Unexplained WiFi Failure After Unlock

[DLF2000]

If the computer has been locked but still running after an hour the computer is no longer able to use WiFi, despite the WiFi indicator showing adequate signal strength. This happens on both my newer computer (Acer Aspire3,) and older HP Pavillion that both use the latest Mint 20.2. How do I fix this?

Code: Select all

efwh@efwh-Aspire-A315-22:~$ inxi -Fxxxrz
System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-80-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.5 wm: muffin 5.0.1 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 
  Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Acer product: Aspire A315-22 v: V1.09 
  serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: SR model: Rose_SR v: V1.09 serial: <filter> UEFI: Phoenix v: 1.09 
  date: 05/15/2020 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 36.2 Wh condition: 36.2/37.0 Wh (98%) volts: 8.5/7.6 
  model: Murata AP16M4J type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Full 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: AMD A6-9220e RADEON R4 5 COMPUTE CORES 2C+3G 
  bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Excavator L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm 
  bogomips: 6388 
  Speed: 1192 MHz min/max: 1200/1600 MHz boost: enabled Core speeds (MHz): 
  1: 1193 2: 1192 
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Stoney [Radeon R2/R3/R4/R5 Graphics] 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: amdgpu v: kernel bus ID: 00:01.0 
  chip ID: 1002:98e4 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: amdgpu,ati 
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: AMD STONEY (DRM 3.35.0 5.4.0-80-generic LLVM 11.0.0) 
  v: 4.5 Mesa 20.2.6 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:01.1 chip ID: 1002:15b3 
  Device-2: AMD Family 15h Audio vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI 
  driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:09.2 chip ID: 1022:157a 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-80-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 2000 
  bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 10ec:8168 
  IF: enp1s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter 
  vendor: Lite-On driver: ath10k_pci v: kernel port: 2000 bus ID: 02:00.0 
  chip ID: 168c:0042 
  IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
  IF-ID-1: nordlynx state: unknown speed: 10 Mbps duplex: full mac: N/A 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 238.47 GiB used: 15.32 GiB (6.4%) 
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Kingston model: RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1 
  size: 238.47 GiB speed: 15.8 Gb/s lanes: 2 serial: <filter> rev: E8FK12.3 
  scheme: GPT 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 231.54 GiB used: 7.51 GiB (3.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1 
  ID-2: /boot size: 704.5 MiB used: 308.3 MiB (43.8%) fs: ext4 
  dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 
  ID-3: swap-1 size: 976.0 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-2 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 50.6 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 50 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list 
  1: deb https://repo.nordvpn.com//deb/nordvpn/debian stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com uma main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
  2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
  3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
  6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:
  Processes: 205 Uptime: 17m Memory: 7.19 GiB used: 1.36 GiB (18.9%) 
  Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash 
  v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38 
efwh@efwh-Aspire-A315-22:~$ 

[DLF2000]

Hello, can somebody provide some insight? Thanks.

[sleeper12]

What does this show:

Code: Select all

 iwconfig 

[DLF2000]

Code: Select all

efwh@efwh-Aspire-A315-22:~$ iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

enp1s0    no wireless extensions.

wlp2s0    IEEE 802.11  ESSID:"FWH-Qc"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: 00:06:31:E9:29:A5   
          Bit Rate=1 Mb/s   Tx-Power=30 dBm   
          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=43/70  Signal level=-67 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:29   Missed beacon:0

nordlynx  no wireless extensions.

efwh@efwh-Aspire-A315-22:~$ 

[JoeFootball]

... has been locked but still running ...

Just to be clear, the computer is not going into Suspend during this time, correct?

[DLF2000]

Just to be clear, the computer is not going into Suspend during this time, correct?

If you are asking if the computer goes into "Sleep" mode, then no, it is not suspended. It goes into "Lock" mode, where I need to type password to re-enter the system, but the power never goes off.

[DLF2000]

Every time this happens I have to reboot the system with the GUI buttons. Turning off the Wi-Fi and then turning it back on does not help. When I try to re-connect the VPN in the terminal it goes through an endless loop, as if it crashes the terminal.

Is there a Linux equivalent of the Windows command "ipconfig/release" and "ipconfig/renew"?

[DLF2000]

How similar is my problem to the others recently posted here?

[DLF2000]

Some help would be REALLY appreciated.

fwh1977@fwh1977-HP-Pavilion-g6-Notebook-PC:~$ inxi -Fxxxrz
System:
Kernel: 5.4.0-84-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0
Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.5 wm: muffin 5.0.1 dm: LightDM 1.30.0
Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Pavilion g6 Notebook PC
v: 088B110000305910000620100 serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 10
serial: <filter>
Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 1849 v: 57.35 serial: <filter> UEFI: Insyde
v: F.26 date: 02/21/2013
Battery:
ID-1: BAT0 charge: 47.3 Wh condition: 47.3/47.3 Wh (100%) volts: 12.3/10.8
model: Hewlett-Packard Primary type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Full
CPU:
Topology: Dual Core model: AMD A6-4400M APU with Radeon HD Graphics
bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Piledriver rev: 1 L2 cache: 1024 KiB
flags: avx lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
bogomips: 10779
Speed: 1483 MHz min/max: 1400/2700 MHz boost: enabled Core speeds (MHz):
1: 1442 2: 1416
Graphics:
Device-1: AMD Trinity 2 [Radeon HD 7520G] vendor: Hewlett-Packard
driver: radeon v: kernel bus ID: 00:01.0 chip ID: 1002:9990
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: ati,radeon
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1366x768~60Hz, 1920x1080~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: AMD ARUBA (DRM 2.50.0 / 5.4.0-84-generic LLVM 12.0.0)
v: 4.3 Mesa 21.0.3 compat-v: 3.1 direct render: Yes
Audio:
Device-1: AMD Trinity HDMI Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:01.1 chip ID: 1002:9902
Device-2: AMD FCH Azalia vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: snd_hda_intel
v: kernel bus ID: 00:14.2 chip ID: 1022:780d
Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-84-generic
Network:
Device-1: Intel Wireless 7260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: 3100
bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 8086:08b1
IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet
vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 2000 bus ID: 05:00.0
chip ID: 10ec:8136
IF: eno1 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: nordlynx state: unknown speed: 10 Mbps duplex: full mac: N/A
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 1.02 TiB used: 130.81 GiB (12.5%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: GALAX model: TA1D0120A size: 111.79 GiB
speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> rev: 11.2 scheme: GPT
ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Toshiba model: MQ01ABD100 size: 931.51 GiB
speed: 3.0 Gb/s rotation: 5400 rpm serial: <filter> rev: 1A scheme: GPT
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 107.37 GiB used: 30.23 GiB (28.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1
ID-2: /boot size: 704.5 MiB used: 311.5 MiB (44.2%) fs: ext4
dev: /dev/sda2
ID-3: swap-1 size: 976.0 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-2
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 70.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: radeon temp: 69 C
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list
1: deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com uma main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:
Processes: 206 Uptime: 5m Memory: 7.25 GiB used: 1.21 GiB (16.7%)
Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash
v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38
fwh1977@fwh1977-HP-Pavilion-g6-Notebook-PC:~$

[sleeper12]

Have you tried restarting your router?

[DLF2000]

Have you tried restarting your router?

I have attempted to:
*Re-start router
*Turn WiFi off, then on again in Linux Mint

The only way I can get this particular HP laptop to access the internet is to reboot the entire system.

It seems like there is a 4-6 hour time limit, after which it fails to access internet. For the first time yesterday it happened in the middle of running the system, i.e. after unlocking the internet was working, then 5 minutes later I get the same issue of frozen internet that needs rebooting computer.

[DLF2000]

Still the same problems. Does anybody have any suggestions? Is this problem similar to one in the past? If so, where is the related thread?

[JoeFootball]

Does anybody have any suggestions?

Could it be that the VPN client and/or server is expiring your session? i.e., For the purposes of testing, does the behavior still exist if you don't use VPN?

[DLF2000]

Could it be that the VPN client and/or server is expiring your session? i.e., For the purposes of testing, does the behavior still exist if you don't use VPN?

I use a VPN. I do not know if the VPN is expiring my session, because anything internet related is completely frozen. When I open the terminal and type in the command to connect to a new VPN server, the terminal will either claim nothing is available, or it will cycle on indefinitely. The internet is completely cut off. At that point I must manually shut down the terminal, and reboot the system.

[JoeFootball]

I use a VPN. I do not know if the VPN is expiring my session ...

Prior to a failure, would you be able to test by not using the VPN and see if the behavior still presents itself? If it doesn't, this could be evidence to the VPN timing out. If it does, this could present the VPN as a less likely culprit.

Regardless of VPN, another test for this behavior could be with connecting the laptop directly to the router without wifi.

[DLF2000]

I use a VPN. I do not know if the VPN is expiring my session ...

Prior to a failure, would you be able to test by not using the VPN and see if the behavior still presents itself? If it doesn't, this could be evidence to the VPN timing out. If it does, this could present the VPN as a less likely culprit.

Regardless of VPN, another test for this behavior could be with connecting the laptop directly to the router without wifi.

I believe NordVPN is causing problems. I left the computer locked all night with the VPN disconnected. I went to speedtest.net this morning, and I have full internet speed. If I had done this with VPN still connected then the Internet would have been locked out.

My next question: what is the best way to alleviate this problem other then resetting the system?

[JoeFootball]

... what is the best way to alleviate this problem other then resetting the system?

I suspect what's happening is that NordVPN server is seeing the inactivity, and then disconnecting you. It further appears the NordVPN client doesn't handle this gracefully, leaving you in an inconvenient disposition.

Some VPN clients have kill switch functionality that engage when the secure connection is lost, thus purposely blocking all traffic in/out. If yours has that, you can try toggling it on/off to see of that resumes your connection. I've never used NordVPN, so this may be a red herring, but the circumstantial evidence is there, or so I think.

Since this does sound like a NordVPN challenge, I'd investigate on that side of the fence as well, as I'd like to think they offer some form of support.

Last thought, while perhaps not true solution, you can try leaving your connection active by having a background terminal ping an IP periodically. e.g., ping -i 60 8.8.8.8, where 8.8.8.8 (or any ping-responding IP) would get a receive/send a single packet every 60 (or whatever interval you see fit) seconds.

Edit: NordVPN automatic Kill Switch
"It continuously monitors your connection to the remote server. If it accidentally drops, the VPN Kill Switch blocks internet access for your device (or specific apps)."
https://nordvpn.com/features/vpn-kill-switch/

[DLF2000]

Sorry for the late reply.

It appears the problem was on NordVPN's side. They have corrected the problem in subsequent updates.