CentOS 7.2 Laptop Wireless Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 2230 (rev C4)

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With CentOS 7.2 a laptop wireless card is recognized in dmesg, but nonfunctional. Toggling the hardware wifi switch causes the Bluetooth icon to appear and disappear. The network configuration window shows the Wireless tab greyed out. Rebooting with the bluetooth enabled does not help. It appears the appropriate driver is iwlwifi, which is what works in Fedora and appears to be available and installed in CentOS.

lspci gives
08:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 2230 (rev c4)

1. How do I get this working? I am happy to work with command line tools.

2. Are there other packages I need? I installed wireless-tools, and tried to fiddle with iwconfig and NetworkManager to no avail. iwconfig does seem to interact with the wifi device.

3. Is there documentation I should be following to understand/troubleshoot networking support?
https://wiki.CentOS.org/HowTos/Laptops/Wireless does not document the iwlwifi driver.

28 thoughts on - CentOS 7.2 Laptop Wireless Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 2230 (rev C4)

  • Hallo don’t know if this helps.

    http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi/ <http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi/>

    https://kernel.googlesource.com/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/+/master <https://kernel.googlesource.com/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/+/master>

    git clone https://kernel.googlesource.com/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware <https://kernel.googlesource.com/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware>

  • Hello Philip,

    In my test cases on CentOS 6 or 7 I always run an elrepo kernel or build my own one from rewritten spec file. That helps me out to get CentOS work as good it can be.

    Personal playground, those packages are unsigned!!!

    http://CentOS.cms4all.org/CentOS/7/ <http://CentOS.cms4all.org/CentOS/7/>


    noarch git firmware kernel ml aufs – oh I was lazy


    – Get Multimedia work, all my videos incl. DVD, midi and other audio files are working
    I was given up after test many repros.


    libdrm radeon (no new iMac 2015…hmmm)
    hardinfo


    mutter – gnome 3 windows shadow hack netatalk – apple time capsule on CentOS

    CentOS 7 live on usbdrive to test it on different machines….

    Fun with CentOS 7

    PS:hm… gstreamer was working with CentOS 6 damm

    Don’t hammer my virtual server otherwise i push them away….

  • Thank you, I checked, and the firmware

    /usr/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-2030-6.ucode

    is already installed by default (timestamped 2012-Jan, it is not new).

  • Thanks Brandon and everyone — to skip reboot I hope it is sufficient to execute sudo grep iwlwifi [CentOSpartition]/var/log/messages
    (you can see several reboots and my attempts to experiment)

    Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: can’t disable ASPM; OS doesn’t have ASPM control Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: loaded firmware version 18.168.6.1 op_mode iwldvm Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG disabled Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUGFS enabled Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEVICE_TRACING disabled Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 BGN, REV=0xC8
    Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost NetworkManager[1033]: rfkill0: found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Apr 12 16:16:48 localhost NetworkManager[1033]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 3)
    Apr 12 16:22:02 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to disable radio. Apr 12 16:22:12 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to enable radio. Jun 1 07:03:35 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: can’t disable ASPM; OS doesn’t have ASPM control Jun 1 07:03:35 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: loaded firmware version 18.168.6.1 op_mode iwldvm Jun 1 07:03:35 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG disabled Jun 1 07:03:35 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUGFS enabled Jun 1 07:03:35 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEVICE_TRACING disabled Jun 1 07:03:35 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 BGN, REV=0xC8
    Jun 1 07:03:35 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Jun 1 07:03:36 localhost NetworkManager[1031]:     rfkill0: found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Jun 1 07:03:36 localhost NetworkManager[1031]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 3)
    Apr 12 18:22:21 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to disable radio. Apr 12 18:22:25 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to enable radio. Apr 12 19:28:13 localhost NetworkManager[20019]:     rfkill0:
    found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Apr 12 19:28:13 localhost NetworkManager[20019]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 3)
    Apr 12 19:29:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to disable radio. Apr 12 19:30:06 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to enable radio. Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: can’t disable ASPM; OS doesn’t have ASPM control Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: loaded firmware version 18.168.6.1 op_mode iwldvm Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG disabled Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUGFS enabled Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEVICE_TRACING disabled Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 BGN, REV=0xC8
    Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost NetworkManager[1031]:     rfkill0: found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Apr 13 13:04:56 localhost NetworkManager[1031]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 3)
    Apr 13 13:05:50 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to disable radio. Apr 13 13:05:57 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to enable radio. Apr 13 13:06:36 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: can’t disable ASPM; OS doesn’t have ASPM control Apr 13 13:06:36 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: loaded firmware version 18.168.6.1 op_mode iwldvm Apr 13 13:06:36 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG disabled Apr 13 13:06:36 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUGFS enabled Apr 13 13:06:36 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEVICE_TRACING disabled Apr 13 13:06:36 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 BGN, REV=0xC8
    Apr 13 13:06:36 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 13:06:37 localhost NetworkManager[1028]:     rfkill0: found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Apr 13 13:06:37 localhost NetworkManager[1028]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 3)
    Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: can’t disable ASPM; OS doesn’t have ASPM control Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: loaded firmware version 18.168.6.1 op_mode iwldvm Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG disabled Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUGFS enabled Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEVICE_TRACING disabled Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 BGN, REV=0xC8
    Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost NetworkManager[1031]:     rfkill0: found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Apr 13 14:21:58 localhost NetworkManager[1031]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 3)
    Apr 13 14:29:33 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 14:29:33 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 14:29:33 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 14:29:33 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 14:41:12 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to disable radio. Apr 13 14:41:12 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Not sending command – RF KILL
    Apr 13 14:41:12 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Not sending command – RF KILL
    Apr 13 14:41:21 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to enable radio. Apr 13 14:49:13 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 14:49:13 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 14:49:14 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 14:49:14 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 14:54:21 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 14:54:21 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 14:54:22 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 14:54:22 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 15:15:50 localhost NetworkManager[8313]:     rfkill0: found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Apr 13 15:15:50 localhost NetworkManager[8313]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 3)
    Apr 13 15:19:32 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 15:19:32 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 15:19:32 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 15:19:32 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x0-0x0
    Apr 13 15:25:08 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: can’t disable ASPM; OS doesn’t have ASPM control Apr 13 15:25:08 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: loaded firmware version 18.168.6.1 op_mode iwldvm Apr 13 15:25:08 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG disabled Apr 13 15:25:08 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUGFS enabled Apr 13 15:25:08 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0:
    CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEVICE_TRACING disabled Apr 13 15:25:08 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 BGN, REV=0xC8
    Apr 13 15:25:08 localhost kernel: iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled –
    LTR Disabled Apr 13 15:25:09 localhost NetworkManager[1029]:     rfkill0: found WiFi radio killswitch (at
    /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.1/0000:08:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0)
    (driver iwlwifi)
    Apr 13 15:25:09 localhost NetworkManager[1029]:     (wlp8s0): new Generic device (carrier: OFF, driver: ‘iwlwifi’, ifindex: 4)

  • Hi John, Thank you, elrepo sounds good to know about —
    http://elrepo.org/tiki/About says is an extra repository for hardware support. Still not clear how to troubleshoot the problem so I know what to install from elrepo.

    I know that a spec file is involved in creating an RPM file; do you mean that you make your own kernel RPM?

  • Good morning Philip,

    – To install a most vanilla kernel elrepo is a quick step look forward about kernel solution
    – Yes build own kernel by a special kernel specification for your machine. Why not?
    – Frozen a kernel in fact „it works“ with the right firmware for your wifi is a good solution.

    I got a mixed network with Windows 3.11 up to Windows 10 and Linux with OpenSuse, Ubuntu and a HPC CentOS 7 Cluster on Opteron 6380.

    By the way, when you get a preinstalled System on a laptop it works in most cases from prebuilder.

    It’s a common thing to use the given driver. To upgrade it all the time by update can hold you back todo you real work.

    As hardware, network and software specialist i try out different compositions. My private iMac 2010 not run really on the 2.6 – CentOS 6 or 3.10 kernel form CentOS 7. Same effect on newer hardware from „today“.

    To build the right kernel for specific hardware is for me a common thing. Freeze it when i got – also.

    We froze the HPC cluster at 7.1.503, because it works for us. To update or upgrade can not be done all the time, our calculations run from hours to month….

    Some of you say CentOS 7.0 works why not download this kernel from vault.CentOS.org <http://vault.CentOS.org/> and install with yum install kernel…rpm?

    Sincerely

    Andy

  • CentOS 7.0 works when installed but when you upgrade it to 7.2 the wifi device stops being recognised.

    I’m going to do an install later today of 7.2 and see how it goes.

    Tony
    —
    Linux nogs.tonyshome.ie 2.6.32-573.22.1.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Mar 23
    03:35:39 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

  • Please note, I reinstalled, because a virus named windows 8
    spontaneously “repaired” the drive eliminating the dual-boot. This time I configured wireless in the initial stage of installation from DVD, it did connect. But after install, after reboot, it appears not to be available. Have not yet installed any extra packages.

    $ rfkill list
    0: phy0: Wireless LAN
    Soft blocked: no
    Hard blocked: no
    2: hci0: Bluetooth
    Soft blocked: no
    Hard blocked: no

    $ dmesg|grep iwlwifi
    [ 3.766133] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: can’t disable ASPM; OS doesn’t have ASPM control
    [ 3.766267] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: irq 31 for MSI/MSI-X
    [ 3.783806] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: loaded firmware version
    18.168.6.1 op_mode iwldvm
    [ 3.836905] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG disabled
    [ 3.836909] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUGFS enabled
    [ 3.836911] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEVICE_TRACING disabled
    [ 3.836914] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Centrino(R)
    Wireless-N 2230 BGN, REV=0xC8
    [ 3.837018] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: L1 Enabled – LTR Disabled
    [ 501.206643] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to disable radio.
    [ 503.716639] iwlwifi 0000:08:00.0: RF_KILL bit toggled to enable radio.

    (yes, I toggled the hardware switch, which seemed to only affect the Bluetooth again.)
    ifconfig does not report any wireless adapter.

  • yes iwl2030-firmware was already installed. i have since installed wireless-tools and wavemon. Wavemon detects an interface wlp8s0.

  • OK I installed 7.2 ( 7-1511 Development workstation )

    Anaconda allowed me to configure the wifi and it got an IP address from the router. So the wifi is working.

    Reboot and no wireless device recognised.

    NetworkManager only offers a wired and network proxy options for configuration.

    iwl2000/2030 are installed and rfkill says the wireless is neither hard nor soft blocked.

    So any ideas.

    Tony
    —
    Linux nogs.tonyshome.ie 2.6.32-573.22.1.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Mar 23
    03:35:39 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

  • or you get the sources of those kernels and take the diff command…to find the different…

  • In my case they are both Dell E65xx fairly old but still serviceable.

    E6500 has

    Network controller: Intel Corporation Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300

    E6510 has
    Network controller: Intel Corporation Centrino Ultimate-N 6300
    (rev 35)

    Tony

  • My workaround.

    On the Dell E6500

    installed CentOS 7.0 from DVD ( development workstation )
    wifi works

    updated to CentOS 7.1 ( 7.1503 ) using vault.CentOS.org
    wifi works

    updated to CentOS 7.2 ( 7.1511 ) using local repo
    wifi works

    So I ended up with a working 7.2.

    Hope this helps someone.

    Tony.

  • Is NetworkManager-wifi installed?
    I remember after I installed CentOS first time (7.0) wifi worked. When I later did a reinstall (7.2) during installation wifi worked fine, but after a reboot not. Seems NetworkManager-wifi did not get installed by default.

  • Anecdotal evidence only so take with a pinch of salt ;-)

    I installed 7.0 on a Dell laptop E6500 wifi worked.

    I logged on remotely to do the update to 7.2 ( 7.1511 ) and at the same time I was pinging the laptop from another terminal. This should give me some idea of when wifi stopped working.

    When the wifi stopped working, the pings stopped, in the update window the cleanup after the install was taking place and had stopped at cleanup of wpa-supplicant. Don’t know what significance of that is.

    Tony

  • Hm, but let me drop a note:

    I’m on a *most* clean installation of 7.2 and other wifi it works.

    I Installed the „Gnome Desktop“ who give me the graphical network manager, but with another network card for sure.

  • In my test cases with the new kernels 4.4.6 and others that i can not remind:

    – iMac 2010 here an at home no problems (Atheros)
    – Standard Desktop WLAN PCI Card no Problem
    – Laptop with intel 3160N no problems…

    and 7.0 3.10 works for the most of here.