Page 1 of 1

Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 1:02 pm
by fjdz
Hi,

I have an Atheros AR8152/8158 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (according to the device manager in Windows) and I can't get an internet connection. I started Mint from the Live DVD, and right away it tries to connect. But after I while I get "Connection failed", followed by "Not connected" (or something similar). I would guess this means that the network card is being recognized, but something else fails.
I found some advice on this page, which I followed. Everything seemed to work, except that I still could not connect. I put a log of what I did in quotes below:

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~/compat-wireless-2012-12-18 $ scripts/driver-select atl1c 
Processing new driver-select request...
Backing up makefile: Makefile.bk
Backup exists: Makefile.bk
Backing up makefile: drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/Makefile.bk
Backing up makefile: drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/Makefile.bk
Backup exists: Makefile.bk
Backup exists: Makefile.bk
Backup exists: drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/Makefile.bk
mint@mint ~/compat-wireless-2012-12-18 $ make
./scripts/gen-compat-autoconf.sh /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/.config /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/config.mk > include/linux/compat_autoconf.h
make -C /lib/modules/3.5.0-17-generic/build M=/home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18 modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic'
  CC [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/compat/main.o
  CC [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/compat/compat-3.7.o
  CC [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/compat/compat-3.8.o
  LD [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/compat/compat.o
  CC [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_main.o
/home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_main.c:2736:2: warning: initialization discards ‘const’ qualifier from pointer target type [enabled by default]
  CC [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_hw.o
  CC [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_ethtool.o
  LD [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c.o
  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST 2 modules
  CC      /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/compat/compat.mod.o
  LD [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/compat/compat.ko
  CC      /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c.mod.o
  LD [M]  /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic'
mint@mint ~/compat-wireless-2012-12-18 $ sudo make install
Warning:
You may or may not need to update your initframfs, you should if
any of the modules installed are part of your initramfs. To add
support for your distribution to do this automatically send a
patch against ./scripts/update-initramfs. If your distribution does not require this
send a patch against the '/usr/bin/lsb_release -i -s': LinuxMint
tag for your distribution to avoid this warning.

make -C /lib/modules/3.5.0-17-generic/build M=/home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18 modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic'
  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST 2 modules
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic'
make -C /lib/modules/3.5.0-17-generic/build M=/home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18 "INSTALL_MOD_DIR=updates"  \
		modules_install
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic'
  INSTALL /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/compat/compat.ko
  INSTALL /home/mint/compat-wireless-2012-12-18/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c.ko
  DEPMOD  3.5.0-17-generic
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic'
Warning:
You may or may not need to update your initframfs, you should if
any of the modules installed are part of your initramfs. To add
support for your distribution to do this automatically send a
patch against ./scripts/update-initramfs. If your distribution does not require this
send a patch against the '/usr/bin/lsb_release -i -s': LinuxMint
tag for your distribution to avoid this warning.

Note: iwl4965 detected, we're going to disable it. If you would like to enable it later you can run:
    sudo iwl-load iwl4965

Running iwl-enable iwlagn...
Disabling iwl4965 ...	[OK]	Module disabled:
kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl4965.ko
depmod will prefer updates/ over kernel/ -- OK!

Now run:

sudo make unload to unload all: wireless, bluetooth and ethernet modules
sudo make wlunload to unload wireless modules
sudo make btunload to unload bluetooth modules

Run sudo modprobe driver-name to load your desired driver.
If unsure reboot.
mint@mint ~/compat-wireless-2012-12-18 $ sudo modprobe atl1c
Here's a picture of what it says in the "System information:"
Image

Any idea of what goes wrong, and how to fix this?

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:42 am
by billmc
I'm not real good with wireless networking at the command line. If I need wireless, I usually leave it upto networkmanager. So I'll assume that you've built the correct module for your card.

In Linix, from the command line, if you run the command -> sudo lspci
It should give you a listing of all the pci hardware, you can double check to ensure you used the correct module.

But, stupid question. Do you have your wireless network encrypted? Do you need to supply a password in order for the wireless NIC to connect?

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:31 pm
by fjdz
Actually, it is a wired connection. For some reason they included this driver in Compat-wireless. (I know, it seems a bit illogical.)

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:11 pm
by elb98rm
This is apparently more common than you'd think:

SO!

I've got an oldish PC (2007 or so). I've decided to upgrade from the (pretty fun) Commodore OS to linux mint following a HD change.
When installing Mint, I had exactly the same symptoms.

TO be clear: they are as follows:

Mint discovers the network, and attempts to connect. 2-6 seconds later, it comes back with:
"Connection failed: Activation of network connection failed".

Given that this was a previously working cable/network adapter etc... I assumed it was a driver issue, and so tried to work around this by using a wireless card.
This would see all nearby wireless connections. I'd select the correct local one, and it would ask for the network password. It would then accept this, and sure enough: 5 seconds later - fail as before.

Hmm... I thought, wireless isn't as well supported as LAN. Maybe this is just not as good of an install as I'd hoped.
I went away today and remembered I had an old Ethernet NIC. I plugged this in, and EXACTLY the same thing happened.

So: this has happened on three separate devices from three separate brands. I might add [and I'm not trying to troll here], that the reason I can write this to you now is that W8, and some other W7 machines are happily trundling along on our (pretty decent) network. My W8 phone, and my housemate's iPhone also both successfully see the network.

Given then THREE driver issue, I assume there's some sort of setup/code error here.

Now - I'm not a linux specialist, so if you could guide me on how to break this down and supply any information that would be great.
I'm comfortable operating command line, but I'm not a linux user beyond a bit of apache/php environment hacking at work.

Cheers for the help in advance.

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:14 pm
by elb98rm
Oh, and to throw a spanner in the works for anyone suggesting it's mint only: -
I tried using a latest release Ubuntu CD to check that as well - same problem on both of my 2 wired and wireless connections.

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:17 pm
by fjdz
elb98rm wrote:Oh, and to throw a spanner in the works for anyone suggesting it's mint only: -
I tried using a latest release Ubuntu CD to check that as well - same problem on both of my 2 wired and wireless connections.
I have the same experience. I get the same results with Ubuntu, and I can't get a connection in Fedora either. (Currently using Mint on another computer, so no connection issues at the moment.)

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:54 pm
by elb98rm
Looks like it's a "proper" bug, as opposed to some form of error then. I'll keep checking in, but this is obviously a show stopper for me...

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:31 am
by elb98rm
Hi, so does anyone have any ideas about this? I need to make a decision on my OS shortly!

As a non linux expert, how do I show a log of the error for people to help diagnose the problem?

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:39 am
by elb98rm
Bump.

Can I get a comment on anyone about this please?

Cheers

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:16 pm
by YeeP
I have the same issue, but my machine is brand new. I ran into this before in the late 90s with mandrake... :)

I assumed it was just a lack of drivers. I tried Ubuntu 12.10, Fedora 17, Linux Mint 14.1 and SUSE Open, none of them could recognize wired or wireless connection. To me that seems like a driver issue. I will find out more about my hardware...

Re: Connection failed. Mint 14.1 Cinnamon 64 Bit

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:21 am
by elb98rm
So, in a classic case of "confused", the following has occured:

I used the Mint install I've created to watch DVDs over a few days. There have been no changes, and no other things have occurred.
For *no* reason, the network card just started working.

I've not restarted my router, the same other devices were connect to the network and THEY have had constant connections to the web.
I've not changed any settings or hardware.

Obviously, once the network was discovered, a whole raft of updates were recognized and I've installed them.

So, here's my ridiculous advice:

"Turn it off and on again, over the course of a few days."

What a joke. :S

If there are any updates, I'll keep you posted!