Netgear MA401 stopped working

[Nathan Clark]

I have an IBM Thinkpad 600X which dual boots 5.1-Current and XP-Pro.  I
purchased a Netgear MA401 wireless 802.11b card which worked fine under
both OS's for about a week.  This past Saturday, however, I was unable
to connect to websites, my mail server etc.  The symptoms are the same
under both OS's: After an extended time of waiting, I eventually resolve
the host, seem to be sending packets, but never receive anything back. 
So I took to pinging my gateway (192.168.112.1):

bart# ping 192.168.112.1
PING 192.168.112.1 (192.168.112.1): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=3.030 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=3.077 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=3.140 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=2.934 ms
^C
--- 192.168.112.1 ping statistics --- 

4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 2.934/3.045/3.140/0.075 ms

bart# ping www.google.com
PING www.google.com (216.239.53.99): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 216.239.53.99: icmp_seq=0 ttl=51 time=99.043 ms
64 bytes from 216.239.53.99: icmp_seq=1 ttl=51 time=37.158 ms
64 bytes from 216.239.53.99: icmp_seq=2 ttl=51 time=36.656 ms
64 bytes from 216.239.53.99: icmp_seq=3 ttl=51 time=36.154 ms
^C
--- www.google.com ping statistics ---
4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 36.154/52.253/99.043/27.017 ms
bart#

So far, so good.  But check this out:

bart# ping -D -s 128 192.168.112.1
PING 192.168.112.1 (192.168.112.1): 128 data bytes
^C
--- 192.168.112.1 ping statistics ---
6 packets transmitted, 0 packets received, 100% packet loss
bart#

My first thought was check the MTU setting, but I haven't found that
option for the wi driver.  Besides,  I haven't mucked with anything on the network.

So I ran the same ping command again, this time with tcpdump monitoring
the wi interface.   ping still sees no response, but look what tcpdump saw:

bart# tcpdump
tcpdump: listening on wi0
16:15:15.508145 192.168.112.10 > gateway.int.jope.net: icmp: echo
request
16:15:15.511106 gateway.int.jope.net > 192.168.112.10: icmp: echo reply
16:15:15.984403 192.168.112.10.49163 > caliban.int.jope.net.domain: 
54094+ PTR? 1.112.168.192.in-addr.arpa. (44)
16:15:15.988652 arp who-has 192.168.112.10 tell gateway.int.jope.net
16:15:15.988693 arp reply 192.168.112.10 is-at 0:9:5b:54:c6:96
16:15:15.991514 caliban.int.jope.net.domain > 192.168.112.10.49163: 
54094* 1/1/1 (117)
16:15:15.992078 192.168.112.10.49164 > caliban.int.jope.net.domain: 
54095+ PTR? 10.112.168.192.in-addr.arpa. (45)
16:15:16.001517 caliban.int.jope.net.domain > 192.168.112.10.49164: 
54095 NXDomain* 0/1/0 (95)
16:15:16.515254 192.168.112.10 > gateway.int.jope.net: icmp: echo
request
16:15:16.517966 gateway.int.jope.net > 192.168.112.10: icmp: echo reply
16:15:16.995635 192.168.112.10.49165 > caliban.int.jope.net.domain: 
54096+ PTR? 2.111.168.192.in-addr.arpa. (44)
16:15:16.999852 caliban.int.jope.net.domain > 192.168.112.10.49165: 
54096* 1/1/1 (117)
16:15:17.525309 192.168.112.10 > gateway.int.jope.net: icmp: echo
request
16:15:17.528173 gateway.int.jope.net > 192.168.112.10: icmp: echo reply
16:15:18.535258 192.168.112.10 > gateway.int.jope.net: icmp: echo
request
16:15:18.538120 gateway.int.jope.net > 192.168.112.10: icmp: echo reply
16:15:19.545265 192.168.112.10 > gateway.int.jope.net: icmp: echo
request
16:15:19.548276 gateway.int.jope.net > 192.168.112.10: icmp: echo reply
^C
18 packets received by filter
0 packets dropped by kernel
bart#

Ok, it looks to me like my gateway is responding to the pings, but ping
isn't seeing them.  How odd.  I need more information.  I fire up
ethereal and ping my gateway again.  Ping does not acknowledge any
replies, but ethereal sees them.  At this point, I don't really know
what I'm looking at. Ethereal reports the IP checksum as correct, but
the ICMP checksum as incorrect:	Checksum: 0xb8a9 (incorrect, should be
0xb8a7)

The payload looks correct to me (an increasing string of 128 bytes).

I'm going to ping with a constant pattern this time and see what comes
back:

bart# ping -p aa -s 128 192.168.112.1
PATTERN: 0xaa
PING 192.168.112.1 (192.168.112.1): 128 data bytes
136 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=3.125 ms
136 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=3.308 ms
136 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=2.909 ms
136 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=3.070 ms
^C
--- 192.168.112.1 ping statistics ---
4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 2.909/3.103/3.308/0.143 ms
bart#

They came back!!!

This time, ethereal shows the IP and ICMP checksums as correct.

I notice that I can successfully ping the gateway with larger packets:


bart# ping -p aa -s 1472 192.168.112.1
PATTERN: 0xaa
PING 192.168.112.1 (192.168.112.1): 1472 data bytes
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=8.927 ms
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=8.793 ms
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=8.829 ms
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=8.472 ms
^C
--- 192.168.112.1 ping statistics ---
4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 8.472/8.755/8.927/0.171 ms
bart#

But only if I specify a repeating pattern:


bart# ping -s 1472 192.168.112.1
PING 192.168.112.1 (192.168.112.1): 1472 data bytes
^C
--- 192.168.112.1 ping statistics ---
5 packets transmitted, 0 packets received, 100% packet loss
bart# ping -p 99 -s 1472 192.168.112.1
PATTERN: 0x99
PING 192.168.112.1 (192.168.112.1): 1472 data bytes
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=8.958 ms
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=8.718 ms
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=8.790 ms
1480 bytes from 192.168.112.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=9.042 ms
^C
--- 192.168.112.1 ping statistics ---
4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 8.718/8.877/9.042/0.129 ms
bart#

The same is true when I try pinging Sun:

bart# ping -p 99 -s 1472 www.sun.com
PATTERN: 0x99
PING www.sun.com (64.124.140.199): 1472 data bytes
1480 bytes from 64.124.140.199: icmp_seq=0 ttl=243 time=132.539 ms
1480 bytes from 64.124.140.199: icmp_seq=1 ttl=243 time=107.285 ms
1480 bytes from 64.124.140.199: icmp_seq=2 ttl=243 time=104.601 ms
^C
--- www.sun.com ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 104.601/114.808/132.539/12.585 ms
bart# ping -s 1472 www.sun.com
PING www.sun.com (64.124.140.199): 1472 data bytes
^C
--- www.sun.com ping statistics ---
4 packets transmitted, 0 packets received, 100% packet loss
bart#

I really want to try some TCP traffic, so I enlist the help of firebird,
which I point to www.freshports.org  According to ethereal, freshports
is acknowledging my requests.  In fact, it does so several times, but
the TCP checksum is incorrect.

The wi driver has this to say about when things get really bad:

Sep  1 16:57:24 bart kernel: wi0: failed in wi_seek to 3a2/0
Sep  1 16:57:26 bart kernel: wi0: failed in wi_seek to 3d3/0

And tons of similar messages.

There are two other laptops( both Macs ) using this wireless network,
neither one is experiencing any problems.  My laptop works fine if I
tether it to the access point using a Netgear FA411.

I've exhausted my knowledge of TCP/IP and Wifi at this point.  Netgear
tech support suggested I contact Microsoft for instructions on changing
the MTU settings.

I, on the other hand, suspect a hardware problem with the card.  I mean,
it previously worked, then stopped under both OS's, other wireless
laptops are having no problems on the same network, and other pcmcia
cards work fine in the slot.  Unfortunately I don't have another Intel
based machine to test the wireless card in.

Is there anything else I can do, before I RMA this thing?

Oh yeah, the vitals:

bart# uname -a
FreeBSD bart.greyhound.dyndns.org 5.1-CURRENT FreeBSD 5.1-CURRENT #6:
Sun Aug 31 12:57:32 PDT 2003    
root at bart.greyhound.dyndns.org:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/OLDCARD_BART  i386

cvsuped just prior to rebuilding.

bart# dmesg
Copyright (c) 1992-2003 The FreeBSD Project.
Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
        The Regents of the University of California. All rights
reserved.
FreeBSD 5.1-CURRENT #6: Sun Aug 31 12:57:32 PDT 2003
    root at bart.greyhound.dyndns.org:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/OLDCARD_BART
Preloaded elf kernel "/boot/kernel/kernel" at 0xc05a6000.
Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
CPU: Intel Pentium III (498.27-MHz 686-class CPU)
  Origin = "GenuineIntel"  Id = 0x681  Stepping = 1
 
Features=0x383f9ff<FPU,VME,DE,PSE,TSC,MSR,PAE,MCE,CX8,SEP,MTRR,PGE,MCA,
CMOV,PAT,PSE36,MMX,FXSR,SSE>
real memory  = 201129984 (191 MB)
avail memory = 189206528 (180 MB)
Pentium Pro MTRR support enabled
npx0: <math processor> on motherboard
npx0: INT 16 interface
pcibios: BIOS version 2.10
Using $PIR table, 6 entries at 0xc00f9d00
pcib0: <Intel 82443BX (440 BX) host to PCI bridge> at pcibus 0 on
motherboard
pci0: <PCI bus> on pcib0
pci_cfgintr: 0:2 INTA BIOS irq 11
pci_cfgintr: 0:2 INTB BIOS irq 11
pci_cfgintr: 0:3 INTA BIOS irq 11
pci_cfgintr: 0:6 INTA BIOS irq 11
pci_cfgintr: 0:7 INTD BIOS irq 11
agp0: <Intel 82443BX (440 BX) host to PCI bridge> mem
0x40000000-0x43ffffff at device 0.0 on pci0
pcib1: <PCIBIOS PCI-PCI bridge> at device 1.0 on pci0
pci1: <PCI bus> on pcib1
pci_cfgintr: 1:0 INTA BIOS irq 11
pci1: <display, VGA> at device 0.0 (no driver attached)
pcic0: <TI PCI-1450 PCI-CardBus Bridge> mem 0x50103000-0x50103fff irq 11
at device 2.0 on pci0
pcic0: TI12XX PCI Config Reg: [ring enable][speaker enable][pwr
save][FUNC pci int + CSC serial isa irq]
pccard0: <PC Card 16-bit bus (classic)> on pcic0
pcic1: <TI PCI-1450 PCI-CardBus Bridge> mem 0x50102000-0x50102fff irq 11
at device 2.1 on pci0
pcic1: TI12XX PCI Config Reg: [ring enable][speaker enable][pwr
save][FUNC pci int + CSC serial isa irq]
pccard1: <PC Card 16-bit bus (classic)> on pcic1
pci0: <simple comms> at device 3.0 (no driver attached)
csa0: <CS4280/CS4614/CS4622/CS4624/CS4630> mem
0x50000000-0x500fffff,0x50100000-0x50100fff irq 11 at device 6.0 on pci0
csa: card is Thinkpad 600X/A20/T20
pcm0: <CS461x PCM Audio> on csa0
pcm0: <Cirrus Logic CS4297A AC97 Codec>
isab0: <PCI-ISA bridge> at device 7.0 on pci0
isa0: <ISA bus> on isab0
atapci0: <Intel PIIX4 UDMA33 controller> port 0xfcf0-0xfcff at device
7.1 on pci0
ata0: at 0x1f0 irq 14 on atapci0
ata1: at 0x170 irq 15 on atapci0
uhci0: <Intel 82371AB/EB (PIIX4) USB controller> port 0x4000-0x401f irq
11 at device 7.2 on pci0
usb0: <Intel 82371AB/EB (PIIX4) USB controller> on uhci0
usb0: USB revision 1.0
uhub0: Intel UHCI root hub, class 9/0, rev 1.00/1.00, addr 1
uhub0: 2 ports with 2 removable, self powered
pci0: <bridge, PCI-unknown> at device 7.3 (no driver attached)
orm0: <Option ROM> at iomem 0xc0000-0xcbfff on isa0
pmtimer0 on isa0
atkbdc0: <Keyboard controller (i8042)> at port 0x64,0x60 on isa0
atkbd0: <AT Keyboard> flags 0x1 irq 1 on atkbdc0
kbd0 at atkbd0
psm0: <PS/2 Mouse> irq 12 on atkbdc0
psm0: model Generic PS/2 mouse, device ID 0
fdc0: <Enhanced floppy controller (i82077, NE72065 or clone)> at port
0x3f7,0x3f0-0x3f5 irq 6 drq 2 on isa0
fdc0: FIFO enabled, 8 bytes threshold
ppc0: parallel port not found.
sc0: <System console> at flags 0x100 on isa0
sc0: VGA <16 virtual consoles, flags=0x300>
sio0: configured irq 4 not in bitmap of probed irqs 0
sio0: port may not be enabled
sio0 at port 0x3f8-0x3ff irq 4 flags 0x10 on isa0
sio0: type 8250 or not responding
sio1: configured irq 3 not in bitmap of probed irqs 0
sio1: port may not be enabled
vga0: <Generic ISA VGA> at port 0x3c0-0x3df iomem 0xa0000-0xbffff on
isa0
unknown: <PNP0303> can't assign resources (port)
unknown: <IBM3780> can't assign resources (irq)
unknown: <PNP0700> can't assign resources (port)
unknown: <PNP0c02> can't assign resources (port)
ppc1: parallel port not found.
unknown: <PNP0e03> can't assign resources (port)
unknown: <PNP0680> can't assign resources (port)
unknown: <PNP0680> can't assign resources (port)
Timecounter "TSC" frequency 498273989 Hz quality 800
Timecounters tick every 10.000 msec
ad0: 11509MB <IBM-DARA-212000> [24944/15/63] at ata0-master UDMA33
acd0: CDROM <CRN-8241B> at ata1-master PIO4
Mounting root from ufs:/dev/ad0s2a
pccard: card inserted, slot 1
pccard: card removed, slot 1
pccard: card inserted, slot 1
wi0 at port 0x240-0x27f irq 11 slot 1 on pccard1
wi0: 802.11 address: 00:09:5b:54:c6:96
wi0: using RF:PRISM2.5 MAC:ISL3873
wi0: Intersil Firmware: Primary (1.0.7), Station (1.3.6)
wi0: 11b rates: 1Mbps 2Mbps 5.5Mbps 11Mbps
wi0: failed in wi_seek to 39e/0





-- 
Nathan Clark