I need advice on whether I should be opening a new bug, or is it OK to stay with this one?
On further investigation, I have noticed three things: 1. The current trusty repository bcmwl-kernel-source 6.30.223.141+bdcom- 0ubuntu2 is used on my wife's laptop. This system is not experiencing null pointer crashes OR Scan_results errors. This evidence strongly suggests both problems were introduced with 6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu1. 2. On checking syslog carefully, the Scan_results errors are often associated with the system running slowly and "[TTM] Out of kernel memory" messages being logged. The "victim" is the ATI radeon drm driver, but I suspect the bcmwl scan errors are causing the driver to not release kernel memory it has used for its wlan scan. Usually, I have to reboot the system to restore normal performance. I have attached an appropriate syslog extract. (note: when searching for these display- related messages I hit very old bugs that were never explicitly resolved). 3. I turned wifi off 12 hours ago and have been running the system via its ethernet adapter (incidentally, also from Broadcom). Syslog doesn't contain ANY "out of kernel memory" errors and system performance is back to normal and stable. ** Attachment added: "syslog extract showing kernel memory depletion" https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/bcmwl/+bug/1415880/+attachment/4311752/+files/bcmwl-radeon-ttm-outOfKernelMemory -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to bcmwl in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1415880 Title: 14e4:4365 bcmwl-kernel source: fix for null pointer crash Status in bcmwl package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Bug description: The bcmwl package as of now misses one patch for a bug that occurs with BCM43142 and possibly other broadcom chipsets that will look like random disconnects, poor wifi signal and kernel warnings, See also #1379524. Adding the patch is a fairly simple process: * put the patch file in /usr/src/bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom/patches * add the following line to /usr/src/bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom/dkms.conf PATCH[7]="0014-null-pointer-crash.patch" * run: /usr/lib/dkms/common.postinst bcmwl 6.30.223.248+bdcom /usr/share/bcmwl x86_64 $(uname -r) This has fixed the issue for me. Edit: I just wanted to add that I did not write the patch; I merely downloaded it from a paste that was linked from the respective AUR package. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10 Package: bcmwl-kernel-source 6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu1 [modified: usr/src/bcmwl-6.30.223.248+bdcom/dkms.conf] ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-29.39-generic 3.16.7-ckt2 Uname: Linux 3.16.0-29-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: wl ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8.1 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: LXDE Date: Thu Jan 29 13:15:17 2015 InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-01-26 (3 days ago) InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Release amd64 (20141022.1) SourcePackage: bcmwl UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/bcmwl/+bug/1415880/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp