Wifi connection randomly disconnects

majlo157 · 4 November 2020 15:11

Hi,
suddenly my wifi keeps disconnecting, never had this issue before and have not done any changes to either laptop or system settings, nor to the internet connection.

Here’s the journalctl log, showing sudden disconnection at 15:52 (no sleep nor suspend, laptop still open and running).

journalctl -fu NetworkManager
-- Logs begin at Wed 2019-05-01 15:08:14 CEST. --
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.8865] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option subnet_mask          => '255.255.255.0'
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.8866] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): state changed unknown -> bound
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.8900] device (wlp3s0): state change: ip-config -> ip-check (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.9172] device (wlp3s0): state change: ip-check -> secondaries (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.9178] device (wlp3s0): state change: secondaries -> activated (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.9188] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_LOCAL
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.9212] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_SITE
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.9214] policy: set 'Zamazal-WIFI 1' (wlp3s0) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS
lis 04 14:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497941.9782] device (wlp3s0): Activation: successful, device activated.
lis 04 14:52:22 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604497942.1968] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_GLOBAL
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9338] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option dhcp_lease_time      => '7200'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9339] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option domain_name_servers  => '77.48.254.254 77.48.100.254'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9340] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option expiry               => '1604508741'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9340] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option ip_address           => '192.168.0.105'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9340] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_broadcast_address => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9341] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_domain_name => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9341] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_domain_name_servers => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9342] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_domain_search => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9342] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_host_name  => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9342] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_interface_mtu => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9343] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_ms_classless_static_routes => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9343] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_nis_domain => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9344] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_nis_servers => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9344] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_ntp_servers => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9344] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_rfc3442_classless_static_routes => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9345] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_root_path  => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9345] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_routers    => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9345] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_static_routes => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9346] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_subnet_mask => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9346] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_time_offset => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9347] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_wpad       => '1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9347] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option routers              => '192.168.0.1'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9347] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option subnet_mask          => '255.255.255.0'
lis 04 15:52:21 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501541.9348] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): state changed bound -> extended
lis 04 15:55:53 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501753.5138] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: completed -> disconnected
lis 04 15:55:53 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501753.5627] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning
lis 04 15:55:54 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501754.0447] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: scanning -> authenticating
lis 04 15:55:54 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501754.1011] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> associating
lis 04 15:55:54 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501754.2674] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: associating -> associated
lis 04 15:55:54 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501754.3450] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: associated -> 4way_handshake
lis 04 15:55:55 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604501755.3563] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: 4way_handshake -> completed

Does anyone have any clue what’s causing this ?

thanks,
M.

pablomhr · 4 November 2020 15:22

Hi, try changing
/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi_rand_mac.conf

[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no

majlo157 · 5 November 2020 10:29

Hi pablomhr,
before I go and try that … was there any recent update that would have changed the setting ? I never had that issue before and I’ve been using manjaro for 2 years now.

Here’s today’s log, showing the sudden disconnection. It did not connect back automatically, pop up window asked for wifi password (which was already prefilled anyway) but entering it didn’t help either and wifi did not connect. I had to reconnect manually (at 10:53) by clicking on the available wifi network in networkmanager systray icon, which worked immediately.

journalctl -fu NetworkManager
-- Logs begin at Wed 2019-05-01 15:08:14 CEST. --
lis 05 10:46:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569566.0087] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTING
lis 05 10:46:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569566.0814] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> inactive
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <warn>  [1604569686.0840] device (wlp3s0): no secrets: No agents were available for this request.
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569686.0841] device (wlp3s0): state change: need-auth -> failed (reason 'no-secrets', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569686.0862] manager: NetworkManager state is now DISCONNECTED
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569686.1032] device (wlp3s0): set-hw-addr: set MAC address to 8A:98:96:88:98:D8 (scanning)
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <warn>  [1604569686.4821] device (wlp3s0): Activation: failed for connection 'Zamazal-WIFI 1'
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569686.4872] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> interface_disabled
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569686.4884] device (wlp3s0): state change: failed -> disconnected (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:48:06 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604569686.5671] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: interface_disabled -> inactive
lis 05 10:53:35 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570015.4807] device (wlp3s0): set-hw-addr: set MAC address to 7A:2E:03:42:E4:5C (scanning)
lis 05 10:53:35 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570015.8649] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> interface_disabled
lis 05 10:53:35 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570015.9577] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: interface_disabled -> inactive
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.1229] device (wlp3s0): Activation: starting connection 'Zamazal-WIFI 1' (b4489fae-e397-4aea-9b11-a040ca297bc5)
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.1232] audit: op="connection-activate" uuid="b4489fae-e397-4aea-9b11-a040ca297bc5" name="Zamazal-WIFI 1" pid=2149 uid=1000 result="success"
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.1234] device (wlp3s0): state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.1243] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTING
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.1404] device (wlp3s0): set-hw-addr: reset MAC address to 68:5D:43:AD:C2:26 (preserve)
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5187] device (wlp3s0): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5201] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) access point 'Zamazal-WIFI 1' has security, but secrets are required.
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5202] device (wlp3s0): state change: config -> need-auth (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5271] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> interface_disabled
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5327] device (wlp3s0): state change: need-auth -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5335] device (wlp3s0): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5341] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) connection 'Zamazal-WIFI 1' has security, and secrets exist.  No new secrets needed.
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5342] Config: added 'ssid' value 'Zamazal-WIFI'
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5342] Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1'
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5342] Config: added 'bgscan' value 'simple:30:-70:86400'
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5342] Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'WPA-PSK WPA-PSK-SHA256 FT-PSK'
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.5343] Config: added 'psk' value '<hidden>'
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.6577] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: interface_disabled -> inactive
lis 05 10:53:41 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570021.6817] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> scanning
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.1555] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: scanning -> authenticating
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.1582] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> associating
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.2445] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: associating -> associated
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3176] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: associated -> 4way_handshake
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3250] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: 4way_handshake -> completed
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3252] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful. Connected to wireless network "Zamazal-WIFI"
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3258] device (wlp3s0): state change: config -> ip-config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3271] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3947] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option dhcp_lease_time      => '7200'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3948] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option domain_name_servers  => '77.48.254.254 77.48.100.254'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3948] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option expiry               => '1604577222'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3948] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option ip_address           => '192.168.0.105'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3948] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_broadcast_address => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3948] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_domain_name => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3949] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_domain_name_servers => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3949] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_domain_search => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3949] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_host_name  => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3949] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_interface_mtu => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3950] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_ms_classless_static_routes => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3950] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_nis_domain => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3950] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_nis_servers => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3950] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_ntp_servers => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3950] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_rfc3442_classless_static_routes => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3950] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_root_path  => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3951] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_routers    => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3951] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_static_routes => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3951] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_subnet_mask => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3952] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_time_offset => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3952] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option requested_wpad       => '1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3952] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option routers              => '192.168.0.1'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3953] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): option subnet_mask          => '255.255.255.0'
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3953] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): state changed unknown -> bound
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.3991] device (wlp3s0): state change: ip-config -> ip-check (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.4242] device (wlp3s0): state change: ip-check -> secondaries (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.4252] device (wlp3s0): state change: secondaries -> activated (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.4270] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_LOCAL
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.4320] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_SITE
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.4323] policy: set 'Zamazal-WIFI 1' (wlp3s0) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.4873] device (wlp3s0): Activation: successful, device activated.
lis 05 10:53:42 milos-laptop NetworkManager[788]: <info>  [1604570022.8110] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_GLOBAL

majlo157 · 5 November 2020 10:38

and btw, I don’t have any “wifi_rand_mac.conf” in /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/
the only file there is wgpia.conf

Vaullas · 5 November 2020 11:26

Call the internet provider and ask them to check the parameters, I had the same thing last week.

wintere · 5 November 2020 13:46

had wifi issue too

j8a · 5 November 2020 14:12

Hi, @majlo157
@pablomhr wrote that you have to open an empty file called wifi_rand_mac.conf on the following directory /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/
and write the following:
[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no

Other users prefer to put the two lines above in the /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkgManager.conf file.
I do not know the reason why they choose one instead another. I used the first option, by the way.
Save, Close or Exit and reboot. The problem should be solved.

Hope it help,
Regards

pablomhr · 5 November 2020 17:56

Exactly

majlo157 · 7 November 2020 15:02

Thanks for all your tips…
I’ve checked with my internet provider first, before doing any changes to my system (which had been working well before).
ISP service guy told me that: "there was an automatic channel set in my router & the router ‘could have gone mad’ and start changing the channels, causing the wifi connection to break. He switched that off and I haven’t experienced the issue anymore since
The question would be, why it was working before without any troubles but suddenly the wifi connection started to drop off each 30 minutes ? Anyway I’m happy it works again.

thanks,
M.

Denzel_12 · 19 November 2021 20:01

“Other users prefer to put the two lines above in the /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkgManager.conf file.
I do not know the reason why they choose one instead another. I used the first option, by the way.
Save, Close or Exit and reboot. The problem should be solved.”

thankyou very much. I’m not using a laptop but a cheap probably chinese wifi device in a desktop computer. It works perfect on windows, but it was a nightmare on linux system. I struggled alot to make it works on kubuntu [sometimes I couldn’t make it work on my other computer with that wifi device). I tried zonrin OS and Lubuntu and it worked well even in live. But in Manjaro it didn’t allow me to stay connect even in live. The device just randomly disconnects in a bucle. I installed it hopping to maybe solve the problem with that, but naaam, it was the same.

My computer doesn’t have any file in config.d but it has the NetworkgManager.conf at /etc/NetworkManager/ so I added those two lines and the problem was completely solved. Now my desktop old pc can be moved anywhere within the house, and it will not be more problems with wifi anymore. (now I know how to solved it on other linux distros too)

Note: calling my internet provider is not an option xD that problem doesn’t occurs in computers with windows or android devices, so, they are very yolo on that. I live in a third world country, in a little comunity which have a company with a monopoly in offering internet service, so yeap not a way to go.

Thomasw · 22 November 2021 22:20

I know this is old but I had this issue and it turned out to be a DNS issue. I think network manager is checking connection state via DNS and disconnecting. Fixed DNS issues and get no more disconnects