Make wifi networks available without reboot

salmanahmed · 07-15-2023, 04:02 AM

Hi
One of my laptops is having an issue with wifi networks detection. The laptop is installed with manjaro kde (linux 6.4). Sometimes, when I power-on the laptop, it does not detect any wifi network (see attached screenshot). During this state, I ran the following commands and have found that the network card is properly detected by the system:

Code:

[sal:lap:~]lspci -v
07:00.0 Network controller: Ralink corp. RT3290 Wireless 802.11n 1T/1R PCIe
        DeviceName: Ralink RT3290LE  802.11bgn 1x1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Ad
        Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Ralink RT3290LE 802.11bgn 1x1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Adapter
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at c3510000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
        Capabilities: <access denied>
        Kernel driver in use: rt2800pci
        Kernel modules: rt2800pci

Code:

[sal:lap:~]ip link
5: wlo1: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state UP mode DORMANT group default qlen 1000
    link/ether c8:d4:01:61:cd:19 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff permaddr 78:55:22:cd:52:12
    altname wlp7s0f0

Although, a system reboot fixes the problem, however, I am interested in fixing it without reboot. So, I tried the following:
1. Restart network service:

Code:

systemctl restart NetworkManager.service

2. Make the wifi card down and up:

Code:

ip link set wlo1 down;ip link set wlo1 up

3. Run the following command to remove the card and then make system rescan it:

Code:

echo "1" > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.0/remove;sleep 1;echo "1" > /sys/bus/pci/rescan

However, nothing makes the wifi networks available again. Can you please guide me that how can I fix this problem without rebooting my system?
PS: As the system reboot fixed the above mentioned problem, so is there any way to simulate it? Or re-create it? So, that I can apply the solution provided by you.
Thanks

business_kid · 07-15-2023, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salmanahmed

[sal:lap:~]ip link
5: wlo1: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state UP mode DORMANT group default qlen 1000
link/ether c8:d4:01:61:cd:19 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff permaddr 78:55:22:cd:52:12
altname wlp7s0f0

I have highlighted 2 pieces of information that should never be seen in a working system. So your wifi card is off when the system comes up. So your wifi card is reluctant to wake up.

One idea would be to restart the network and see if that helps.

Another might be to add a line to one of the early scripts configuring your wifi card. Something like

Code:

/sbin/iwconfig wlo1 <options>

Look at the man page - there's a bundle of options you can set.

Another might be to preload the module, perhaps as early as the boot loader or initrd. You'll have to dig a little to put the finishing touches, but I don't have systemd. That's my excuse.

salmanahmed · 07-15-2023, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by business_kid

One idea would be to restart the network and see if that helps.

Restart the network? I think you mean network service, and not the router!

Quote:

Another might be to add a line to one of the early scripts configuring your wifi card. Something like

Code:

/sbin/iwconfig wlo1 <options>

Look at the man page - there's a bundle of options you can set.

iwconfig is not present in Arch based distros. I think 'ip' will serve the function, I will see it's manpage, however, what kind of option I am looking here?

Quote:

Another might be to preload the module, perhaps as early as the boot loader or initrd. You'll have to dig a little to put the finishing touches, but I don't have systemd. That's my excuse.

I have changed the mode from DORMANT to DEFAULT. If the problem happens again then this will be my next step (loading the module early). Let's see... Thanks for giving some hints