System76 Serval WS - "Regular" and AHS Versions Major Intallation Problem [Solved]

[lhb1142]

I received a new Syatem76 Serval WS computer the other day and I installed the "regular" MX Linux OS (which I have installed on several computers previously; I have used MX Linux for many years now).

Installation proceeded normally but when I rebooted the computer Wi-Fi was not enabled nor was there any way to activate it.

Then I tried the MX Linux AHS version. This installation too proceeded normally and, when I rebooted, everything was working including the Wi-Fi.

But then I updated the computer and, after rebooting, the Wi-Fi was gone (and no way to activate it in the NetworkManager Applet).

I reinstalled the AHS version again, the computer opened perfectly (with Wi-Fi activated) and I went into Synaptic Package Manager and activated all of the same repositories I have activated on my older computer. I updated the computer and, when it was finished, I rebooted and again the Wi-Fi was not present and again there was no Wi-Fi module present in the NetworkManager Applet.

I tried reinstalling again (again activating the repositories I had activated before) and this time (when the Wi-Fi was active) I went into MX Welcome and activated Kernel 6.6x AHS and 6.9x AHS.

Then I rebooted and AGAIN - there is no Wi-Fi nor any way to activate it in the NetworkManager Applet.

What can I do now? I DEFINITELY want to use MX Linux on this computer.

I hope someone can help me.

Thank you.

Lawrence

[asqwerth]

Please post your Quick System Info (QSI) - search for it in the App menu. We need to see what sort of repos you are enabling, and of course the hardware specs of your new computer.

Best way to provide the info at this point is to
- reinstall MX AHS,
- enable the repos you did before BUT DO NOT UPDATE your computer or install anything after enabling these repos,
- then post your QSI.
- wait for an answer before upating, and don't turn off or reboot for now

[lhb1142]

Thank you for responding. I'll do what you ask later today; right now I have to shower and then eat lunch. I hope that you will be able to help me. Again, thank you.

[lhb1142]

Dear "asqwerth" - I sincerely apologize for this delay but I'm back now.

Here is the results of the QSI:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.10.10-1-liquorix-amd64 [6.10-12~mx23ahs] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0 parameters: audit=0
    intel_pstate=disable BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.10.10-1-liquorix-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro
    quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23.4_ahs_x64 Libretto September 15  2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux
    12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: System76 product: Serval WS v: serw13 serial: <superuser required> Chassis:
    type: 9 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: System76 model: Serval WS v: serw13 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: coreboot
    v: 2024-07-08_926f73d date: 06/28/2024
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 78.7 Wh (100.0%) condition: 78.7/77.3 Wh (101.8%) volts: 13.0 min: 11.4
    model: Notebook BAT type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: full cycles: 1
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i9-14900HX bits: 64 type: MST AMCP arch: Raptor Lake gen: core 14
    level: v3 note: check built: 2022+ process: Intel 7 (10nm) family: 6 model-id: 0xB7 (183)
    stepping: 1 microcode: 0x123
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 24 mt: 8 tpc: 2 st: 16 threads: 32 smt: enabled cache: L1: 2.1 MiB
    desc: d-16x32 KiB, 8x48 KiB; i-8x32 KiB, 16x64 KiB L2: 32 MiB desc: 8x2 MiB, 4x4 MiB L3: 36 MiB
    desc: 1x36 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 861 high: 2201 min/max: 800/2201 boost: enabled scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 1200 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800 5: 800 6: 800 7: 2201 8: 801 9: 800
    10: 800 11: 800 12: 800 13: 800 14: 800 15: 800 16: 800 17: 800 18: 800 19: 800 20: 800 21: 970
    22: 800 23: 800 24: 800 25: 800 26: 800 27: 800 28: 800 29: 799 30: 800 31: 800 32: 800
    bogomips: 154828
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling mitigation: Clear Register File
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Enhanced / Automatic IBRS; IBPB: conditional; RSB filling;
    PBRSB-eIBRS: SW sequence; BHI: BHI_DIS_S
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Raptor Lake-S UHD Graphics vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: i915 v: kernel
    alternate: xe arch: Gen-13 process: Intel 7 (10nm) built: 2022+ ports: active: eDP-1 empty: DP-1,
    DP-2, HDMI-A-1, HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:a788 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA AD107M [GeForce RTX 4060 Max-Q / Mobile] vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK GN21-X4
    driver: N/A alternate: nouveau non-free: 530.xx+ status: current (as of 2023-03) arch: Lovelace
    code: AD1xx process: TSMC n4 (5nm) built: 2022-23+ pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 8
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:28e0 class-ID: 0300
  Device-3: Bison BisonCam NB Pro type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 1-8:2 chip-ID: 5986:2170
    class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3840x2160 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1016x571mm (40.00x22.48")
    s-diag: 1165mm (45.88")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: BOE Display 0x0bb7 built: 2022 res: 3840x2160 hz: 144 dpi: 256
    gamma: 1.2 size: 381x214mm (15x8.43") diag: 437mm (17.2") ratio: 16:9 modes: 3840x2160
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 23.1.2-1~mx23ahs renderer: Mesa Intel Graphics (RPL-S)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    alternate: snd_soc_avs,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:7a50 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 8
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:22be class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.10.10-1-liquorix-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 2
    speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: b000 bus-ID: 19:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8125 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 1
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s port: N/A bus-ID: 1b:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:272b class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 1-14:3 chip-ID: 8087:0036 class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter>
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:4 sco-mtu: 96:6 link-policy: rswitch sniff link-mode: peripheral accept
    service-classes: rendering, capturing, object transfer, audio, telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 3.64 TiB used: 16.52 GiB (0.4%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 990 PRO 4TB size: 3.64 TiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: 4B2QJXD7 temp: 39.9 C scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 3.64 TiB size: 3.58 TiB (98.40%) used: 16.52 GiB (0.5%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 256 MiB size: 252 MiB (98.46%) used: 274 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 10 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 54.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 2209
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2119 libs: 1052 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
    2: deb http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm ahs
Info:
  Processes: 522 Uptime: 9m wakeups: 3 Memory: 94.14 GiB used: 2.24 GiB (2.4%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

I hope that this is what you need in order to be able to help me.

Thank you very much.

Lawrence

[j2mcgreg]

@lhb1142
When you post long tracts like your QSI above, please encase it in code tags which makes it easier to read and navigate here in the forum. I did it for you this time so that you can see how it's done.

[Stevo]

I tried reinstalling again (again activating the repositories I had activated before)

Since the wi-fi seems to break at this point, it seems doing these one at a time could point to a culprit.

Before doing that, though, is the wi-fi still working after doing all updates with the default repositories and then a reboot?

Also, I wasn't aware that we were shipping AHS with a Liquorix kernel--I thought we were using backported Debian ones.

In this case, the upgrade should bring in an additional 6.11 Liquorix.

[lhb1142]

Dear "Stevo" - When I install MX Linux 24.4 AHS the installation goes perfectly and everything works perfectly. But when I do an update - any update, with or without changing repositories - when I reboot the NetworkManager Applet shows only the Ethernet option (grayed out as there is no Ethernet cable attached) and the option to connect to VPN (which is also not present).

There is no way to activate Wi-Fi. Yet, if I look in the NetworkManager Applet editor I can see that my Wi-Fi HAD been connected but there is no way to connect it again.

You can see the QSI from this System76 Serval WS (which was created immediately after MX Linux installation - with no update) above.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Lawrence

[dolphin_oracle]

I tried reinstalling again (again activating the repositories I had activated before)

Since the wi-fi seems to break at this point, it seems doing these one at a time could point to a culprit.

Before doing that, though, is the wi-fi still working after doing all updates with the default repositories and then a reboot?

Also, I wasn't aware that we were shipping AHS with a Liquorix kernel--I thought we were using backported Debian ones.

In this case, the upgrade should bring in an additional 6.11 Liquorix.

nope switched to liquorix some time ago, when debian never got around to updating the sid kernel for a very long time. probably since 23.3 anyway. maybe 23.2 I forget.

the upgrade won't bring in a new kernel though, unless the user has installed the metapackages to do that. AHS still doesn't auto-update kernels.

intel wireless drivers would definitively be in-kernel though.

[lhb1142]

This is what I have:

Device-1: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 2
speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: b000 bus-ID: 19:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8125 class-ID: 0200
IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Intel driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 1
link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s port: N/A bus-ID: 1b:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:272b class-ID: 0280
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>

That of course is what I have immediately after installation. But when I update and reboot something goes wrong and I have no Wi-Fi at all and no way to reactivate it.

Is there a way to change the Intel driver to Device-1?

System76's new "BIOS" is terrible (in my opinion) with no way to do just about anything or to see anything.

The truly odd thing is that Wi-Fi is perfectly enabled on the live disc and also when installation is completed and the system is rebooted.

Only after any type of updating and rebooting does the Wi-Fi fail. And this happens every time.

What can be done? I really must have Wi-Fi.

I suppose I could call System76 but that is a last resort as the company does not support MX Linux.

This is, I believe, the first time I have ever had trouble with an installation of MX Linux.

Lawrence

[j2mcgreg]

@lhb1142 wrote:

System76's new "BIOS" is terrible (in my opinion) with no way to do just about anything or to see anything.

On virtually all modern computers, users have to create an Administrator's password before the advanced, hidden bios controls become visible and actionable.