WLAN unstable after upgrading to Lenny

Fri Oct 3 02:07:49 PDT 2008

Good morning,

I've recently upgraded my ThinkPad X30 from Debian Etch to Lenny. WLAN 
worked fine before with WPA, but now the connection's dead after a few 
seconds. Google gave no hints and posting the problem to a newsgroup 
(message ID <9754r5-on4.ln1 at x30.heitkoetter.net>) gave no responses.

In fact I've got no clue what to do now, maybe somebody around here can 
help me?

In syslog, it looks like this (I've removed most of the stuff from 
dhclient and avahi):

Telling GNOME's nm-applet to turn on the wireless network:
10:36:44 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  User request to enable wireless.

Telling nm-applet to connect to my AP:
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <debug> [1223023018.399851] 
nm_device_802_11_wireless_get_activation_ap(): Forcing AP '[my AP]'
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  User Switch: 
/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/wlan0 / [my AP]
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Deactivating device wlan0.
10:36:58 x30 kernel: [ 1349.311167] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:36:58 x30 kernel: [ 1349.311167] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Device wlan0 activation scheduled...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Deactivating device eth0.
[some more stuff on shutting down eth0 here]
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) started...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 
(Device Prepare) scheduled...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 
(Device Prepare) started...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 
(Device Configure) scheduled...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 
(Device Prepare) complete.
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 
(Device Configure) starting...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0/wireless): access 
point '[my AP]' is encrypted, but NO valid key exists.  New key needed.
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) New wireless 
user key requested for network '[my AP]'.
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 
(Device Configure) complete.
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) New wireless 
user key for network '[my AP]' received.
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 
(Device Prepare) scheduled...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 
(Device Prepare) started...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 
(Device Configure) scheduled...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 
(Device Prepare) complete.
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 
(Device Configure) starting...
10:36:58 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0/wireless): access 
point '[my AP]' is encrypted, and a key exists.  No new key needed.
10:36:58 x30 kernel: [ 1349.722166] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=1 (Connected)
10:36:58 x30 kernel: [ 1349.722183] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:36:58 x30 kernel: [ 1349.722183] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link 
becomes ready
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 'INTERFACE_ADD 
wlan0^I^Iwext^I/var/run/wpa_supplicant^I'
10:37:00 x30 kernel: [ 1351.281044] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:00 x30 kernel: [ 1351.281044] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 'AP_SCAN 1'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 'ADD_NETWORK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was '0'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 'SET_NETWORK 0 
ssid [...]'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 'SET_NETWORK 0 
proto WPA2'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 'SET_NETWORK 0 
key_mgmt WPA-PSK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 'SET_NETWORK 0 
psk <key>'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command 
'ENABLE_NETWORK 0'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
10:37:00 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 
(Device Configure) complete.
10:37:05 x30 kernel: [ 1356.642051] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:05 x30 kernel: [ 1356.642172] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: 
BSSID=44:44:44:44:44:44
10:37:05 x30 kernel: [ 1356.654372] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:05 x30 kernel: [ 1356.654372] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: 
BSSID=44:44:44:44:44:44
10:37:05 x30 kernel: [ 1356.666426] wlan0: Trying to join BSSID [my AP's 
BSSID]
10:37:05 x30 kernel: [ 1356.693970] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=1 (Connected)
10:37:05 x30 kernel: [ 1356.693970] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:37:06 x30 kernel: [ 1357.696539] ieee80211_crypt: registered 
algorithm 'CCMP'
10:37:06 x30 kernel: [ 1357.696539] ieee80211_crypt: registered 
algorithm 'TKIP'
[lots of lines on IP configuration etc.]
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.561057] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.561149] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.572494] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.583660] wlan0: Trying to join BSSID [my AP's 
BSSID]
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.583660] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: 
BSSID=44:44:44:44:44:44
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.603270] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=1 (Connected)
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.603270] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.721042] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.721042] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:20 x30 kernel: [ 1371.768629] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:21 x30 kernel: [ 1371.808027] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:21 x30 kernel: [ 1372.067513] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:21 x30 kernel: [ 1372.590509] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:22 x30 kernel: [ 1373.626120] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:23 x30 kernel: [ 1374.204747] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:37:23 x30 NetworkManager: <info>  Supplicant state changed: 1
10:37:25 x30 kernel: [ 1376.141330] wlan0: no IPv6 routers present

Now let's try to receive e-mail, and the wireless connection will be dead:

10:37:50 x30 kernel: [ 1401.369724] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:50 x30 kernel: [ 1401.369724] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:37:50 x30 kernel: [ 1401.382132] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:50 x30 kernel: [ 1401.392990] wlan0: Trying to join BSSID [my AP's 
BSSID]
10:37:50 x30 kernel: [ 1401.392990] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: 
BSSID=44:44:44:44:44:44
10:37:50 x30 kernel: [ 1401.419300] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=1 (Connected)
10:37:50 x30 kernel: [ 1401.419402] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:37:54 x30 kernel: [ 1405.320232] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:37:54 x30 kernel: [ 1405.320232] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:38:05 x30 kernel: [ 1416.386870] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:38:05 x30 kernel: [ 1416.387096] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: 
BSSID=44:44:44:44:44:44
10:38:05 x30 kernel: [ 1416.399286] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:38:05 x30 kernel: [ 1416.399508] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: 
BSSID=44:44:44:44:44:44
10:38:05 x30 kernel: [ 1416.414631] wlan0: Trying to join BSSID [my AP's 
BSSID]
10:38:05 x30 kernel: [ 1416.441386] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=1 (Connected)
10:38:05 x30 kernel: [ 1416.441386] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]
10:38:08 x30 kernel: [ 1419.265612] wifi0_rename: dropped unencrypted TX 
data frame (drop_unencrypted=1)
10:38:09 x30 kernel: [ 1420.115260] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus=2 
(Disconnected)
10:38:09 x30 kernel: [ 1420.115465] wifi0_rename: LinkStatus: BSSID=[my 
AP's BSSID]

This can go on like this for hours. :-(

Kernel is Lenny stock:

jan at x30:~$ uname -a
Linux x30 2.6.26-1-686 #1 SMP Wed Sep 10 16:46:13 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux

I've got this mini-PCI NIC:

jan at x30:~$ lspci -nnv
01:02.0 Network controller [0280]: Intersil Corporation Prism 2.5 
Wavelan chipset [1260:3873] (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:2513]
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11
	Memory at f8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=4K]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel driver in use: hostap_pci
	Kernel modules: orinoco_pci, hostap_pci

Firmware is as follows:

jan at x30:~$ dmesg | grep wifi0
hostap_pci: Registered netdevice wifi0
wifi0: Original COR value: 0x0
wifi0: NIC: id=0x8013 v1.0.0
wifi0: PRI: id=0x15 v1.1.1
wifi0: STA: id=0x1f v1.8.2
wifi0: Intersil Prism2.5 PCI: mem=0xf8000000, irq=11
wifi0: registered netdevice wlan0

Thanks for any hints.

Cheers

Jan