brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23

[wschlich]

(This issue was first reported at https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=186900&p=1179455)

I'm using an RPi 2 B with the official RPi wifi dongle and the latest Raspbian with Kernel 4.9.33-v7+.

I get this message:

brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23

First, wifi worked well for some time.

Then, after 2 days, the RPi had a ping response time of around 1000msec and SSH login was very sluggish.

A simple "ifdown wlan0; ifup wlan0" made everything fine again, but it also made the error message reappear.

root@raspberrypi:~# dmesg  | grep brcm
[    5.511009] usbcore: registered new interface driver brcmfmac
[    5.831855] brcmfmac: Firmware version = wl0: Apr  3 2014 04:43:32 version 6.10.198.66 (r467479) FWID 01-32bd010e
[    7.152127] brcmfmac: power management disabled
[   13.744410] brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23
[236056.551568] brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23
[236074.832915] brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23
root@raspberrypi:~# 

Any idea what this error message means and how the issue can be fixed?

Any idea why the wifi connection was experiencing these connectivity issues?

Cheers,
Wolfram

[JamesH65]

Thanks for the report. A quick google on the error message shows this is not only seen on Pi, and some comments indicate this is a reception issue. Have you changed anything in your wifi network topology that could have caused a drop in signal strength?

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 : Well, reception couldn't be better:

root@raspberrypi:~# ifdown wlan0; sleep 5; ifup wlan0
root@raspberrypi:~# dmesg | grep brcmfmac | tail -n 4
[190172.003117] brcmfmac: power management disabled
[190172.701886] brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23
[190177.110271] brcmfmac: power management disabled
[190184.273144] brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23
root@raspberrypi:~# iwconfig wlan0 | grep Quality
          Link Quality=70/70  Signal level=-31 dBm  
root@raspberrypi:~# 

So, even with PM disabled and full signal, the error message appears.

[Johnny-quattro]

I can report the same problem:

Type: Pi 2, Revision: 01, Memory: 1024MB, Maker: Sony
*--> Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Rev 1.1

C3PI5:/home/pi $ iwconfig wlan0 | grep Quality
Link Quality=67/70 Signal level=-43 dBm

C3PI5:/home/pi $ dmesg -T | grep brcmfmac
[Tue Jul 11 01:03:23 2017] usbcore: registered new interface driver brcmfmac
[Tue Jul 11 01:03:23 2017] brcmfmac: Firmware version = wl0: Apr 3 2014 04:43:32 version 6.10.198.66 (r467479) FWID 01-32bd010e
[Tue Jul 11 01:03:26 2017] brcmfmac: power management disabled
[Tue Jul 11 01:03:37 2017] brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 any news on this issue? :)

[JamesH65]

I've not been looking at it I am afraid. I can only suggest trying some of the bleeding edge kernels (4.13) to if any of the recent changes in there have made a difference. You will need to build the kernel yourself though, which may not be something you want to do.

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 Right :) I'm using Gentoo for over a decade, but I'm not into compiling stuff for and on my RasPis, tbh =) Any idea when a newer kernel will be released for raspbian?

[JamesH65]

Having a think, this is not a common error condition, very few reports, so I suspect it either some setup on your device or environmental. Anything unusual in your setup?

(Also, can you try an rpi-update - there was a recent TOS fix that might be relevant)

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 no, nothing unusual here.
Original RPi WiFi USB adapter directly plugged into an RPi 2 B with a sufficiently powerful power supply.
WiFi connected to a TP Link Archer C7 running the very recent LEDE version 17.01.2 (OpenWrt fork).

[wschlich]

@JamesH65

I believe this is what fails:
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/core.c#L769

	/* retrieve the table from firmware */
	ret = brcmf_fil_iovar_data_get(ifp, "arp_hostip", addr_table,
				       sizeof(addr_table));
	if (ret) {
		brcmf_err("fail to get arp ip table err:%d\n", ret);
		return NOTIFY_OK;
	}

Where does the brcmfmac firmware come from?

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 The error still occurs with the latest rpi-update installed:

root@raspberrypi:~# dmesg | grep brcmfmac
[    5.788228] usbcore: registered new interface driver brcmfmac
[    6.056063] brcmfmac: Firmware version = wl0: Apr  3 2014 04:43:32 version 6.10.198.66 (r467479) FWID 01-32bd010e
[   19.192132] brcmfmac: power management disabled
[   19.307496] brcmfmac: power management disabled
[   30.124226] brcmfmac: brcmf_inetaddr_changed: fail to get arp ip table err:-23
root@raspberrypi:~# 

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 Hmm, the firmware for my BCM43143 seems to come from the firmware-brcm80211 package. Also seems that the file /lib/firmware/brcm/brcmfmac43143.bin (used for my USB variant with IDs 0a5c:bd1e) hasn't changed since 06/2014:

https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/log/brcm/brcmfmac43143.bin

[JamesH65]

brcmfmac is the Broadcom linux driver for the Wifi chip. We are currently talking to Cypress re: newer firmware, along with some bug fixes. Cypress bought the chip from Broadcom, so its all a bit complicated.
(The chip is a 43430 IIRC)

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 My device has the USB IDs 0a5c:bd1e. According to https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/brcm80211 it is a BCM43143. The BCM43430 seems to be an SDIO-only variant. See also https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Broadcom

[JamesH65]

BRCM43438 (from the 4343x family). The chip is connected via SDIO, not USB.

EDIT: Ah, you are using the USB dongle, yes? My mistake.

Both use the same Linux driver though, but firmware is different.

[wschlich]

@JamesH65 Yes, the USB dongle :-)
Ah, 43438 is the RPi 3 one w/ BT, right?
Would be great to get a better firmware for the USB dongle... for users of older Pis...