Lenovo T60 wireless not working

[neftv]

I installed the latest PCLinuxOS Full Monty on a Lenovo T60.  I can't seem to make the wireless work.  It shows up as an Atheros AR5212.   When I bring up wireless adapter setup it just seems like its not turned on and wont search for wireless networks.   Can someone please guide me as to how to make this work if possible? Thank  you in advance.

I found this information in console
03:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR5212 802.11abg NIC [168c:1014] (rev 01)
        Subsystem: IBM ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter (AR5BXB6) [1014:058a]
        Kernel driver in use: ath5k
        Kernel modules: ath5k

[muungwana]

what does this command give you?

ifconfig

iwconfig

[neftv]

eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:15:58:C9:E3:47
          inet addr:192.168.123.41  Bcast:192.168.123.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::215:58ff:fec9:e347/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:542261 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:193684 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:809611429 (772.1 MiB)  TX bytes:14182380 (13.5 MiB)
          Interrupt:16 Memory:ee000000-ee020000

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:644 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:644 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:53368 (52.1 KiB)  TX bytes:53368 (52.1 KiB)


lo        no wireless extensions.

irda0     no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11abg  ESSID:off/any
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=off
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off

[muungwana]

and what does this one give you?

iw wlan0 scan

[neftv]

command failed: Operation not permitted (-1)

[muungwana]

did you run the "iw" command from the root's terminal?

if not log in to root's terminal by typing "su" and then press enter and then enter root's password and then press enter.

You will know you are in root's terminal because the text on the prompt will be red in color.

now run "iw wlan0 scan" command on this root's terminal

[neftv]

Yes I did include iw before
In root I get
[root@localhost ~]# iw wlan0 scan
command failed: Network is down (-100)

[muungwana]

never seen that error before. A missing firmware could be a problem

what does this command give you( must run it from root's terminal )?

tail -n 20 /var/log/syslog

[neftv]

[root@localhost ~]# tail -n 20 /var/log/syslog
Jul 24 23:20:37 localhost ntpd_initres[5023]: host name not found: 0.us.pool.ntp.org
Jul 24 23:20:37 localhost ntpd_initres[5023]: host name not found: 1.us.pool.ntp.org
Jul 24 23:20:37 localhost ntpd_initres[5023]: host name not found: 2.us.pool.ntp.org
Jul 24 23:30:01 localhost CROND[14624]: (root) CMD (grep -q "ENABLE=1" /etc/megactl/megasasctl-cron.conf && /usr/share/megactl/megasasctl-cron )
Jul 24 23:30:01 localhost CROND[14625]: (root) CMD (grep -q "ENABLE=1" /etc/megactl/megactl-cron.conf && /usr/share/megactl/megactl-cron )
Jul 24 23:30:01 localhost CROND[14627]: (root) CMD (/usr/lib/mldonkey/mldonkey_df_monitor.sh)
Jul 24 23:36:39 localhost ntpd_initres[5023]: host name not found: 0.us.pool.ntp.org
Jul 24 23:36:39 localhost ntpd_initres[5023]: host name not found: 1.us.pool.ntp.org
Jul 24 23:36:39 localhost ntpd_initres[5023]: host name not found: 2.us.pool.ntp.org
Jul 24 23:39:01 localhost CROND[14962]: (root) CMD ([ -d /var/lib/php ] && find /var/lib/php/ -type f -mmin +$(/usr/lib/php/maxlifetime) -print0 | xargs -r -0 rm)
Jul 24 23:40:01 localhost CROND[15008]: (root) CMD (grep -q "ENABLE=1" /etc/megactl/megactl-cron.conf && /usr/share/megactl/megactl-cron )
Jul 24 23:40:01 localhost CROND[15009]: (root) CMD (grep -q "ENABLE=1" /etc/megactl/megasasctl-cron.conf && /usr/share/megactl/megasasctl-cron )
Jul 24 23:41:57 localhost laptop-mode: Laptop mode
Jul 24 23:41:57 localhost laptop-mode: enabled,
Jul 24 23:41:57 localhost laptop-mode: not active [unchanged]
Jul 24 23:41:57 localhost laptop-mode: Laptop mode
Jul 24 23:41:57 localhost laptop-mode: enabled,
Jul 24 23:41:57 localhost laptop-mode: not active [unchanged]
Jul 24 23:43:08 localhost smartd[4831]: Device: /dev/sda [SAT], SMART Usage Attribute: 190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel changed from 61 to 60
Jul 24 23:43:08 localhost smartd[4831]: Device: /dev/sda [SAT], SMART Usage Attribute: 194 Temperature_Celsius changed from 39 to 40

[muungwana]

what kernel are you running?
we can get the info from the output of this command:

uname -a

those logs done say anything related to your wireless card.

try to run these commands from root's terminal, wait 3 seconds btw them

modprobe -r ath5k

modprobe  ath5k

tail -n 20 /var/log/syslog

[neftv]

Here you go

[root@localhost ~]# uname -a
Linux localhost.localdomain 2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Jul 8 18:01:30 CDT 2011 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

[root@localhost ~]# modprobe -r ath5k
[root@localhost ~]# modprobe  ath5k
[root@localhost ~]# tail -n 20 /var/log/syslog
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: ath5k 0000:03:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: ath5k 0000:03:00.0: registered as 'phy0'
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 00:15:21 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: ath: EEPROM regdomain: 0x62
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: ath: EEPROM indicates we should expect a direct regpair map
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: ath: Country alpha2 being used: 00
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: ath: Regpair used: 0x62
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: Registered led device: ath5k-phy0::rx
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: Registered led device: ath5k-phy0::tx
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: ath5k phy0: Atheros AR5414 chip found (MAC: 0xa3, PHY: 0x61)
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost klogd: Loading kernel module for a network device with CAP_SYS_MODULE (deprecated).  Use CAP_NET_ADMIN and alias netdev-wlan0 instead
Jul 25 00:15:22 localhost snmpd[4822]: IfIndex of an interface changed. Such interfaces will appear multiple times in IF-MIB.
Jul 25 00:15:23 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[3110]: Exiting.

[muungwana]

mmhh .. not much info there too, you are though running a relatively older kernel.

can you update to kernel to version "3.2.18-pclos2.bfs", restart your computer, boot up using it and then run the "iw" command as root and post its result?

This sorts of problems are solved most easily by kernel changing.

[neftv]

OkI going to have to get back to you on this as it is late. 
I dont understand how it can be old if I used the latest software from PClinuxOS then I thought I did an update too. Just curious how that can happen.   I will try this tomorrow and get back to you

[muungwana]

The kernel is the only package that does not get auto updated when you do the regular update.

To update the kernel, you have to manually select the kernel you want and select to install.

The kernel is a special package as far as auto updating is concerned.

technically, you do not update the kernel since the new one does not replace the old one. You just install a newer one next to the old one.You then use the new one by selecting it in the boot up menu.

[neftv]

Ok I updated to the newer kernel and started with that kernel which was on the bottom of the list in the boot screen.  Still no wireless. results below

[root@localhost ~]# uname -a
Linux localhost.localdomain 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu May 24 04:44:50 CEST 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
[root@localhost ~]# modprobe -r ath5k
[root@localhost ~]#
[root@localhost ~]# modprobe  ath5k
[root@localhost ~]# tail -n 20 /var/log/syslog
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: ath: EEPROM regdomain: 0x62
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: ath: EEPROM indicates we should expect a direct regpair map
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: ath: Country alpha2 being used: 00
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: ath: Regpair used: 0x62
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'pid'
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: Registered led device: ath5k-phy0::rx
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: Registered led device: ath5k-phy0::tx
Jul 25 10:25:19 localhost klogd: ath5k phy0: Atheros AR5414 chip found (MAC: 0xa3, PHY: 0x61)
Jul 25 10:25:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[15017]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Jul 25 10:25:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[15017]: Using interface wlan0/00:1C:26:19:07:2E with driver <ath5k> (version: 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs)
Jul 25 10:25:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[15017]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
Jul 25 10:25:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[15017]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Jul 25 10:25:22 localhost snmpd[10674]: IfIndex of an interface changed. Such interfaces will appear multiple times in IF-MIB.