acer_wmi is blocking wireless on Ideapad S12

I just found out the same after two hours of chasing logs and reading the platform-driver-x86 list :D

In short: I can confirm the bug on Maverick and Natty.

As it has been mentioned, "acer_wmi" should be blacklisted and "ideapad_acpi" should be added to /etc/modules instead. Beware: "ideapad_acpi" is a fairly recent module (August), it is included in Natty's -36 kernel but I don't know about maverick's -35!

On the platform-x86-driver mailing list, they are talking about how to blacklist acer-wmi on other laptop or how to whitelist acer laptops. I will keep watching it.

This bug affects 11.04 beta-1 too:
WLAN doesn't work until the module acer_wmi is blacklisted.

from https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/771758/comments/8 and https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/771758/comments/9:

I have tried pretty much all combinations of the brcm80211, wl, and acer_wmi modules on my Lenovo IdeaPad U160 and here's what I've found. The brcm80211 module/driver doesn't work under any conditions.

If I boot normally, with the acer_wmi and wl modules loaded automatically, then wifi doesn't work because of rfkill but I can't unblock them until I "sudo modprobe -r acer_wmi". Then wifi works fine. If I blacklist acer_wmi, wifi doesn't work again because of rfkill, but this time I can't unblock it until I "sudo modprobe acer_wmi" and then remove it again with "sudo modprobe -r acer_wmi".

So it seems like the acer_wmi module is doing some sort of necessary initialization without which the wl module and rfkill can't work. Hope that helps track down the real bug.

I fixed the problem on my U160 by abusing /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf. I replaced:

    install wl /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install wl $CMDLINE_OPTS

with:

    softdep wl pre: acer_wmi
    install wl /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install wl $CMDLINE_OPTS && rflist unblock all
    install acer_wmi /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install acer_wmi $CMDLINE_OPTS && /sbin/modprobe -r acer_wmi

Removing and blacklisting the acer_wmi module present in Linux 2.6.38-8-generic kernel under Ubuntu 11.04 on Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E520 with Centrino Wireless-N 1000 chipset fixes wireless network connectivity instantly.

$ rfkill list all
$ sudo rmmod -f acer_wmi
$ sudo rfkill unblock all
$ sudo su
# echo "blacklist acer_wmi" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
# exit

Hi,

I've been told there is a better solution for acer-wmi rfkill issue and built kernel with the fix.

Please test the kernel (based on natty release) and let me know if the kernel fix this issue or not.

Kernel img is here: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~ikepanhc/lp/836865-2/

Thanks a lot.

find out needs to cherry-pick another commit.

Rebuild the kernel deb and put them at

 http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/836865-3/

If you have some free time, please remove acer-wmi from blacklist and test the kernel deb.

Thanks a lot

Hi,

I tried your kernel on a Lenovo Ideapad S12 with Ubuntu 11.10. "cat /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist* | grep acer" gives "# blacklist acer-wmi". This means acer-wmi is *not* blacklisted on my system.

"uname -rv" --> "2.6.38-12-generic-pae #51lp836865 SMP [...]"
acer-wmi not loaded
ideapad_laptop is loaded
b43 not loaded
Wlan not working, but if I load b43 Network-manager tells me firmware is missing (normal)

"uname -rv" --> "2.6.38-02063808-generic #201106040910 SMP [...]" (Ubuntu mainline kernel 2.6.38.8)
same situation as before

"uname -rv" --> "3.0.0-12-generic #20-Ubuntu SMP [...]" (Ubuntu oneiric kernel)
acer-wmi not loaded
ideapad_laptop is loaded
b43 not loaded
wl is loaded, driver for wlan card --> works out-of-the-box in a LiveUSB system for example, no need to download firmware as for b43...

I don't know what you wanted to see. It is funny for me to see, that the acer-wmi module is not loaded with none of the kernel images, even if the module is not blacklisted. With Ubuntu Natty it was a must for me to put this module on the blacklist in order to have any wifi connection. If I remember correctly, after the upgrade to Ubuntu oneiric, my system used the b43 module and I had to blacklist the acer-wmi module again. However, on the same laptop, the Oneiric LiveUSB system always used the "wl" module and gave me wlan out-of-the-box. Then I purged the b43 stuff from my installed system and installed with the additional drivers tool a new driver (wl module), which gives me now a much more reliable wlan connection...

Sorry, forget my last post.
In the past, I used the following command "echo 'options acer_wmi wireless=1' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/acer-wmi.conf" to "tweak" the acer-wmi module. However, this additional configuration file only prevents the acer-wmi module from being loaded according to the error message:

"FATAL: Error inserting acer_wmi (/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/acer-wmi.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)"

and in dmesg I have:

"acer_wmi: Unknown parameter `wireless’ "

So, I deleted this nonsense configuration file and tried the two kernels again.

"uname -rv" --> "2.6.38-12-generic-pae #51lp836865 SMP [...]"
acer-wmi is loaded (!), both in Ubuntu Natty and Oneiric --> wlan impossible

"uname -rv" --> "3.0.0-12-generic #20-Ubuntu SMP [...]" (Ubuntu oneiric kernel)
acer-wmi is loaded too, wlan not working even after unloading acer-wmi. Only blacklisting and rebooting helps

My conclusion is, that your kernel does not improve the situation :-(
Any hints?

Hi,

So far what I know is that acer-wmi register rfkill of acer-wireless on lots of laptops, including several ideapads. Unfortunately there are something wrong with soft block. Even the wireless is powered on, rfkill shows wireless is soft blocked and we find no way to unblock it.

So, with this test kernel, please check the output of `rfkill list` and ideally there shall be no acer-wireless, then you can unblock all by `rfkill unblock all` and wireless shall work fine.

If not, please attach the output of `rfkill list`, `dmesg` and `lsmod` and I will try to find out why.

I've built another kernel with the same patches and put at http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-3/ if you would like to test on Oneiric.

Please refer to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/875659/comments/32

I tried again and it works (almost) :-)

2.6.38-12-generic-pae #51lp836865 SMP with Ubuntu Natty
acer-wmi is loaded

rfkill list
0: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
2: hci0: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
3: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: yes

Although my physical hardware switch is enabled, the wlan card's state is "Hard blocked: yes". "rfkill unblock all" does not unblock it. I have to disable and reenable the hardware switch manually and then I get wlan connection right away :-)

dmesg and lsmod attached.

lsmod

Thanks a lot.

We have the same report on ideapad s205 (see bug 875659). I will raise the issue to upstream maintainers.

Hi,

I've talked to upstream maintainers. We would like to make sure this patch introduce the incorrect status of phy0's rfkill.

Could you try with kernel in comment 11 and also blacklist acer-wmi, make sure the physical wireless switch is on, then reboot. Then please attach the log of `rfkill list`.

Thanks a lot.

I blacklisted the acer-wmi module in Natty and rebooted with the enabled hw-switch.

uname --> 2.6.38-12-generic-pae #51lp836865 SMP Fri Nov 18 08:39:40

michael@m-S12:~$ rfkill list
0: hci0: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: no
2: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
3: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: no

michael@m-S12:~$ rfkill unblock all
michael@m-S12:~$ rfkill list
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
3: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no <---- is "no"
michael@m-S12:~$ rfkill list
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
3: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: yes <---- changes to "yes" after a couple of seconds

dmesg shows:
[ 218.980529] b43-phy0: Loading firmware version 410.2160 (2007-05-26 15:32:10)
[ 219.283331] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 219.284310] b43-phy0 ERROR: Fatal DMA error: 0x00000400, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000
[ 219.284325] b43-phy0 ERROR: This device does not support DMA on your system. It will now be switched to PIO.
[ 219.284335] b43-phy0: Controller RESET (DMA error) ...
[ 219.292900] b43-phy0: Radio hardware status changed to DISABLED
[ 219.512517] b43-phy0: Loading firmware version 410.2160 (2007-05-26 15:32:10)
[ 219.816567] b43-phy0: Controller restarted
[ 224.892490] b43-phy0: Radio hardware status changed to DISABLED

Disabling & reenabling the hw-switch does not unblock the "hard block". Loading the acer-wmi module and toggling hw-switch does not unblock the device neither... ??? (though this works if acer-wmi is loaded during boot as shown in previous comments...)

Btw, if you want me to test your 3.0... kernel for oneiric, please provide a 32bit version as this is all I have :-)

The behavior in comments #16 was confirmed by several reboots.
However, afterwards I wanted to reenable wlan by unblacklisting acer-wmi (situation as in comment #12). But even several reboots and shutdowns did not bring wlan back (in Natty with your patched kernel). The "phy0: Wireless LAN" was always "Hard blocked: yes. ". Toggling hw-switch did not help.
Then I booted into Oneiric (acer-wmi blacklisted) with kernel 3.0.0-13 and there was no wlan again (it almost freaked me out ;-) ). Something was hardblocked all the time. Even an external USB-wlan-card, which helped me out in the past when the acer-wmi was annoying me, did not work anymore.
In the end a combination of loading/unloading acer-wmi and toggling the hw-switch did the trick. Since then, wlan works again, even in Natty with your patched kernel....

I don't know if anything of this is usefull to you, but I though providing some info should not hurt... ;-)

Let me know if you need any logs or a rerun of some procedures.

This is the rfkill log of ideapad s12 and s205. Still waiting for the last report of thinkpad E520 (bug 826784 and bug 836865)...

Hi,

I am thinking an alternative approach. Since most of the report is on ideapads or thinkpads, and we have rfkill registered in ideapad-laptop, I think it will be fine not to register acer-wmi rfkill if we find ideapad/thinkpad device in DSDT.

Ref: http://<email address hidden>/msg02788.html

I have made the patch and built the test kernel, but I have no machine to check, could you help me check if this kernel fix this issue?

You can find the kernel at
   http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-5/

This kernel is built as Oneiric (11.10) amd64, if you need the test kernel on other release or arch, please let me know so that I can build for you.

Thanks a lot.

Please hold the test for a while, found out need to cherry-pick another commit

Ok, Here is the updated test kernel deb built for oneiric amd64

  http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/875659-6/

Hi,

According to the feedback from upstream maintainer, the patch is revised.

Could you help me testing the revised patch? I've built the a dkms package and put it at

  http://people.canonical.com/~ikepanhc/lp/826784-6/

To install the dkms deb, just use the command `sudo dpkg -i test-dkms_1_all.deb` and please blacklist acer-wmi
Please remember to reboot after installation.

To uninstall the dkms deb, please use the command `sudo dpkg -r test-dkms`

Please attach the output of `rfkill list` and `dmesg`

Ref: http://<email address hidden>/msg02859.html
     http://<email address hidden>/msg02860.html

Thanks a lot.

sorry for my late answer, I just got my laptop back after 2 months.

I installed your package (2012-02-03) and blacklisted acer-wmi. After a reboot, I do not notice anything particularly, Wifi works out-of-the-box... :-)
dmesg output is attached. Please let me know if I can do anything else. I try to do it quickly.

$ rfkill list
0: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
2: brcmwl-0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
3: hci0: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no

Thanks a lot. I will call it a passed test.

This patch has been merged into upstream kernel.

http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git;a=commit;h=461e74377cfcfc2c0d6bbdfa8fc5fbc21b052c2a

and also in stable kernel queue for 3.0 and 3.2

http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git;a=commit;h=3181903c5bb7ddcd83e02bc4ef57e8545d7b3574
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git;a=commit;h=0f716f1c764f60563f4adaa279f798654b3fdf95

It will be in ubuntu oneiric/precise soon.

The fix[1] has been merged into precise kernel.

[1] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/git?p=ubuntu/ubuntu-precise.git;a=commitdiff;h=13faef3e679243aec5c1e308eba1c70c6c72d055

This issue shall be no longer exist after beta2 precise image.

Set to Fix-released. If you still have trouble using wireless, please reopen this bug.