wireless card RTL8821ce unpaired in Ubuntu 18.-04

[ProfSci]

Wireless card 'unpaired' in Ubuntu 18.04 OS.  Wireless ok in Windows 10.

Tried installing drivers for TRL8821ce and updating rtlwifi_new: rtl8188ee but no joy.  Wireless card detected as are apparently appropriate files and driver.  But no pairing observed.

Suggestions appreciated.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Credit to Bapoumba, Ubuntu Forums
When troubleshooting wireless, it's important that your system is fully updated by opening a terminal, CTRL+ALT+T. Using a wired internet connection, please run:
Code:

sudo apt update
sudo apt dist-upgrade

and reboot if necessary.

If the issues persist, it is recommended that you install pastebinit, by running:
Code:

sudo apt install pastebinit

This will enable the wireless script to, upon your approval, upload the obtained data to pastebin, creating at the same time a link to it in your terminal, permitting you to paste it to a forum thread.

Once that's done, download and run the wireless info script, which will gather information to help diagnose your system. You can run it using this command:
Code:

wget -N -t 5 -T 10 https://github.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/raw/master/wireless-info && \
chmod +x wireless-info && \
./wireless-info

It will create the file "wireless-info.txt" at the location it is run from, and depending on its size, an additional archive called "wireless-info.tar.gz". If you prefer, you can post the file directly to pastebin yourself. Sensitive information like MAC addresses and WPA/WEP keys are masked automatically.

If you aren't able to connect to the internet with the affected system, including via a wired connection, just navigate to
https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2082305&p=12350385&viewfull=1#post12350385 using another device and follow the instructions there on how to the run wireless script without an internet connection.

[r3v0lut1on]

Ah, Realtek. 

I run a rtl8723de, I have to do this all the time. 

$sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

$sudo apt install linux-headers-generic build-essential git

$cd $HOME

$git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtlwifi_new

$cd rtlwifi_new

$git checkout --branch extended

$make

$sudo make install

$modprobe -r <YOUR WIFI ADAPTER CODE>

$modprobe <YOUR WIFI ADAPTER CODE>

That'll turn on wifi, to fix weak signal issue, do

$sudo su -

#echo "options <YOUR WIFI CARD> ant_sel=2" > /etc/modprobe.d/50-<YOUR WIFI CARD>.conf

#exit

Now power off the computer.  When you reboot your wifi will be working. 

[ProfSci]

Thanks for the prompt feedback.  Unfortunately, I had tried the rtlwifi installation before without success; re-doing it, even with the addition of 50-rtl8821ce.conf, did not result in success.

Further suggestions earnestly solicited.  Check out the response to an earlier suggestion, resulting in a wireless-info.txt.

[ProfSci]

Thank you for the suggestion, especially for the rapidity of its arrival.

Here is the wireless-info.txt file, with some explanatory extras -- indicated by >>>>>>>>>

**************************************************************************

########## wireless info START ##########

Report from: 14 May 2020 10:07 CDT -0500

Booted last: 14 May 2020 00:00 CDT -0500

Script from: 22 Oct 2018 03:34 UTC +0000

##### release ###########################

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS
Release: 18.04
Codename: bionic

##### kernel ############################

Linux 5.3.0-51-generic #44~18.04.2-Ubuntu SMP Thu Apr 23 14:27:18 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Parameters: ro, iommu=soft, pci=noaer

##### desktop ###########################

GNOME Flashback (Metacity)

##### lspci #############################

libkmod: ERROR ../libkmod/libkmod-config.c:656 kmod_config_parse: /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf line 8: ignoring bad line starting with '“options'

>>>>>>>> the offending line:
>>>>>>>> “options iwlwifi disable_msix=1”
>>>>>>>> commenting out this line did not solve the problem

01:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [10ec:c821]
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [103c:831a]
Kernel modules: 8821ce, rtl8821ce

##### lsusb #############################

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0bda:8153 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0408:5365 Quanta Computer, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:b00a Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

##### PCMCIA card info ##################

##### rfkill ############################

0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no

##### secure boot #######################

SecureBoot disabled

>>>>>> Dual boot with Windows 10; Fast Start disabled

##### lsmod #############################

hp_wmi 16384 0
sparse_keymap 16384 1 hp_wmi
wmi_bmof 16384 0
cfg80211 688128 1 8821ce
compat 16384 1 cfg80211
wmi 32768 2 hp_wmi,wmi_bmof

##### interfaces ########################

[/etc/network/interfaces]
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wireless-mode managed

>>>>>>>> iface wlan0 was added to interfaces as loaded by the original kernel
>>>>>>>> trying to add a complete specification for iface wlan0 did not solve the problem

##### ifconfig ##########################

1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
link/loopback <MAC address> brd <MAC address>
inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
inet6 ::1/128 scope host
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UP group default qlen 1000
link/ether <MAC 'enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>' [IF1]> brd <MAC address>
inet 10.3.1.101/27 brd 10.3.1.127 scope global dynamic noprefixroute enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>
valid_lft 21461sec preferred_lft 21461sec
inet6 fe80::bc51:9e79:b1b3:a647/64 scope link noprefixroute
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

##### iwconfig ##########################

enx<IF from MAC [IF1]> no wireless extensions.

lo no wireless extensions.

##### route #############################

default via 10.3.1.97 dev enx<IF from MAC [IF1]> proto dhcp metric 100
10.3.1.96/27 dev enx<IF from MAC [IF1]> proto kernel scope link src 10.3.1.101 metric 100
169.254.0.0/16 dev enx<IF from MAC [IF1]> scope link metric 1000

##### resolv.conf #######################

[777 root '/etc/resolv.conf' -> '../run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf']

nameserver 127.0.0.53
options edns0

##### network managers ##################

Installed:

NetworkManager

Running:

root 766 1 0 10:04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon

##### NetworkManager info ###############

GENERAL.DEVICE: enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>
GENERAL.TYPE: ethernet
GENERAL.NM-TYPE: NMDeviceEthernet
GENERAL.VENDOR: Realtek
GENERAL.PRODUCT: USB 10/100/1000 LAN
GENERAL.DRIVER: r8152
GENERAL.DRIVER-VERSION: v1.09.11
GENERAL.FIRMWARE-VERSION: --
GENERAL.HWADDR: <MAC 'enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>' [IF1]>
GENERAL.MTU: 1500
GENERAL.STATE: 100 (connected)
GENERAL.REASON: 0 (No reason given)
GENERAL.UDI: /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb2/2-2/2-2:1.0/net/enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>
GENERAL.IP-IFACE: enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>
GENERAL.IS-SOFTWARE: no
GENERAL.NM-MANAGED: yes
GENERAL.AUTOCONNECT: yes
GENERAL.FIRMWARE-MISSING: no
GENERAL.NM-PLUGIN-MISSING: no
GENERAL.PHYS-PORT-ID: --
GENERAL.CONNECTION: Wired connection 1
GENERAL.CON-UUID: 16c35162-cc64-398c-9140-93605016b76a
GENERAL.CON-PATH: /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/ActiveConnection/1
GENERAL.METERED: no (guessed)
CAPABILITIES.CARRIER-DETECT: yes
CAPABILITIES.SPEED: 1000 Mb/s
CAPABILITIES.IS-SOFTWARE: no
CAPABILITIES.SRIOV: no
WIRED-PROPERTIES.CARRIER: on
IP4.ADDRESS[1]: 10.3.1.101/27
IP4.GATEWAY: 10.3.1.97
IP4.ROUTE[1]: dst = 0.0.0.0/0, nh = 10.3.1.97, mt = 100
IP4.ROUTE[2]: dst = 10.3.1.96/27, nh = 0.0.0.0, mt = 100
IP4.ROUTE[3]: dst = 169.254.0.0/16, nh = 0.0.0.0, mt = 1000
IP4.DNS[1]: 1.1.1.1
IP4.DNS[2]: 8.8.8.8
DHCP4.OPTION[1]: requested_host_name = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[2]: requested_domain_search = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[3]: requested_interface_mtu = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[4]: requested_broadcast_address = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[5]: requested_domain_name = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[6]: requested_rfc3442_classless_static_routes = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[7]: requested_time_offset = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[8]: expiry = 1589490298
DHCP4.OPTION[9]: requested_netbios_scope = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[10]: next_server = 0.0.0.0
DHCP4.OPTION[11]: broadcast_address = 10.3.1.127
DHCP4.OPTION[12]: dhcp_message_type = 5
DHCP4.OPTION[13]: requested_subnet_mask = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[14]: dhcp_lease_time = 21600
DHCP4.OPTION[15]: ip_address = 10.3.1.101
DHCP4.OPTION[16]: requested_static_routes = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[17]: requested_domain_name_servers = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[18]: subnet_mask = 255.255.255.224
DHCP4.OPTION[19]: requested_wpad = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[20]: domain_name_servers = 1.1.1.1 8.8.8.8
DHCP4.OPTION[21]: requested_ntp_servers = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[22]: requested_netbios_name_servers = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[23]: requested_routers = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[24]: requested_ms_classless_static_routes = 1
DHCP4.OPTION[25]: routers = 10.3.1.97
DHCP4.OPTION[26]: network_number = 10.3.1.96
DHCP4.OPTION[27]: dhcp_server_identifier = 10.3.1.97
IP6.ADDRESS[1]: fe80::bc51:9e79:b1b3:a647/64
IP6.GATEWAY: --
IP6.ROUTE[1]: dst = ff00::/8, nh = ::, mt = 256, table=255
IP6.ROUTE[2]: dst = fe80::/64, nh = ::, mt = 256
IP6.ROUTE[3]: dst = fe80::/64, nh = ::, mt = 100
CONNECTIONS.AVAILABLE-CONNECTION-PATHS: /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Settings/{1}
CONNECTIONS.AVAILABLE-CONNECTIONS[1]: 16c35162-cc64-398c-9140-93605016b76a | Wired connection 1

##### NetworkManager.state ##############

[main]
NetworkingEnabled=true
WirelessEnabled=true
WWANEnabled=true

##### NetworkManager config #############

[[/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf]]
[connection]
wifi.powersave = 3

[[/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf]]
[main]
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile
[ifupdown]
managed=false
[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no

[[/usr/lib/NetworkManager/conf.d/10-dns-resolved.conf]]
[main]
dns=systemd-resolved

[[/usr/lib/NetworkManager/conf.d/10-globally-managed-devices.conf]]
[keyfile]
unmanaged-devices=*,except:type:wifi,except:type:wwan

[[/usr/lib/NetworkManager/conf.d/20-connectivity-ubuntu.conf]]
[connectivity]
uri=http://connectivity-check.ubuntu.com/

[[/usr/lib/NetworkManager/conf.d/no-mac-addr-change.conf]]
[device-mac-addr-change-wifi]
match-device=driver:rtl8723bs,driver:rtl8189es,driver:r8188eu,driver:8188eu,driver:eagle_sdio,driver:wl
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no
wifi.cloned-mac-address=preserve
ethernet.cloned-mac-address=preserve

##### NetworkManager profiles ###########

##### Netplan config ####################

[/etc/netplan/01-network-manager-all.yaml]
network:
version: 2
renderer: NetworkManager

##### iw reg get ########################

Region: America/Chicago (based on set time zone)

global
country 00: DFS-UNSET
(2402 - 2472 @ 40), (N/A, 20), (N/A)
(2457 - 2482 @ 20), (N/A, 20), (N/A), AUTO-BW, PASSIVE-SCAN
(2474 - 2494 @ 20), (N/A, 20), (N/A), NO-OFDM, PASSIVE-SCAN
(5170 - 5250 @ 80), (N/A, 20), (N/A), AUTO-BW, PASSIVE-SCAN
(5250 - 5330 @ 80), (N/A, 20), (0 ms), DFS, AUTO-BW, PASSIVE-SCAN
(5490 - 5730 @ 160), (N/A, 20), (0 ms), DFS, PASSIVE-SCAN
(5735 - 5835 @ 80), (N/A, 20), (N/A), PASSIVE-SCAN
(57240 - 63720 @ 2160), (N/A, 0), (N/A)

##### iwlist channels ###################

enx<IF from MAC [IF1]> no frequency information.

lo no frequency information.

##### iwlist scan #######################

enx<IF from MAC [IF1]> Interface doesn't support scanning.

lo Interface doesn't support scanning.

##### module infos ######################

[cfg80211]
filename: /lib/modules/5.3.0-51-generic/updates/net/wireless/cfg80211.ko
version: iwlwifi-stack-public:master:8324:9176b151
description: wireless configuration support
license: GPL
author: Johannes Berg
srcversion: 85C762B91466B7F2749B25C
depends: compat
retpoline: Y
name: cfg80211
vermagic: 5.3.0-51-generic SMP mod_unload
parm: bss_entries_limit:limit to number of scan BSS entries (per wiphy, default 1000) (int)
parm: ieee80211_regdom:IEEE 802.11 regulatory domain code (charp)
parm: cfg80211_disable_40mhz_24ghz:Disable 40MHz support in the 2.4GHz band (bool)

##### module parameters #################

[cfg80211]
bss_entries_limit: 1000
cfg80211_disable_40mhz_24ghz: N
ieee80211_regdom: 00

##### /etc/modules ######################

##### modprobe options ##################

[/etc/modprobe.d/amd64-microcode-blacklist.conf]
blacklist microcode

[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ath_pci.conf]
blacklist ath_pci

[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf]
blacklist evbug
blacklist usbmouse
blacklist usbkbd
blacklist eepro100
blacklist de4x5
blacklist eth1394
blacklist snd_intel8x0m
blacklist snd_aw2
blacklist i2c_i801
blacklist prism54
blacklist bcm43xx
blacklist garmin_gps
blacklist asus_acpi
blacklist snd_pcsp
blacklist pcspkr
blacklist amd76x_edac

[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rare-network.conf]
alias net-pf-3 off
alias net-pf-6 off
alias net-pf-9 off
alias net-pf-11 off
alias net-pf-12 off
alias net-pf-19 off
alias net-pf-21 off
alias net-pf-36 off

[/etc/modprobe.d/intel-microcode-blacklist.conf]
blacklist microcode

[/etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf]
remove iwlwifi \
(/sbin/lsmod | grep -o -e ^iwlmvm -e ^iwldvm -e ^iwlwifi | xargs /sbin/rmmod) \
&& /sbin/modprobe -r mac80211
“options iwlwifi disable_msix=1”

##### rc.local ##########################

grep: /etc/rc.local: No such file or directory

##### pm-utils ##########################

##### udev rules ########################

##### dmesg #############################

[ 2.255223] rtw_drv_entry+0x28/0x1000 [rtl8821ce]
[ 2.255297] WARNING: CPU: 3 PID: 365 at /var/lib/dkms/rtl8821ce/5.5.2.1/build/os_dep/linux/rtw_proc.c:273 rtw_drv_proc_init+0x7b/0xfe [rtl8821ce]
[ 2.255347] RIP: 0010:rtw_drv_proc_init+0x7b/0xfe [rtl8821ce]
[ 2.255376] rtw_drv_entry+0x28/0x1000 [rtl8821ce]
[ 2.255410] Error: Driver 'rtl8821ce' is already registered, aborting...
[ 2.351453] r8152 2-2:1.0 enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>: renamed from eth0
[ 5.396119] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>: link becomes ready
[ 5.396307] r8152 2-2:1.0 enx<IF from MAC [IF1]>: carrier on

########## wireless info END ############

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Just cherry-picking salient points....

It's 18.04 LTS, any reason not to move upto 20.04 LTS ??

https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop/thank-you?version=20.04&architecture=amd64

Hewlett-Packard Company RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [103c:831a]
Kernel modules: 8821ce, rtl8821ce           SEEMS to be correct.

0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes               Not what I would expect. 

Perhaps ask here  https://ubuntuforums.org/