Bug 456959 - WLAN LED constantly flashing on kernel 2.6.25.11-97
Summary: WLAN LED constantly flashing on kernel 2.6.25.11-97
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED NOTABUG
Alias: None
Product: Fedora
Classification: Fedora
Component: kernel
Version: 12
Hardware: All
OS: Linux
low
low
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Kernel Maintainer List
QA Contact: Fedora Extras Quality Assurance
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2008-07-28 21:46 UTC by Richard Körber
Modified: 2010-05-10 15:00 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

Fixed In Version:
Doc Type: Bug Fix
Doc Text:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2010-05-10 14:43:17 UTC
Type: ---
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description Richard Körber 2008-07-28 21:46:07 UTC
Description of problem:
After updating to kernel 2.6.25.11-97, the WLAN LED is flashing nearly all the
time. Up to the previous kernel 2.6.25.10-86 the WLAN LED was only flashing
occasionally, when actual data was transported.

The constant flashing of the WLAN LED is distracting. It also gives the
uncomfortable impression that some data is permanently transmitted to/from the
notebook, even when all applications are closed.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
kernel 2.6.25.11-97 x86_64

How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Update to kernel 2.6.25.11-97
2. Connect to a WLAN access point
3. Watch the WLAN LED on the notebook
  
Actual results:
The LED is constantly flashing nearly all the time.

Expected results:
The LED is flashing only on actual data transport.

Additional info:
It's a Lenovo R61 with iwl3945 driver.

When turning off STP at the access point, the situation got a little better.
Anyhow booting from the previous kernel 2.6.25.10-86 gave back the previous
behavior.

Comment 1 Bug Zapper 2009-06-10 02:16:53 UTC
This message is a reminder that Fedora 9 is nearing its end of life.
Approximately 30 (thirty) days from now Fedora will stop maintaining
and issuing updates for Fedora 9.  It is Fedora's policy to close all
bug reports from releases that are no longer maintained.  At that time
this bug will be closed as WONTFIX if it remains open with a Fedora 
'version' of '9'.

Package Maintainer: If you wish for this bug to remain open because you
plan to fix it in a currently maintained version, simply change the 'version' 
to a later Fedora version prior to Fedora 9's end of life.

Bug Reporter: Thank you for reporting this issue and we are sorry that 
we may not be able to fix it before Fedora 9 is end of life.  If you 
would still like to see this bug fixed and are able to reproduce it 
against a later version of Fedora please change the 'version' of this 
bug to the applicable version.  If you are unable to change the version, 
please add a comment here and someone will do it for you.

Although we aim to fix as many bugs as possible during every release's 
lifetime, sometimes those efforts are overtaken by events.  Often a 
more recent Fedora release includes newer upstream software that fixes 
bugs or makes them obsolete.

The process we are following is described here: 
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Comment 2 Richard Körber 2009-06-12 07:35:11 UTC
This bug is still present in Fedora 11.

Comment 3 andreskru 2010-03-06 21:22:05 UTC
This bug is still present in Fedora 12.
When I update kernel to 2.6.32.9-67.fc12.i686.PAE

Comment 4 Bug Zapper 2010-04-27 12:10:19 UTC
This message is a reminder that Fedora 11 is nearing its end of life.
Approximately 30 (thirty) days from now Fedora will stop maintaining
and issuing updates for Fedora 11.  It is Fedora's policy to close all
bug reports from releases that are no longer maintained.  At that time
this bug will be closed as WONTFIX if it remains open with a Fedora 
'version' of '11'.

Package Maintainer: If you wish for this bug to remain open because you
plan to fix it in a currently maintained version, simply change the 'version' 
to a later Fedora version prior to Fedora 11's end of life.

Bug Reporter: Thank you for reporting this issue and we are sorry that 
we may not be able to fix it before Fedora 11 is end of life.  If you 
would still like to see this bug fixed and are able to reproduce it 
against a later version of Fedora please change the 'version' of this 
bug to the applicable version.  If you are unable to change the version, 
please add a comment here and someone will do it for you.

Although we aim to fix as many bugs as possible during every release's 
lifetime, sometimes those efforts are overtaken by events.  Often a 
more recent Fedora release includes newer upstream software that fixes 
bugs or makes them obsolete.

The process we are following is described here: 
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/BugZappers/HouseKeeping

Comment 5 Richard Körber 2010-05-08 19:16:09 UTC
Still reproducible with Fedora 12 kernel-2.6.32.11-99.fc12.x86_64. BTW: This bug celebrates its 2nd birthday in a few weeks. :(

Comment 6 John W. Linville 2010-05-10 14:43:17 UTC
Then let's put it out of its misery...  I'm sorry that you don't like it, but that is working as designed.  Wireless networks are a lot more "chatty" than you might expect.  And no, the LEDs are not smart enough to differentiate "actual" data from the traffic used to maintain the network.

Comment 7 Richard Körber 2010-05-10 15:00:57 UTC
Thank you for your help, but I think you were closing the bug too early. :) As I reported, the behaviour was allright on the 2.6.25.10-86 kernel, so obviously LEDs were smart enough, but now aren't.

Okay, seriously... It seems like a single wireless package triggers the LED to flash a few times. The result is that even a permanent low traffic (like instant messenger heartbeats) causes the LED to flash more or less continuously.

The behaviour I expect should be similar to the traffic LED on network switches or LAN ports. A package only triggers a single flash (LED off, LED on) there.


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