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[Bug 1586650] Re: Ubuntu 16.04 touchy WiFi Internet

 

apport information

** Tags added: apport-collected trusty

** Description changed:

  I just recently did a fresh install of Ubuntu 16.04 on my desktop last
  weekend, and since that time my household had to reconfigure our modem
  and router setup (from bridge mode to DHCP mode). As a result, I lost
  all ability on my computer to connect to WiFi or the Internet. This
  isn't the first time this has happened on an Ubuntu version.
  
  However, all other devices in my household (there are over eight other
  devices between my family members), including my iPad and my
  PlayStation, had Internet connection. Growing desperate, I
  troubleshooted for days, trying out multiple solutions posted on
  AskUbuntu.com. I even opened up two AskUbuntu.com questions, and some
  people helped me troubleshoot the issue for a while. But eventually they
  gave up and left me alone with my problem.
  
  I felt so frustrated and exasperated. I thought I was never going to get
  Internet on my desktop again. Or that I would have to completely
  reinstall Ubuntu 16.04, because some old settings had been imprinted on
  my file system or something. But I can't be reinstalling my OS every
  time someone in my house alters something on our modem or router.
  
  Finally, this morning, I decided I would try one last thing: power-
  cycling our router and modem. I was very reluctant to do this, because
  the Internet had at last been working great for everyone in our house
  (we'd been having chronic Internet problems over the previous months),
  and I didn't want to compromise that. But I really need to have Internet
  on my desktop. So I power-cycled our router and modem, and finally,
  FINALLY my Internet works on my computer. It is a bit slow (only 2 Mbps
  download speed, and web pages load up slowly), but it actually works.
  I'm of course very skeptical that it will stop working at any time, but
  for now, it's functional.
  
  The issue I have with Ubuntu is that the networking seems extremely
  touchy and fragile, and isn't very resilient when something changes on
  your home network. My iPad doesn't have that problem at all; it will
  reconnect to any router within seconds, and you'll be back on the
  Internet in no time. My PlayStation can reestablish a new connection
  profile pretty much automatically and get you back gaming online within
  minutes. It's with Ubuntu, or Linux, that I've repeatedly encountered
  this debilitating issue, where reconnecting to an altered network is
  such a precarious thing.
  
  I'd really, REALLY like to continue using Ubuntu. For at least a few
  years, I no longer have Windows on my machine, I game heavily on Steam
  for Linux, and I really need the Internet on my desktop for work and for
  pleasure. But if I can't get Internet reliably with Linux, I fear I'm
  going to have to switch to another OS. And that would be a real shame.
  
  Please, improve the WiFi networking on Ubuntu so that it is just as
  snappy and resilient as my iPad, and I will be a very happy Ubuntu user
  for years to come.
  
  Thank you for reading.
  
  My system specifications:
  Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (64-bit)
  Asus M4A78LT-M LE Motherboard
  AMD Athlon II X4 645, 3.10 GHz
  Mushkin 8 GB PC3 Blackline RAM (2 x 4 GB)
  500 GB Hard Disk
  Qualcomm Atheros AR928X Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
  Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti
  
- (* I bought the Qualcomm Atheros AR928X Wireless Network Adapter
- specifically to work with Ubuntu from a Linux-friendly retailer. It
- normally works great, and no matter what it always at least shows WiFi
- signals nearby, even if I can't connect to them.)
+ (* I bought the Qualcomm Atheros AR928X Wireless Network Adapter specifically to work with Ubuntu from a Linux-friendly retailer. It normally works great, and no matter what it always at least shows WiFi signals nearby, even if I can't connect to them.)
+ --- 
+ ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.21
+ Architecture: amd64
+ AudioDevicesInUse:
+  USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
+  /dev/snd/controlC1:  nicholas   1993 F.... pulseaudio
+  /dev/snd/controlC0:  nicholas   1993 F.... pulseaudio
+ CurrentDesktop: Unity
+ DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
+ HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=65e816b7-679f-4d88-9cef-c4d5eeb89f23
+ InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-05-30 (7 days ago)
+ InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
+ MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
+ NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
+ Package: linux (not installed)
+ ProcFB:
+  
+ ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-87-generic root=UUID=6b080b23-fe79-4a22-9dec-bd3d029dda95 ro quiet splash
+ ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-87.133-generic 3.13.11-ckt39
+ RelatedPackageVersions:
+  linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-87-generic N/A
+  linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-87-generic  N/A
+  linux-firmware                             1.127.22
+ RfKill:
+  0: phy0: Wireless LAN
+  	Soft blocked: no
+  	Hard blocked: no
+ Tags:  trusty
+ Uname: Linux 3.13.0-87-generic x86_64
+ UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
+ UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
+ _MarkForUpload: True
+ dmi.bios.date: 07/23/2012
+ dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
+ dmi.bios.version: 0803
+ dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
+ dmi.board.name: M4A78LT-M-LE
+ dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
+ dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
+ dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
+ dmi.chassis.type: 3
+ dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
+ dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
+ dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0803:bd07/23/2012:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnM4A78LT-M-LE:rvrRevX.0x:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
+ dmi.product.name: System Product Name
+ dmi.product.version: System Version
+ dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

** Attachment added: "AlsaInfo.txt"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1586650/+attachment/4677864/+files/AlsaInfo.txt

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1586650

Title:
  Ubuntu 16.04 touchy WiFi Internet

Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  I just recently did a fresh install of Ubuntu 16.04 on my desktop last
  weekend, and since that time my household had to reconfigure our modem
  and router setup (from bridge mode to DHCP mode). As a result, I lost
  all ability on my computer to connect to WiFi or the Internet. This
  isn't the first time this has happened on an Ubuntu version.

  However, all other devices in my household (there are over eight other
  devices between my family members), including my iPad and my
  PlayStation, had Internet connection. Growing desperate, I
  troubleshooted for days, trying out multiple solutions posted on
  AskUbuntu.com. I even opened up two AskUbuntu.com questions, and some
  people helped me troubleshoot the issue for a while. But eventually
  they gave up and left me alone with my problem.

  I felt so frustrated and exasperated. I thought I was never going to
  get Internet on my desktop again. Or that I would have to completely
  reinstall Ubuntu 16.04, because some old settings had been imprinted
  on my file system or something. But I can't be reinstalling my OS
  every time someone in my house alters something on our modem or
  router.

  Finally, this morning, I decided I would try one last thing: power-
  cycling our router and modem. I was very reluctant to do this, because
  the Internet had at last been working great for everyone in our house
  (we'd been having chronic Internet problems over the previous months),
  and I didn't want to compromise that. But I really need to have
  Internet on my desktop. So I power-cycled our router and modem, and
  finally, FINALLY my Internet works on my computer. It is a bit slow
  (only 2 Mbps download speed, and web pages load up slowly), but it
  actually works. I'm of course very skeptical that it will stop working
  at any time, but for now, it's functional.

  The issue I have with Ubuntu is that the networking seems extremely
  touchy and fragile, and isn't very resilient when something changes on
  your home network. My iPad doesn't have that problem at all; it will
  reconnect to any router within seconds, and you'll be back on the
  Internet in no time. My PlayStation can reestablish a new connection
  profile pretty much automatically and get you back gaming online
  within minutes. It's with Ubuntu, or Linux, that I've repeatedly
  encountered this debilitating issue, where reconnecting to an altered
  network is such a precarious thing.

  I'd really, REALLY like to continue using Ubuntu. For at least a few
  years, I no longer have Windows on my machine, I game heavily on Steam
  for Linux, and I really need the Internet on my desktop for work and
  for pleasure. But if I can't get Internet reliably with Linux, I fear
  I'm going to have to switch to another OS. And that would be a real
  shame.

  Please, improve the WiFi networking on Ubuntu so that it is just as
  snappy and resilient as my iPad, and I will be a very happy Ubuntu
  user for years to come.

  Thank you for reading.

  My system specifications:
  Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (64-bit)
  Asus M4A78LT-M LE Motherboard
  AMD Athlon II X4 645, 3.10 GHz
  Mushkin 8 GB PC3 Blackline RAM (2 x 4 GB)
  500 GB Hard Disk
  Qualcomm Atheros AR928X Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
  Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti

  (* I bought the Qualcomm Atheros AR928X Wireless Network Adapter specifically to work with Ubuntu from a Linux-friendly retailer. It normally works great, and no matter what it always at least shows WiFi signals nearby, even if I can't connect to them.)
  --- 
  ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.21
  Architecture: amd64
  AudioDevicesInUse:
   USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
   /dev/snd/controlC1:  nicholas   1993 F.... pulseaudio
   /dev/snd/controlC0:  nicholas   1993 F.... pulseaudio
  CurrentDesktop: Unity
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
  HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=65e816b7-679f-4d88-9cef-c4d5eeb89f23
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-05-30 (7 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
  MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  Package: linux (not installed)
  ProcFB:
   
  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-87-generic root=UUID=6b080b23-fe79-4a22-9dec-bd3d029dda95 ro quiet splash
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-87.133-generic 3.13.11-ckt39
  RelatedPackageVersions:
   linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-87-generic N/A
   linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-87-generic  N/A
   linux-firmware                             1.127.22
  RfKill:
   0: phy0: Wireless LAN
   	Soft blocked: no
   	Hard blocked: no
  Tags:  trusty
  Uname: Linux 3.13.0-87-generic x86_64
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
  _MarkForUpload: True
  dmi.bios.date: 07/23/2012
  dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
  dmi.bios.version: 0803
  dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
  dmi.board.name: M4A78LT-M-LE
  dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
  dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
  dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
  dmi.chassis.type: 3
  dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
  dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0803:bd07/23/2012:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnM4A78LT-M-LE:rvrRevX.0x:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
  dmi.product.name: System Product Name
  dmi.product.version: System Version
  dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

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