Wifi connection : how to blacklist rtl8180 ? [SOLVED]

[Old-Polack]

melodie
Do I understand you have a pcmcia Netgear MA521, you use it for Windows XP etc and want to use it for Linux as well?
Linux uses RTL8180 and you get poor signal strength compared with netma521 running Windows?
Now you want to use Ndiswrapper and Netma521 driver for your Linux connection?

Ok if you are happy with what you have got so far, forget the following  

I am however curious why you get the poor performance with the rtl8180
Can you show

Code: [Select]

lspci -v     Edit: corrected this, as the following poster spotted my error 

which gets rather long and I only want the section for  

Code: [Select]

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8180L 802.11b MAC (rev 20)
w

How about;

[root@localhost ~]# lspci -v -s 03:00.0

[melodie]

wedgetail, I opened a new subject here regarding rtl8180 vs ndiswrapper/netma521 : rtl8180 and ma521 with ndiswrapper.

Now that I have deactivated rtl8180 would you want me to reactivate it to get the output of the commands you said ? Do you think you might find something of interest knowing that the rtl8180 for Linux kernel has been unmaintained since 2005 by the Realtek company, and since 2007 by a Linux community member ?

lspci : I have provided the extract in my first post:

Code: [Select]

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8180L 802.11b MAC (rev 20)

$ cat /etc/modprobe.preload
# /etc/modprobe.preload: kernel modules to load at boot time.
#
# This file should contain the names of kernel modules that are
# to be loaded at boot time, one per line.  Comments begin with
# a `#', and everything on the line after them are ignored.
# this file is for module-init-tools (kernel 2.5 and above) ONLY
# for old kernel use /etc/modules
fuse
raw1394
sbp2
ohci1394
rtl8180
nvram
evdev
evdev

Hu hu ! This one at least I get it !

I'll correct it right away, restore the kernel module (leave it blacklisted of course) and see how it goes now.

Thanks.

[melodie]

How about;

[root@localhost ~]# lspci -v -s 03:00.0

Hi Old-Polack !

# lspci -v -s 03:00.0
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8180L 802.11b MAC (rev 20)
   Subsystem: Netgear MA521 802.11b Wireless PC Card
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 16
   I/O ports at 2400 [size=256]
   Memory at 48000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
   Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
   Kernel driver in use: ndiswrapper

Does this bring more things of interest to know about ? 

[Old-Polack]

How about;

[root@localhost ~]# lspci -v -s 03:00.0

Hi Old-Polack !

# lspci -v -s 03:00.0
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8180L 802.11b MAC (rev 20)
   Subsystem: Netgear MA521 802.11b Wireless PC Card
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 16
   I/O ports at 2400 [size=256]
   Memory at 48000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
   Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
   Kernel driver in use: ndiswrapper

Does this bring more things of interest to know about ?  

Wedgetail wanted the information, but gave the command that would have given a very long list that would have needed to be sorted to get the relevant part. I just suggested this to eliminate the need for sorting.

[melodie]

Thanks Old-Polack.

Wegdetail : thanks to you again. After I removed the driver line from the modprobe.preload file, it was of course not loaded anymore, as it's in the blacklist files. So I changed the thread to "solved".

[wedgetail]

old-polack
Thanks, I like that one as I often look for simple way to get the information when know the "03:00.0" , seems melodie is cottening on with modconf.preload, which incidentally also is thanks to you. I have a funny memory  that makes me hang onto certain items, this was one of them.

melodie
As I said, if you are happy with your solution, do not worry.  However I do know a thing or two in this area and I would be interested in a bit more information.

If you do 'reset' to rtl8180 the modinfo rtl8180 is important to me  

Some of the lspci -xx may give slightly more information, that is why I may ask for some repeats.

Yes I am aware of the rtl8180 is old and also about a few inside tricks if one can do "make' which I can't (yet, and perhaps never)

[melodie]

Yes I am aware of the rtl8180 is old and also about a few inside tricks if one can do "make' which I can't (yet, and perhaps never)

Could you explain more precisely what you are talking about ? "make" as in "./configure && make && make install" or something else ?

[wedgetail]

melodie
I have been looking at this:  http://www.overclock.net/linux-unix/819254-installing-realtek-wireless-drivers.html  which is over my head but it may be something you can easily understand.

[melodie]

melodie
I have been looking at this:  http://www.overclock.net/linux-unix/819254-installing-realtek-wireless-drivers.html  which is over my head but it may be something you can easily understand.

It's of no interest nowadays. First, if the driver is too old then it's simply too old whatever you do (look at the version number in your link, compare with the version number at the Realtek website), and second we don't need to compile theses drivers by hand since they have been integrated to the kernel. (In 2007 as it is said in the Realtek website page of the kernel). Last, this man has his compile failing because the driver is not located at the right place in his system, or maybe he does not have the right directory in the system... something like that. (With a fast look and no deep thoughts )

[melodie]

If you do 'reset' to rtl8180 the modinfo rtl8180 is important to me  

As rtl8180 is part of the kernel modules, you could also get this information. I didn't reset it in a way it would be loaded, but the command "modinfo" does work anyway:

# modinfo rtl8180
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.38.7-pclos1.bfs/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtl818x/rtl8180/rtl8180.ko.gz
license:        GPL
description:    RTL8180 / RTL8185 PCI wireless driver
author:         Andrea Merello <andreamrl@tiscali.it>
author:         Michael Wu <flamingice@sourmilk.net>
srcversion:     1CD4EDF5C0FDB540BB32BF8
alias:          pci:v00001186d00003300sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d00006020sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d00006001sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010ECd00008180sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d0000701Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d0000700Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010ECd00008185sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends:        mac80211,eeprom_93cx6,cfg80211
vermagic:       2.6.38.7-pclos1.bfs SMP preempt mod_unload modversions 686

[melodie]

PCLinuxOS is the system that once it's configured one way, just try to make it different ? I tried to switch back to rtl8180 to get more infos as asked by wedgetail, but no way !!! Even by removing all connexions in PCC, re-configuring the connection, doing rmmod ndiswrapper, rebooting : just no way.

[melodie]

Ok, I reconfigured it all to get rtl8180 preloaded, rebooted and got back the most crummy connection ever, just for the test. I had 18% link level, and therefore could not even post the results here !

So I reconfigured ndiswrapper again and here I am, with the results:

Code: [Select]

# lspci -v -s 03:00.0
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8180L 802.11b MAC (rev 20)
Subsystem: Netgear MA521 802.11b Wireless PC Card
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 16
I/O ports at 2400 [size=256]
Memory at 48000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: rtl8180
Kernel modules: rtl8180

# lsmod | grep ndiswrapper
# lsmod | grep rtl8180
rtl8180                26637  0
mac80211              189429  1 rtl8180
eeprom_93cx6            1052  1 rtl8180
cfg80211              126819  2 rtl8180,mac80211

# lspci -vn
00:00.0 0600: 8086:27a0 (rev 03)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=09 <?>
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel

00:02.0 0300: 8086:27a2 (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at d0200000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
I/O ports at 1800 [size=8]
Memory at c0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at d0300000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915, intelfb

00:02.1 0380: 8086:27a6 (rev 03)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Memory at d0280000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:1b.0 0403: 8086:27d8 (rev 02)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 40
Memory at d0540000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [130] Root Complex Link
Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

00:1d.0 0c03: 8086:27c8 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
I/O ports at 1820 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:1d.1 0c03: 8086:27c9 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at 1840 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:1d.2 0c03: 8086:27ca (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
I/O ports at 1860 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:1d.3 0c03: 8086:27cb (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
I/O ports at 1880 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:1d.7 0c03: 8086:27cc (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
Memory at d0544000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00a0
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
Kernel modules: ehci-hcd

00:1e.0 0604: 8086:2448 (rev e2) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=06, sec-latency=32
I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00003fff
Memory behind bridge: d0000000-d01fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 0000000040000000-0000000045ffffff
Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: 1631:c019

00:1f.0 0601: 8086:27b9 (rev 02)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0c <?>
Kernel modules: iTCO_wdt, intel-rng, leds-ss4200

00:1f.1 0101: 8086:27df (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at 01f0 [size=8]
I/O ports at 03f4 [size=1]
I/O ports at 0170 [size=8]
I/O ports at 0374 [size=1]
I/O ports at 1810 [size=16]
Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
Kernel modules: piix, ata_piix

00:1f.2 0101: 8086:27c4 (rev 02) (prog-if 8f [Master SecP SecO PriP PriO])
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at 18d0 [size=8]
I/O ports at 18c4 [size=4]
I/O ports at 18c8 [size=8]
I/O ports at 18c0 [size=4]
I/O ports at 18b0 [size=16]
Memory at d0544400 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
Kernel modules: ata_piix

00:1f.3 0c05: 8086:27da (rev 02)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 19
I/O ports at 18e0 [size=32]
Kernel modules: i2c-i801

02:00.0 0200: 10ec:8167 (rev 10)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
I/O ports at 2000 [size=256]
Memory at d0001800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 44000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

02:07.0 0607: 1180:0476 (rev b4)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 16
Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Bus: primary=02, secondary=03, subordinate=06, sec-latency=176
Memory window 0: 40000000-43fff000 (prefetchable)
Memory window 1: 48000000-4bfff000
I/O window 0: 00002400-000024ff
I/O window 1: 00002800-000028ff
16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001
Kernel driver in use: yenta_cardbus
Kernel modules: yenta_socket

02:07.1 0805: 1180:0822 (rev 18)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 18
Memory at d0001c00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: sdhci-pci
Kernel modules: sdhci-pci

02:07.2 0880: 1180:0592 (rev 09)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 10
Memory at d0002400 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2

02:07.3 0880: 1180:0852 (rev 04)
Subsystem: 1631:c019
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 18
Memory at d0002800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: r852
Kernel modules: r852

03:00.0 0200: 10ec:8180 (rev 20)
Subsystem: 1385:4700
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 16
I/O ports at 2400 [size=256]
Memory at 48000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: rtl8180
Kernel modules: rtl8180

# modinfo rtl8180
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.38.7-pclos1.bfs/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtl818x/rtl8180/rtl8180.ko.gz
license:        GPL
description:    RTL8180 / RTL8185 PCI wireless driver
author:         Andrea Merello <andreamrl@tiscali.it>
author:         Michael Wu <flamingice@sourmilk.net>
srcversion:     1CD4EDF5C0FDB540BB32BF8
alias:          pci:v00001186d00003300sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d00006020sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d00006001sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010ECd00008180sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d0000701Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001799d0000700Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010ECd00008185sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends:        mac80211,eeprom_93cx6,cfg80211
vermagic:       2.6.38.7-pclos1.bfs SMP preempt mod_unload modversions 686

Now would you write us a new driver please ?

[wedgetail]

melodie
Thanks for your effort. It is unlikely I will write a driver at this stage as I feel totally uncomfortable in programming at the moment. I will study the problem closer though as I find it quite interesting.  I have taken note that the link level can be crap and good transmission and vice versa (as you have it) why?

1.. What pc do you have and what Desktop arr you running
2.. If you can go back in your dmesg or messages and find a section of rtl818x, ie dmesg |grep rtl818 I would like to see how it installed, this sort of information

Code: [Select]

Linux kernel driver for RTL8180 / RTL8185 based WLAN cards
 Copyright (c) 2004-2005, Andrea Merello
 rtl8180: Initializing module
 rtl8180: Wireless extensions version 20
 rtl8180: Initializing proc filesystem
 rtl8180: Configuring chip resources
 PCI: Enabling device 0000:02:00.0 (0000 -> 0003)
 PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:02:00.0 to 64
 rtl8180: Memory mapped space @ 0x52000000
 rtl8180: Hardware frame sequence numbers disabled
 rtl8180: MAC controller is a RTL8180 (v. F)
 rtl8180: This is a CARDBUS NIC
 rtl8180: Reported EEPROM chip is a 93c56 (2Kbit)
 rtl8180: Card MAC address is 00:02:72:41:f5:39
 rtl8180: EEPROM version 103
 rtl8180: RfParam: 4
 rtl8180: WW:Card reports RF frontend by GCT.
 rtl8180: WW:This driver has EXPERIMENTAL support for this chipset.
 rtl8180: WW:use it with care and at your own risk and
 rtl8180: WW:**PLEASE** REPORT SUCCESS/INSUCCESS TO andreamrl@tiscali.it
 rtl8180: Energy threshold: b
 rtl8180: PAPE from CONFIG2: 6
 rtl8180: Antenna A is default antenna
 rtl8180: Antenna diversity is enabled
 rtl8180: Carrier sense 1
 rtl8180: 40-bit WEP is NOT supported in hardware
 rtl8180: 104-bit WEP is NOT supported in hardware
 rtl8180: IRQ 3
 rtl8180: Driver probe completed
 rtl8180: Bringing up iface
 rtl8180: Card successfully reset

[melodie]

1.. What pc do you have and what Desktop arr you running
2.. If you can go back in your dmesg or messages and find a section of rtl818x, ie dmesg |grep rtl818 I would like to see how it installed, this sort of information

Code: [Select]

Linux kernel driver for RTL8180 / RTL8185 based WLAN cards
 Copyright (c) 2004-2005, Andrea Merello
 rtl8180: Initializing module
 rtl8180: Wireless extensions version 20
 rtl8180: Initializing proc filesystem
 rtl8180: Configuring chip resources
 PCI: Enabling device 0000:02:00.0 (0000 -> 0003)
 PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:02:00.0 to 64
 rtl8180: Memory mapped space @ 0x52000000
 rtl8180: Hardware frame sequence numbers disabled
 rtl8180: MAC controller is a RTL8180 (v. F)
 rtl8180: This is a CARDBUS NIC
 rtl8180: Reported EEPROM chip is a 93c56 (2Kbit)
 rtl8180: Card MAC address is 00:02:72:41:f5:39
 rtl8180: EEPROM version 103
 rtl8180: RfParam: 4
 rtl8180: WW:Card reports RF frontend by GCT.
 rtl8180: WW:This driver has EXPERIMENTAL support for this chipset.
 rtl8180: WW:use it with care and at your own risk and
 rtl8180: WW:**PLEASE** REPORT SUCCESS/INSUCCESS TO andreamrl@tiscali.it
 rtl8180: Energy threshold: b
 rtl8180: PAPE from CONFIG2: 6
 rtl8180: Antenna A is default antenna
 rtl8180: Antenna diversity is enabled
 rtl8180: Carrier sense 1
 rtl8180: 40-bit WEP is NOT supported in hardware
 rtl8180: 104-bit WEP is NOT supported in hardware
 rtl8180: IRQ 3
 rtl8180: Driver probe completed
 rtl8180: Bringing up iface
 rtl8180: Card successfully reset

Sorry wegdetail, you should have asked that to me before. Now I don't want to take the time to go back again in the preceeding config, I want to move on ! I have a laptop Nec Versa M160, I can send an output of lshw if you want.

Going on : I have reinstalled a desktop in the desktop room : now I'm surrounded by 2 machines, the desktop needs a configuration to be connected to the web through the laptop, and I'd better have a good connection, because the desktop machine is dedicated to do the next versions for PCLinuxOS Education, Openbox, Bonsai, and if I find time for this project, I would also like to remaster in order to get a PCLinuxOS Collection in French, for the French community, when  the next PCLinuxOS versions will be available. So, for more tests with rtl8180, maybe next time ?

Regards,
Mélodie

[wedgetail]

melodie
Good luck, I will be looking a bit further into this just of curiosity, I have kept a record of your problem so I can take it up anytime again if the opportunity comes. 
Openbox, I don't know more than the name of this one.