ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

[Ludovic Courtès]

Hello!

When switching from 4.0.5 to 4.1.2, I noticed that my ath9k-based
ThinkPenguin WiFi dongle would no longer work (“Resource unavailable”
when running ‘iwlist xxx scan’, etc.)

For a while, I suspected a firmware miscompilation but then noticed that
using the previous, known-good firmware didn’t help.

Then, from the “cfg80211: Exceeded CRDA call max attempts” kernel
messages, I thought that maybe CRDA had become mandatory (hence commits
68ac258 and cc205da), but that turned out not to be the case.

So I decided to switch to a 4.0.8 kernel (hence 97121c2), and now
everything works like a charm.


Another problem I had with 4.1.2 is that ‘sudo true’ would often take 10
seconds or so, with or without nscd running.

With all that in mind, I’m inclined to use 4.0.8 as the default kernel
for the release (specifically, as the default value of the ‘kernel’
field.)

What do people think?

Thanks,
Ludo’.

Re: ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

[Ludovic Courtès]

ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) skribis:

> With all that in mind, I’m inclined to use 4.0.8 as the default kernel
> for the release (specifically, as the default value of the ‘kernel’
> field.)

Done in dcd9c25.

We’ll of course revisit that after the release.

Ludo’.

Re: ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

[Mark H Weaver]

ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) writes:

> ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) skribis:
>
>> With all that in mind, I’m inclined to use 4.0.8 as the default kernel
>> for the release (specifically, as the default value of the ‘kernel’
>> field.)
>
> Done in dcd9c25.
>
> We’ll of course revisit that after the release.

This was fine at the time, but now I think we need to remove
linux-libre-4.0, because it is no longer supported and there are
probably unpatched security flaws in it now.  The final release of that
line was 4.0.9, which was released at the same time as 4.1.3.  Now 4.1.4
has been released, but there will apparently never be a 4.0.10.

I'm currently doing a test build of 4.1.4.  If it succeeds, I will
update to it, and then, in the absence of objections, I will make the
latest linux-libre the default kernel and remove linux-libre-4.0.

      Mark

Re: ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

[Ludovic Courtès]

ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) skribis:

> When switching from 4.0.5 to 4.1.2, I noticed that my ath9k-based
> ThinkPenguin WiFi dongle would no longer work (“Resource unavailable”
> when running ‘iwlist xxx scan’, etc.)

This is still broken in 4.1.6.  Is anyone using a similar setup?

Ludo’.

Re: ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

[Alex Sassmannshausen]

Hello,

Sorry, can't help really, but…

Ludovic Courtès writes:

> ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) skribis:
>
>> When switching from 4.0.5 to 4.1.2, I noticed that my ath9k-based
>> ThinkPenguin WiFi dongle would no longer work (“Resource unavailable”
>> when running ‘iwlist xxx scan’, etc.)
>
> This is still broken in 4.1.6.  Is anyone using a similar setup?

Don't know if it helps, I'm now running the 4.1.6 kernel, and my
wireless is using the ath9k drivers, and all seems to be working fine.

Alex

Re: ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

[Ludovic Courtès]

ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) skribis:

> When switching from 4.0.5 to 4.1.2, I noticed that my ath9k-based
> ThinkPenguin WiFi dongle would no longer work (“Resource unavailable”
> when running ‘iwlist xxx scan’, etc.)

I’m happy to report that this is fixed by upgrading the ath9k firmware
from 1.3.2 to 1.4.0.  To sum up:

  linux-libre-4.2 + ath9k-htc-firmware-1.4.0 → works like a charm

Ludo’.

Re: ath9k vs. Linux-libre 4.1.2, and default kernel

[Mathieu Lirzin]

ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) writes:

> ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) skribis:
>
>> When switching from 4.0.5 to 4.1.2, I noticed that my ath9k-based
>> ThinkPenguin WiFi dongle would no longer work (“Resource unavailable”
>> when running ‘iwlist xxx scan’, etc.)
>
> I’m happy to report that this is fixed by upgrading the ath9k firmware
> from 1.3.2 to 1.4.0.  To sum up:
>
>   linux-libre-4.2 + ath9k-htc-firmware-1.4.0 → works like a charm
>
> Ludo’.

\o/

Now you can merrily look at cat videos on your sofa with total
freedom.  :)

--
Mathieu Lirzin