Intel Wireless 8265 / 8275 Network Card Not Working on Ubuntu 22.04 with Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board running Ubuntu 22.04 (JetPack 6.0) are experiencing issues with the Intel Wireless 8265 / 8275 network card. The primary symptoms include:

• The network card is recognized by the system (visible in lspci -v output)
• No wireless network options appear in the system’s network settings
• Bluetooth functionality of the card works correctly
• The issue persists after restarting the device and NetworkManager
• The problem is specific to Ubuntu 22.04, as the card works fine on Ubuntu 20.04

Users have attempted to update the firmware and reboot the system, but the issue remains unresolved. This problem significantly impacts the functionality of the wireless networking capabilities on the affected devices.

Possible Causes

1. Kernel Module Issues: The iwlwifi kernel module might be missing or not properly loaded in Ubuntu 22.04 for the Jetson Orin Nano.

2. Firmware Incompatibility: Although users have tried updating the firmware, there might be compatibility issues between the latest firmware and the specific Ubuntu 22.04 build for the Jetson Orin Nano.

3. Driver Conflicts: There could be conflicts between the Intel wireless driver and other system components specific to the Jetson Orin Nano architecture.

4. Hardware Recognition Problems: While the card is visible in lspci output, there might be issues with how the system is recognizing or initializing the wireless functionality.

5. Ubuntu 22.04 Specific Changes: Changes in how Ubuntu 22.04 handles wireless drivers or NetworkManager configurations could be affecting the card’s functionality.

6. JetPack 6.0 Compatibility: There might be compatibility issues between JetPack 6.0 and the Intel Wireless 8265 / 8275 drivers.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Install iwlwifi Backport Modules:
   The most successful solution reported is installing the iwlwifi backport modules. This addresses the issue of the iwlwifi module potentially being removed in kernel versions >5.19.

   sudo apt install iwlwifi-modules
   

   After installation, reboot your system and check if the wireless functionality is restored.

2. Check Kernel Module Status:
   Verify the status of the iwlwifi module:

   lsmod | grep iwlwifi
   modinfo iwlwifi
   

   If the module is not listed, try loading it manually:

   sudo modprobe iwlwifi
   

3. Investigate Kernel Messages:
   Check for any error messages related to the wireless card:

   sudo dmesg | grep iwlwifi
   

4. Verify RF Kill Status:
   Ensure that the wireless card is not soft-blocked:

   rfkill list all
   

   If it’s blocked, unblock it:

   sudo rfkill unblock all
   

5. Update System and Firmware:
   Ensure your system is up to date:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade
   

   Download and install the latest firmware from Intel’s website if you haven’t already.

6. Check NetworkManager Status:
   Verify NetworkManager is running and restart it:

   sudo systemctl status NetworkManager
   sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
   

7. Investigate PCI Bus Issues:
   Check the PCI bus configuration:

   lspci -vvnn | grep -A 9 Network
   

   Look for any anomalies in IRQ assignments or memory allocations.

8. Consider Kernel Downgrade:
   If the issue persists, consider temporarily downgrading to a kernel version known to work with the Intel Wireless 8265 / 8275 card.

9. File a Bug Report:
   If none of the above solutions work, consider filing a bug report with both Ubuntu and Nvidia, providing detailed information about your system configuration and the steps you’ve taken to troubleshoot.

10. Alternative Network Solutions:
    As a temporary workaround, consider using a USB Wi-Fi adapter or Ethernet connection until a permanent solution is found.

Note that while these solutions have worked for some users, the root cause of the issue may vary depending on specific hardware configurations and software versions. If the problem persists, it may require further investigation by the Ubuntu or Nvidia development teams.