Network manager applet and wifi

Asked by Juan Zaragoza Alberich

When I left-click my network manager, I get Wired Network disabled (I suppose this is normal during wifi sessions, like this one), Wireless Network disabled and with no device, and no entries for 'Connect to other wireless network' or 'Create new wireless network'. The entry for VPN connections is OK.
I've got an Atheros wifi card which seems to work fine with ndiswrapper (maybe this is the reason), and Jaunty.
Thank you.

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Juan Zaragoza Alberich
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Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#1

And when I right-click network manager, information connection, I get the error "no valid connection available".

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Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#2

Please, tell us the output of these commands:

lshw -c network
lspci -nn | grep Atheros

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Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#3

Con lshw -c network da:

  *-network
       description: Wireless interface
       product: AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
       vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 01
       serial: 00:1f:3a:35:a1:75
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ndiswrapper+net5211 driverversion=1.53+,07/26/2007,5.3.0.67 ip=192.168.0.12 latency=0 module=ndiswrapper multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g
  *-network
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 1
       bus info: pci@0000:02:01.0
       logical name: eth0
       version: 10
       serial: 00:1b:38:f8:a6:74
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=8139too driverversion=0.9.28 latency=64 maxlatency=64 mingnt=32 module=8139too multicast=yes
  *-network DISABLED
       description: Ethernet interface
       physical id: 1
       logical name: pan0
       serial: 12:f8:65:7c:c6:1a
       capabilities: ethernet physical
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=bridge driverversion=2.3 firmware=N/A multicast=yes

Con lspci -nn | grep Atheros da:

01:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter [168c:001c] (rev 01)

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Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said :
#4

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.

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Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#5

Yesterday I tried Madwifi. I made what is been told in https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Device/AR5007 but I arranged nothing (Windows tells me that my Atheros Card is a an AR5007 one; I have a dual booting system). Everything went fine, with no errors.
Did I miss anything when I tried Madwifi? I installed Madwifi following the instructions, I switched Ndiswrapper off, I rebooted, and my network didn´t work at all (System, Administration, Hardware Controllers doesn´t seem to work well; when I try to activate the grey button next to Mmadwifi and make it turn green nothing happens). Then I reswitched Ndiswrapper on, I rebooted, and my networked worked again, but Network Manager didn´t.
I insist: my wifi works but my Network Manager doesn´t.
Why does Windows says that my Card is an AR5007 one and Linux that it's an AR242X one? Is it the same?
Do you need again my lshw -c network and my lspci -nn | grep working under Madwifi?

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Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#6

Do I have now two controllers (madwifi and ndiswrapper) fighting one another? Do I have to blacklist something?

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Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#7

> Why does Windows says that my Card is an AR5007 one and Linux that it's an AR242X one? Is it the same?

AFAIK, the AR5007 is the name of the card, and AR242X is the name of the chipset.

Please, try uninstalling BOTH madwifi and ndiswrapper. Add the jaunty-backports repository and install the package linux-backports-modules. Then reboot. Ensure the ath5x module is being loaded (should be listed in lsmod).

Sorry by the brief instructions, I'm not in my computer right now so I can't check the steps.

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#8

I do need more details. I'll wait for them. I'm not an expert.
How do I add jaunty backports repository?
How do I install linux backports modules?

Revision history for this message
Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#9

To add the jaunty backports repository:

 - Main menu: System -> Administration -> Software Origins
 - Tab: Updates
 - Check "Unsupported updates (jaunty backports)"
 - Close and choose yes when answered to reload the packages information.

To install linux-backports-modules:

 - Main menu: System -> Administration -> Synaptic Packets Manager
 - Rapid search: Type "linux-backports"
 - Packages list: Select "linux-backports-modules-jaunty". Right click. Select "Mark for Installation". If asked for mark additional changes, choose "Mark".
 - Click Apply and wait. A Summary will be shown. Click Apply.

After a reboot, to ensure the module is being loaded:

 - Main menu: Applications -> Accesories -> Terminal
 - Type this command: lsmod

You should see the ath5x module listed. If not listed, or if something goes wrong, please do the following:

- Main menu: Applications -> Accesories -> Terminal
- Type this command: lsmod
- Type this command: lshw -c network

Wait for the command completion and then copy & paste all the contents of the terminal here.

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#10

How should I uninstall Madwifi? With sudo ./madwifi-unload and then sudo ./find-madwifi-modules.sh $(uname -r)?
With respect to ndiswrapper, must I uninstall ngdisgtk, ndiswrapper-utils-1.9 and ndiswrapper-common, which are all three in my Synaptic?
¿Se puede hablar en español?

Revision history for this message
Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#11

Si configurases la pregunta como en español, te hablaba en español desde el principio, pero hacer un popurrí ahora no me apetece. Para la próxima elige español a la hora de preguntar :P

On synaptic, uninstall ndiswrapper-utils-1.9 and I think that should be enough. As I read on [1] madwifi wiki, yes, that commands should be enought too.

[1] http://madwifi-project.org/wiki/UserDocs/FirstTimeHowTo%3AES#Eliminarmódulosanteriores

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#12

I haven't got a wifi anymore. Working with eth0.
Output of lsmod:
Module Size Used by
i915 65540 2
binfmt_misc 16776 1
drm 96296 3 i915
ppdev 15620 0
bridge 56340 0
stp 10500 1 bridge
bnep 20224 2
input_polldev 11912 0
ipt_REJECT 11136 1
ipt_LOG 13700 1
xt_limit 10116 2
xt_tcpudp 11008 7
xt_state 10112 5
ipt_addrtype 10496 4
ip6table_filter 10624 1
ip6_tables 20880 1 ip6table_filter
nf_nat_irc 10240 0
nf_conntrack_irc 13220 1 nf_nat_irc
nf_nat_ftp 10752 0
nf_nat 25876 2 nf_nat_irc,nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack_ipv4 21388 7 nf_nat
nf_defrag_ipv4 9984 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_conntrack_ftp 15652 1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack 72008 7 xt_state,nf_nat_irc,nf_conntrack_irc,nf_nat_ftp,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack_ftp
iptable_filter 10752 1
ip_tables 19472 1 iptable_filter
x_tables 23044 8 ipt_REJECT,ipt_LOG,xt_limit,xt_tcpudp,xt_state,ipt_addrtype,ip6_tables,ip_tables
joydev 18368 0
lp 17156 0
parport 42220 2 ppdev,lp
snd_hda_intel 435636 1
snd_pcm_oss 46336 0
snd_mixer_oss 22656 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy 10756 0
snd_seq_oss 37760 0
snd_seq_midi 14336 0
snd_rawmidi 29696 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_pcm 82948 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
uvcvideo 63240 0
psmouse 61972 0
snd_seq_midi_event 15104 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 56880 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 29704 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 14988 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
video 25360 0
pcspkr 10496 0
compat_ioctl32 9344 1 uvcvideo
videodev 41600 1 uvcvideo
v4l1_compat 21764 2 uvcvideo,videodev
serio_raw 13316 0
i2c_i801 17296 0
iTCO_wdt 19108 0
iTCO_vendor_support 11652 1 iTCO_wdt
ndiswrapper 193436 0
output 11008 1 video
evbug 10752 0
snd 62628 11 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore 15200 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 16904 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
intel_agp 34108 1
agpgart 42696 3 drm,intel_agp
8139too 32128 0
8139cp 27776 0
mii 13312 2 8139too,8139cp
fbcon 46112 0
tileblit 10752 1 fbcon
font 16384 1 fbcon
bitblit 13824 1 fbcon
softcursor 9984 1 bitblit

Output of lshw -c network:
  *-network UNCLAIMED
       description: Ethernet controller
       product: AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
       vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 01
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
  *-network
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 1
       bus info: pci@0000:02:01.0
       logical name: eth0
       version: 10
       serial: 00:1b:38:f8:a6:74
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=8139too driverversion=0.9.28 ip=192.168.0.15 latency=64 maxlatency=64 mingnt=32 module=8139too multicast=yes
  *-network DISABLED
       description: Ethernet interface
       physical id: 1
       logical name: pan0
       serial: a6:5c:22:d2:f3:ca
       capabilities: ethernet physical
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=bridge driverversion=2.3 firmware=N/A multicast=yes

Revision history for this message
Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#13

Try this:

sudo rmmod ndiswrapper
sudo modprobe ath5x
lsmod
lshw -c network

Copy & paste the output here, again.

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#14

When I reboot, ndiswrapper is here again. Output of lsmod:

Module Size Used by
binfmt_misc 16776 1
i915 65540 2
drm 96424 3 i915
ppdev 15492 0
bridge 56212 0
stp 10500 1 bridge
bnep 20224 2
input_polldev 11784 0
ipt_REJECT 11136 1
ipt_LOG 13700 1
xt_limit 10116 2
xt_tcpudp 11008 7
xt_state 10112 5
ipt_addrtype 10496 4
ip6table_filter 10624 1
ip6_tables 20880 1 ip6table_filter
nf_nat_irc 10240 0
nf_conntrack_irc 13220 1 nf_nat_irc
nf_nat_ftp 10752 0
nf_nat 25876 2 nf_nat_irc,nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack_ipv4 21388 7 nf_nat
nf_defrag_ipv4 9984 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_conntrack_ftp 15652 1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack 72008 7 xt_state,nf_nat_irc,nf_conntrack_irc,nf_nat_ftp,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack_ftp
iptable_filter 10752 1
ip_tables 19472 1 iptable_filter
x_tables 23044 8 ipt_REJECT,ipt_LOG,xt_limit,xt_tcpudp,xt_state,ipt_addrtype,ip6_tables,ip_tables
joydev 18368 0
lp 17156 0
parport 42220 2 ppdev,lp
snd_hda_intel 435252 1
snd_seq_dummy 10756 0
snd_seq_oss 37760 0
snd_seq_midi 14208 0
snd_rawmidi 29568 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_pcm_oss 46208 0
snd_seq_midi_event 15104 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_mixer_oss 22528 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq 56880 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
uvcvideo 63240 0
snd_pcm 83076 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_device 14988 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd_timer 29704 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
compat_ioctl32 9344 1 uvcvideo
psmouse 61972 0
snd 62628 11 snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq,snd_pcm,snd_seq_device,snd_timer
video 25360 0
videodev 41472 1 uvcvideo
iTCO_wdt 19236 0
serio_raw 13316 0
i2c_i801 17296 0
intel_agp 34500 1
pcspkr 10496 0
soundcore 15200 1 snd
v4l1_compat 21764 2 uvcvideo,videodev
output 11008 1 video
iTCO_vendor_support 11652 1 iTCO_wdt
agpgart 42696 3 drm,intel_agp
snd_page_alloc 17032 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
ndiswrapper 193308 0
evbug 10752 0
8139too 32256 0
8139cp 28160 0
mii 13440 2 8139too,8139cp
fbcon 45856 0
tileblit 10752 1 fbcon
font 16384 1 fbcon
bitblit 13696 1 fbcon
softcursor 9984 1 bitblit

When I remove it with sudo rmmod ndiswrapper, the output of lsmod is:

Module Size Used by
binfmt_misc 16776 1
i915 65540 2
drm 96424 3 i915
ppdev 15492 0
bridge 56212 0
stp 10500 1 bridge
bnep 20224 2
input_polldev 11784 0
ipt_REJECT 11136 1
ipt_LOG 13700 1
xt_limit 10116 2
xt_tcpudp 11008 7
xt_state 10112 5
ipt_addrtype 10496 4
ip6table_filter 10624 1
ip6_tables 20880 1 ip6table_filter
nf_nat_irc 10240 0
nf_conntrack_irc 13220 1 nf_nat_irc
nf_nat_ftp 10752 0
nf_nat 25876 2 nf_nat_irc,nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack_ipv4 21388 7 nf_nat
nf_defrag_ipv4 9984 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_conntrack_ftp 15652 1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack 72008 7 xt_state,nf_nat_irc,nf_conntrack_irc,nf_nat_ftp,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack_ftp
iptable_filter 10752 1
ip_tables 19472 1 iptable_filter
x_tables 23044 8 ipt_REJECT,ipt_LOG,xt_limit,xt_tcpudp,xt_state,ipt_addrtype,ip6_tables,ip_tables
joydev 18368 0
lp 17156 0
parport 42220 2 ppdev,lp
snd_hda_intel 435252 1
snd_seq_dummy 10756 0
snd_seq_oss 37760 0
snd_seq_midi 14208 0
snd_rawmidi 29568 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_pcm_oss 46208 0
snd_seq_midi_event 15104 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_mixer_oss 22528 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq 56880 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
uvcvideo 63240 0
snd_pcm 83076 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_device 14988 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd_timer 29704 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
compat_ioctl32 9344 1 uvcvideo
psmouse 61972 0
snd 62628 11 snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq,snd_pcm,snd_seq_device,snd_timer
video 25360 0
videodev 41472 1 uvcvideo
iTCO_wdt 19236 0
serio_raw 13316 0
i2c_i801 17296 0
intel_agp 34500 1
pcspkr 10496 0
soundcore 15200 1 snd
v4l1_compat 21764 2 uvcvideo,videodev
output 11008 1 video
iTCO_vendor_support 11652 1 iTCO_wdt
agpgart 42696 3 drm,intel_agp
snd_page_alloc 17032 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
evbug 10752 0
8139too 32256 0
8139cp 28160 0
mii 13440 2 8139too,8139cp
fbcon 45856 0
tileblit 10752 1 fbcon
font 16384 1 fbcon
bitblit 13696 1 fbcon
softcursor 9984 1 bitblit

When I reboot, ndiswrapper is here again.

ath5k is never here, and I can't install it. When I try sudo modprobe ath5x the output is:

WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-kernel-nkc, it will be ignored in a future release.
WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/ndiswrapper, it will be ignored in a future release.
WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/oss-compat, it will be ignored in a future release.
WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/lrm-video, it will be ignored in a future release.
FATAL: Module ath5x not found.

The output of lshw -c network is (working with eth0, and both with and without ndiswrapper in lsmod):

WARNING: you should run this program as super-user.
  *-network UNCLAIMED
       description: Ethernet controller
       product: AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
       vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 01
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
  *-network
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 1
       bus info: pci@0000:02:01.0
       logical name: eth0
       version: 10
       serial: 00:1b:38:f8:a6:74
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=8139too driverversion=0.9.28 ip=192.168.0.15 latency=64 maxlatency=64 mingnt=32 module=8139too multicast=yes
  *-network DISABLED
       description: Ethernet interface
       physical id: 1
       logical name: pan0
       serial: 92:d8:d4:d7:e6:af
       capabilities: ethernet physical
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=bridge driverversion=2.3 firmware=N/A multicast=yes

Revision history for this message
Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#15

Please, check that you have installed linux-backports-modules-jaunty.

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#16

Yes, I have them installed.

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#17

Is this Bug #309195 ?

Revision history for this message
Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#18

Nope. Check you have also installed the package linux-backports-modules-2.6.28-11-generic. The ath5k module is there, so if you have this package installed, you should have the ath5k module.

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#19

I have this package installed.
But ath5k is not in lsmod and modprobe ath5k says "FATAL: Module ath5x not found".

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#20

Estoy cansado del tema. Voy a volver a poner el Ndiswrapper, que me funciona, aunque mal (la wifi funciona, el network manager no, y el roaming mode tampoco).
De todas formas, he aprendido mucho. Ya sé lo que el el chipset, y sé que hay 3 maneras de que funcione una tarjeta wifi: el Ndiswrapper, el Madwifi y los linux-backport-modules (antiguamente no sabía ni lo que eran).
Seguiré buscando por mi cuenta, y cuando ponga el Karmic, haré otra intentona.
Muchas gracias por todo.
Pincho en "Problem solved", aunque no sea verdad.

Revision history for this message
Jorge Suárez de Lis (ys) said :
#21

I feel very sorry about this. You should have the module ath5k... maybe since it seems that you haven't uninstalled ndiswrapper properly, the system hides it for whatever reason. Anyway, since networkmanager doesn't seem to work ok for you, try wicd instead. http://wicd.sourceforge.net/

Lo siento, de verdad. Deberías tener el módulo ath5k... puede que como parece que no has desinstalado bien ndiswrapper, el sistema lo esconda por algún motivo. De todas formas, ya que networkmanager parece que no te funciona, estaría bien que probases wicd en su lugar. http://wicd.sourceforge.net/

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#22

Ya lo he puesto. Muchas gracias.

Revision history for this message
Juan Zaragoza Alberich (jzaragoza) said :
#23

Quería añadir que mi tarjeta wifi Atheros funciona ya perfectamente con el Karmic. Sin embargo, he tenido que ponerlo "afresh", como dicen los americanos, porque con la actualización de Jaunty a Karmic dejó de funcionar del todo, incluso con el Ndiswrapper.
Muchas gracias a todos, especialmente a Jorge Suárez de Lis.