[SOLVED] Network (wi-fi) is down on my Asus eeepc

[plankton172]

I seem to have lost wireless networking on this Asus 1015PX netbook.

It was a-okay yesterday -- the connection automatically starts at boot -- but not tonight. No matter how much I manually connect, it does not proceed.  Wired internet is fine, though. I even updated everything (via Synaptic) through wired connection.

I tried the solution posted in this thread: http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,96487.0.html

I first deleted eth0 (wired connection) -- then tried connecting via wi-fi --> no success
I then deleted eth1 (wireless connection) -- then set it up again --> no success either

The error message is either "connection failed" or "network is down".

I need to add: this netbook is dual-boot and when I use Windows 7 on this same machine, wi-fi is no problem. I actually created this thread while using Windows 7. Thus, it appears I isolated the problem to PCLinuxOS.  

Hope someone could help.

[plankton172]

By the way, here are the results of:

iwconfig

Code:

lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth1      IEEE 802.11  Nickname:"localhost.localdomai"
          Access Point: Not-Associated   
          Link Quality:5  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
          Rx invalid nwid:0  invalid crypt:0  invalid misc:0

and

ifconfig

Code:

eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr F4:6D:04:F6:1B:97
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
          Interrupt:46

eth1      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr E0:B9:A5:CF:4A:5D
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
          Interrupt:17 Base address:0xc000

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:306 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:306 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:24820 (24.2 KiB)  TX bytes:24820 (24.2 KiB)

[muungwana]

Did you do any updates yesterday?

open the terminal and log in as root and do the following

1. run this command to start system log service: service syslog start
2. run this command to clear system service log: echo "" > /var/log/syslog
3. try to connect to your wireless network
4. when it fail, run this command and copy and paste its contents here: cat /var/log/syslog

[plankton172]

Did you do any updates yesterday?

open the terminal and log in as root and do the following

1. run this command to start system log service: service syslog start
2. run this command to clear system service log: echo "" > /var/log/syslog
3. try to connect to your wireless network
4. when it fail, run this command and copy and paste its contents here: cat /var/log/syslog

No, I did not do any updates yesterday... just today (tonight).

I did steps 1,2 and 3 ---> I still cannot connect to wireless network.

Here is the result of running the command in step 4

cat /var/log/syslog

Code:

Sep 27 01:58:03 localhost net_applet[2971]: running: /usr/bin/draknetcenter
Sep 27 01:58:03 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: ### Program is starting ###
Sep 27 01:58:10 localhost snmpd[2638]: Wrong netlink message type 3
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1 to 700
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: written eth1 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: created file /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: running: /usr/sbin/wpa_cli reconfigure
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: running: /sbin/ifdown eth1 daemon
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[4988]: Exiting.
Sep 27 01:58:12 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: running: /sbin/ifup eth1 daemon
Sep 27 01:58:13 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[22754]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Sep 27 01:58:13 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[22754]: Using interface eth1/E0:B9:A5:CF:4A:5D with driver <wl0> (version: 5.60.48.36 )
Sep 27 01:58:13 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[22754]: Using detection mode: wireless extension
Sep 27 01:58:13 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[22754]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Sep 27 01:58:13 localhost draknetcenter[22592]: running: /usr/sbin/wpa_cli select_network 0

[muungwana]

are you sure you attempted to connect to a wireless network at stage 3 as i asked?

Those logs do not have any entries for any attempt at connecting to a network.

All they have is steps for setting up a network interface and not connecting to any. This suggest either you skipped a step or there is a bug somewhere and a step is being skipped.

[aguila]

Did you - as has happened to me just some days ago - accidentially move the wireless switch on your netbook to "off"?

It took me almost two weeks two figure it out - then it struck me like a lightning bolt! Switched it on, and voilá!

Worth a look 

[plankton172]

are you sure you attempted to connect to a wireless network at stage 3 as i asked?

Those logs do not have any entries for any attempt at connecting to a network.

All they have is steps for setting up a network interface and not connecting to any. This suggest either you skipped a step or there is a bug somewhere and a step is being skipped.

I attempted to connect just by clicking on the icon on the lower right (red "X") then selecting the wireless connection & pressing the Connect button.

I suppose this is not the way to do it... so I went into PCC > Network & Internet > Set up a new network interface ... and chose Wi-fi > eth1 > selected my home wifi network > (configuration for wireless settings) > Automatic IP > (configuration for IP settings) > (configuration for Connection control) > Do you want to start the connection now? > YES

The error message is:

Code:

Problems occured during the network connectivity test.

This can be caused by invalid network configuration, or problems with your modem or router.

You might want to relaunch the configuration to verify the connection settings.

I ran in terminal again: cat /var/log/syslog

Code:

Sep 27 04:03:52 localhost drakconf.real[32540]: ### Program is starting ###
Sep 27 04:03:58 localhost drakconf.real[32553]: ### Program is starting ###
Sep 27 04:04:04 localhost drakconnect[32577]: ### Program is starting ###
Sep 27 04:04:07 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  wireless-tools
Sep 27 04:04:09 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: dmidecode
Sep 27 04:04:09 localhost drakconnect[32577]: Found settings for driver "wl" in category "network::connection::wireless"
Sep 27 04:04:10 localhost snmpd[2638]: Wrong netlink message type 3
Sep 27 04:04:11 localhost drakconnect[32577]: Required kernel_module package for module "wl" is already installed, skipping
Sep 27 04:04:11 localhost drakconnect[32577]: No tools package for module "wl" is required, skipping
Sep 27 04:04:11 localhost drakconnect[32577]: No firmware package for module "wl" is required, skipping
Sep 27 04:04:11 localhost drakconnect[32577]: Loading module wl
Sep 27 04:04:11 localhost drakconnect[32577]: Settings for driver "wl" applied
Sep 27 04:04:17 localhost ntpd[2811]: Deleting interface #3 eth0, 192.168.0.102#123, interface stats: received=0, sent=0, dropped=0, active_time=7200 secs
Sep 27 04:04:28 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  dhcp-client
Sep 27 04:04:28 localhost drakconnect[32577]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/f0:7d:68:7d:de:ea
Sep 27 04:04:28 localhost drakconnect[32577]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/f0:7d:68:7d:de:ea
Sep 27 04:04:28 localhost drakconnect[32577]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/f0:7d:68:7d:de:ea to 700
Sep 27 04:04:28 localhost drakconnect[32577]: written  interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/f0:7d:68:7d:de:ea
Sep 27 04:04:28 localhost drakconnect[32577]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/rs0111
Sep 27 04:04:28 localhost drakconnect[32577]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/rs0111
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/rs0111 to 700
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: written  interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/rs0111
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: created file /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /usr/sbin/wpa_cli reconfigure
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1 to 700
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: written eth1 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: writing host information to /etc/hosts
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: created file /etc/hosts
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: writing host information to /etc/hosts
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: created file /etc/hosts
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: set sethostname to localhost.localdomain
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /usr/bin/run-parts --arg localhost.localdomain /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/hostname.d
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network
Sep 27 04:04:29 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /sbin/ifdown eth1 daemon
Sep 27 04:04:30 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[22754]: Exiting.
Sep 27 04:04:30 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /sbin/ifup eth1 daemon
Sep 27 04:04:30 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[318]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Sep 27 04:04:30 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[318]: Using interface eth1/E0:B9:A5:CF:4A:5D with driver <wl0> (version: 5.60.48.36 )
Sep 27 04:04:30 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[318]: Using detection mode: wireless extension
Sep 27 04:04:30 localhost ifplugd(eth1)[318]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Sep 27 04:04:31 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /usr/sbin/wpa_cli select_network 0
Sep 27 04:04:31 localhost drakconnect[32577]: running: /etc/rc.d/init.d/network-up start
Sep 27 04:04:31 localhost klogd: atl1c 0000:01:00.0: irq 46 for MSI/MSI-X

Hope this is more helpful.

[plankton172]

Did you - as has happened to me just some days ago - accidentially move the wireless switch on your netbook to "off"?

It took me almost two weeks two figure it out - then it struck me like a lightning bolt! Switched it on, and voilá!

Worth a look 

I don't think there is a wireless switch in this netbook (Asus 1015PX) but I will find out.
As I said in my first post, wi-fi is OK when using Win7 on this same machine.
It's only in PCLOS that it doesn't work.

[aguila]

Oh sorry, over-read that...

[Texstar]

There are no recent updates that would affect wifi. Please boot your LiveCD and see if you can acquire a connection. Have you changed any passwords somewhere? Did you turn off broadcasting on the router?

[plankton172]

There are no recent updates that would affect wifi. Please boot your LiveCD and see if you can acquire a connection. Have you changed any passwords somewhere? Did you turn off broadcasting on the router?

Hello Texstar,

I am now running from the PCLinuxOS 2011.06 LiveCD.
I searched for wireless networks and found our home wifi -- and was able to connect!!

I will now go back to this netbook's PCLOS installation and see if I can connect from there. Brb....

p.s. No, I did not change any passwords nor any settings on our router.

[plankton172]

I am back on this netbook's install..... sadly, I cannot get wireless connection.  

(I am now on wired connection, so that I can post this).

[plankton172]

UPDATE:

Shortly after my post above, I disconnected from our wired connection.

I then went to PCC > Network & Internet > Remove a connection... and then removed the eth1 (wireless connection).

I restarted the machine and then went back to PCC > Network & Internet... and then Set up a new network interface ... and chose Wi-fi > eth1 > selected my home wifi network > (configuration for wireless settings) > Automatic IP > (configuration for IP settings) > (configuration for Connection control) > Do you want to start the connection now? > YES

Initially, I could not connect wirelessly (and was getting pretty tired already of that familiar message).

Without exiting PCC, I again clicked in Set up a new network interface ... and all of a sudden, the wi-fi was connected!

Just to make sure this was not a fluke or anything, I restarted this netbook, crossed my weary fingers.... and voila! Wifi connection was up automatically!!

Thanks for all who helped. Marking this thread as solved. 

[plankton172]

Sorry to bother everyone but this problem acted up again and the previous solutions I made are NOT working anymore.

To summarize:

- Wireless internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running PCLOS = NONE
- Wired internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running PCLOS = OK
- Wireless internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running PCLOS 2012-02 LiveCD = OK
- Wireless internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running Win7 = OK
- Wireless internet connection on Novo7 Android tablet = OK

Please help!!!

[AS]

Sorry to bother everyone but this problem acted up again and the previous solutions I made are NOT working anymore.

To summarize:

- Wireless internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running PCLOS = NONE
- Wired internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running PCLOS = OK
- Wireless internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running PCLOS 2012-02 LiveCD = OK
- Wireless internet connection on Asus eee pc netbook running Win7 = OK
- Wireless internet connection on Novo7 Android tablet = OK

Please help!!!

Your netbook is using broadcom-wl driver, right ?