197 1
snd_hda_intel 33390 2
snd_hda_codec 104802 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_ intel
snd_hwdep 13668 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 96755 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi 13324 0
snd_rawmidi 30547 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 14899 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 61896 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 29991 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 14540 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
joydev 17693 0
snd 68266 14 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_ intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi, snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
iwlagn 314213 0
mac80211 310872 1 iwlagn
parport_pc 36962 0
ppdev 17113 0
ideapad_laptop 13871 0
uvcvideo 72711 0
videodev 93004 1 uvcvideo
soundcore 12680 1 snd
lp 17799 0
rfcomm 47946 16
bnep 18436 2
binfmt_misc 17540 1
btusb 18600 2
psmouse 68503 0
serio_raw 13166 0
snd_page_alloc 18529 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
bluetooth 166112 23 rfcomm,bnep,btusb
v4l2_compat_ioctl32 17083 1 videodev
cfg80211 199587 2 iwlagn,mac80211
sparse_keymap 13890 1 ideapad_laptop
mei 41480 0
parport 46562 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
usb_storage 57901 0
uas 18027 0
ahci 26002 2
i915 566711 3
libahci 26861 1 ahci
drm_kms_helper 42558 1 i915
wmi 19256 0
xhci_hcd 78641 0
drm 236330 4 i915,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit 13423 1 i915
video 19412 1 i915
patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ sudo cat /var/log/syslog | grep -e b43 -e wl -e firmware -e wlan0 | tail -n35
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.915640] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-5.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.922453] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-4.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.922457] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: no suitable firmware found!
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.922560] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A disabled
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s NetworkManager[881]: <info> monitoring kernel firmware directory '/lib/firmware'.
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.029716] iwlagn: Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link AGN driver for Linux, in-tree:
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.029719] iwlagn: Copyright(c) 2003-2011 Intel Corporation
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.029774] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.029784] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.029816] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 1030 BGN, REV=0xB0
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.045883] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: device EEPROM VER=0x716, CALIB=0x6
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.045886] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Device SKU: 0X9
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.045889] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Valid Tx ant: 0X1, Valid Rx ant: 0X3
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.046059] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Tunable channels: 13 802.11bg, 0 802.11a channels
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.046148] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: irq 49 for MSI/MSI-X
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.181699] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-5.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.183640] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-4.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.183644] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: no suitable firmware found!
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 3.183754] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A disabled
Sep 26 09:24:46 patrick-U300s NetworkManager[974]: <info> monitoring kernel firmware directory '/lib/firmware'.
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s NetworkManager[830]: <info> monitoring kernel firmware directory '/lib/firmware'.
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.171226] iwlagn: Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link AGN driver for Linux, in-tree:
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.171230] iwlagn: Copyright(c) 2003-2011 Intel Corporation
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.171288] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.171297] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.171332] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 1030 BGN, REV=0xB0
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.187095] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: device EEPROM VER=0x716, CALIB=0x6
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.187099] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Device SKU: 0X9
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.187102] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Valid Tx ant: 0X1, Valid Rx ant: 0X3
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.187126] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: Tunable channels: 13 802.11bg, 0 802.11a channels
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.187213] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: irq 49 for MSI/MSI-X
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.198677] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-5.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.201908] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-4.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.201913] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: no suitable firmware found!
Sep 26 19:10:54 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 4.202014] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A disabled
patrick@patrick-U300s:~$

P.S. I do not know what b43 mean, I read some recommendation somewhere to install this: b43-fwcutter_015-9_amd64.deb, would you recommend it too?

[ptoche]

further clues

patrick@patrick-U300s:~$ sudo cat /var/log/syslog | grep -e b43 -e wl -e firmware -e wlan0 | tail -n35
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.915640] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-5.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.922453] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000g2b-4.ucode' failed.
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.922457] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: no suitable firmware found!
Sep 26 09:03:18 patrick-U300s kernel: [ 2.922560] iwlagn 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A disabled

There were some clues in the diagnostics I posted. It would seem that I am missing this:
http://intellinuxwireless.org/iwlwif...18.168.6.1.tgz

I un-tgz-ed and then [EDIT:] copied the latest version, which is version 6:

sudo cp iwlwifi-6000g2b-6.ucode /lib/firmware

Still not working... am I getting closer? Thanks!

I checked in /lib/firmware and indeed the file iwlwifi-6000g2b-6.ucode was copied properly. But I still get a message about iwlwifi-6000g2b-4.ucode and iwlwifi-6000g2b-5.ucode missing...

based on some suggestions I read there:
http://tanny.org/2012/04/27/how-to-f...-ubuntu-12-04/

[ptoche]

SOLVED!

The main problem was that I'm an idiot. And here's why: when I updated Kubuntu from 11.10 to 12.04, I did not update the grub menu, which I had customized to a very minimal state, with the result that the grub menu did not display the kernel used. As I had customized the menu with the older kernel, well I was still using that old kernel. And, as it happens, the old kernel is not compatible with iwlwifi-6000g2b-6. Hence the problem. After I recreated the grub menu and updated the reference to the newer kernel, the wifi was back. Et voilà.

This is the post that helped me remember this kernel issue:
http://wblinks.com/notes/fix-network...oshiba-portege

[jlittle]

... I had customized [the grub menu] to a very minimal state, with the result that the grub menu did not display the kernel used. ...

If you use customized grub menu entries, maybe you could use the /vmlinuz and /initrd.img symbolic links, which are kept pointing to the latest kernel.

Regards, John Little

[ptoche]

you could use the /vmlinuz and /initrd.img symbolic links, which are kept pointing to the latest kernel.

That's a great suggestion, John, thanks, I'll do that the next time I update the grub, which could be pretty soon what with 12.10 coming soon!

[ptoche]

John, if you're still listening, would you mind showing me how to use the symbolic links?

I quickly googled for it but nothing overwhelmingly easy to understand came up.

many thanks!

This is an entry in:
/etc/grub.d/40_custom

which was copy-edited-pasted from:
/boot/grub/grub.cfg

[CODE]
menuentry 'Kubuntu 12.04' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 15b55016-71b9-48cd-9422-ca8ad5eb572e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-31-generic root=UUID=15b55016-71b9-48cd-9422-ca8ad5eb572e ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-31-generic
}
[\CODE]

[jlittle]

The last two lines of the "menuentry" would become

linux /vmlinuz root=UUID=15b55016-71b9-48cd-9422-ca8ad5eb572e ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /initrd.img

Regards, John

[ptoche]

fantastic John, thanks very much, can't wait to try it.

P.S. apologies for late reply, been estranged from the internets for reasons touched upon there:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...x/+bug/974455/

I'm alright now, back on the keyboard!