Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Mihai Donțu]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: Text/Plain, Size: 680 bytes --]

Added linux-usb and linux-wireless to CC.

On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:18:31 Mihai Donțu wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I have just upgraded to 2.6.38 and discovered that I can't use my wireless
> device (BCM4312 802.11a/b/g). I press Fn + F2, the bluetooth led lights
> and after a second it turns off by itself. In dmesg I'm seeing the
> following:
> 
> [   88.167212] usb 1-2.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and
> address 5
> [   88.782330] usb 1-2.2: USB disconnect, address 5
> 
> I switched to 2.6.37 until I'll have some time to bisect this. In the mean
> time I have attached the output of lspci, interrupts and dmesg.
> 
> Thanks,

-- 
Mihai Donțu

[-- Attachment #2: interrupts.txt --]
[-- Type: text/plain, Size: 1563 bytes --]

           CPU0       CPU1       
  0:     185247          0   IO-APIC-edge      timer
  1:       3764          0   IO-APIC-edge      i8042
  8:         18          0   IO-APIC-edge      rtc0
  9:          3          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   acpi
 12:        106          0   IO-APIC-edge      i8042
 14:      28675          0   IO-APIC-edge      ata_piix
 15:       4047          0   IO-APIC-edge      ata_piix
 16:      30275          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   i915
 17:      27542          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   eth0, b43
 19:         31          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   firewire_ohci, yenta
 20:         60          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ehci_hcd:usb1, uhci_hcd:usb2
 21:          0          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   uhci_hcd:usb3
 22:      16401          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   uhci_hcd:usb4
 23:          0          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   uhci_hcd:usb5
 40:        391          0   PCI-MSI-edge      hda_intel
NMI:          0          0   Non-maskable interrupts
LOC:     202224     259238   Local timer interrupts
SPU:          0          0   Spurious interrupts
PMI:          0          0   Performance monitoring interrupts
IWI:          0          0   IRQ work interrupts
RES:     123639     198860   Rescheduling interrupts
CAL:       1252       1055   Function call interrupts
TLB:       3962       2590   TLB shootdowns
TRM:          0          0   Thermal event interrupts
THR:          0          0   Threshold APIC interrupts
MCE:          0          0   Machine check exceptions
MCP:          5          5   Machine check polls
ERR:          1
MIS:          0

[-- Attachment #3: lspci.txt --]
[-- Type: text/plain, Size: 7435 bytes --]

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=09 <?>
	Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
	Memory at eff00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
	I/O ports at eff8 [size=8]
	Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	Memory at efec0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
	Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
	Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
	Kernel driver in use: i915

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Memory at eff80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
	Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 40
	Memory at efebc000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Capabilities: [130] Root Complex Link
	Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=0b, subordinate=0b, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00002fff
	Memory behind bridge: e4000000-e41fffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000e4200000-00000000e43fffff
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Capabilities: [180] Root Complex Link

00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=0c, subordinate=0c, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 00003000-00003fff
	Memory behind bridge: efd00000-efdfffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000e4400000-00000000e45fffff
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Capabilities: [180] Root Complex Link

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 20
	I/O ports at bf80 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
	I/O ports at bf60 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 22
	I/O ports at bf40 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
	I/O ports at bf20 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 01) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 20
	Memory at ffa80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00a0
	Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e1) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=06, sec-latency=32
	I/O behind bridge: 00004000-00004fff
	Memory behind bridge: efc00000-efcfffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000e0000000-00000000e3ffffff
	Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
	Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0c <?>

00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 01) (prog-if 80 [Master])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
	I/O ports at 01f0 [size=8]
	I/O ports at 03f4 [size=1]
	I/O ports at 0170 [size=8]
	I/O ports at 0374 [size=1]
	I/O ports at bfa0 [size=16]
	Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2
	Kernel driver in use: ata_piix

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 17
	I/O ports at 10c0 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 64, IRQ 17
	Memory at efcfe000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
	Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
	Kernel driver in use: b44

02:01.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. Cardbus bridge (rev 21)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, stepping, slow devsel, latency 168, IRQ 19
	Memory at efc00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
	Bus: primary=02, secondary=03, subordinate=06, sec-latency=176
	Memory window 0: e0000000-e3fff000 (prefetchable)
	Memory window 1: e8000000-ebfff000
	I/O window 0: 00004000-000040ff
	I/O window 1: 00004400-000044ff
	16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001
	Kernel driver in use: yenta_cardbus

02:01.4 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell Device 01d4
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
	Memory at efcfd000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
	Memory at efcfc800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
	Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
	Kernel driver in use: firewire_ohci

0c:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11a/b/g (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1490 Dual Band WLAN Mini-Card
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
	Memory at efdfc000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [58] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [d0] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
	Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
	Capabilities: [13c] Virtual Channel
	Kernel driver in use: b43-pci-bridge


[-- Attachment #4: dmesg.txt.gz --]
[-- Type: application/x-gzip, Size: 16922 bytes --]

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Rafał Miłecki]

2011/3/16 Mihai Donțu <mihai.dontu@gmail.com>:
> Added linux-usb and linux-wireless to CC.
>
> On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:18:31 Mihai Donțu wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have just upgraded to 2.6.38 and discovered that I can't use my wireless
>> device (BCM4312 802.11a/b/g). I press Fn + F2, the bluetooth led lights
>> and after a second it turns off by itself. In dmesg I'm seeing the
>> following:
>>
>> [   88.167212] usb 1-2.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and
>> address 5
>> [   88.782330] usb 1-2.2: USB disconnect, address 5
>>
>> I switched to 2.6.37 until I'll have some time to bisect this. In the mean
>> time I have attached the output of lspci, interrupts and dmesg.

I suspect it's WMI related. What is your machine?

Please check:
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=31002
http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.acpi.devel/49577

I can't help you more, I just noticed such a issue reported on ACPI
ML, you have to dig into this yourself (or someone else may help you).

-- 
Rafał

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Mihai Donțu]

On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:35:02 Rafał Miłecki wrote:
> 2011/3/16 Mihai Donțu <mihai.dontu@gmail.com>:
> > Added linux-usb and linux-wireless to CC.
> > 
> > On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:18:31 Mihai Donțu wrote:
> >> Hi,
> >> 
> >> I have just upgraded to 2.6.38 and discovered that I can't use my
> >> wireless device (BCM4312 802.11a/b/g). I press Fn + F2, the bluetooth
> >> led lights and after a second it turns off by itself. In dmesg I'm
> >> seeing the following:
> >> 
> >> [   88.167212] usb 1-2.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and
> >> address 5
> >> [   88.782330] usb 1-2.2: USB disconnect, address 5
> >> 
> >> I switched to 2.6.37 until I'll have some time to bisect this. In the
> >> mean time I have attached the output of lspci, interrupts and dmesg.
> 
> I suspect it's WMI related. What is your machine?

It's a Dell Latitude D520 but I can't find a link with full specs (in 
English).

> Please check:
> https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=31002
> http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.acpi.devel/49577
> 
> I can't help you more, I just noticed such a issue reported on ACPI
> ML, you have to dig into this yourself (or someone else may help you).

Thanks for the links. I'll see if I can get anywhere from there.

-- 
Mihai Donțu

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Joey Lee]

Add Cc. to platform driver guys.

於 四，2011-03-17 於 01:06 +0200，Mihai Donțu 提到：
> On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:35:02 Rafał Miłecki wrote:
> > 2011/3/16 Mihai Donțu <mihai.dontu@gmail.com>:
> > > Added linux-usb and linux-wireless to CC.
> > > 
> > > On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:18:31 Mihai Donțu wrote:
> > >> Hi,
> > >> 
> > >> I have just upgraded to 2.6.38 and discovered that I can't use my
> > >> wireless device (BCM4312 802.11a/b/g). I press Fn + F2, the bluetooth
> > >> led lights and after a second it turns off by itself. In dmesg I'm
> > >> seeing the following:
> > >> 
> > >> [   88.167212] usb 1-2.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and
> > >> address 5
> > >> [   88.782330] usb 1-2.2: USB disconnect, address 5
> > >> 
> > >> I switched to 2.6.37 until I'll have some time to bisect this. In the
> > >> mean time I have attached the output of lspci, interrupts and dmesg.
> > 
> > I suspect it's WMI related. What is your machine?
> 
> It's a Dell Latitude D520 but I can't find a link with full specs (in 
> English).
> 
> > Please check:
> > https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=31002
> > http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.acpi.devel/49577
> > 
> > I can't help you more, I just noticed such a issue reported on ACPI
> > ML, you have to dig into this yourself (or someone else may help you).
> 
> Thanks for the links. I'll see if I can get anywhere from there.
> 

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Alan Stern]

On Thu, 17 Mar 2011, Mihai Donțu wrote:

> On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:35:02 Rafał Miłecki wrote:
> > 2011/3/16 Mihai Donțu <mihai.dontu@gmail.com>:
> > > Added linux-usb and linux-wireless to CC.
> > > 
> > > On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:18:31 Mihai Donțu wrote:
> > >> Hi,
> > >> 
> > >> I have just upgraded to 2.6.38 and discovered that I can't use my
> > >> wireless device (BCM4312 802.11a/b/g). I press Fn + F2, the bluetooth
> > >> led lights and after a second it turns off by itself. In dmesg I'm
> > >> seeing the following:
> > >> 
> > >> [   88.167212] usb 1-2.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd and
> > >> address 5
> > >> [   88.782330] usb 1-2.2: USB disconnect, address 5
> > >> 
> > >> I switched to 2.6.37 until I'll have some time to bisect this. In the
> > >> mean time I have attached the output of lspci, interrupts and dmesg.
> > 
> > I suspect it's WMI related. What is your machine?
> 
> It's a Dell Latitude D520 but I can't find a link with full specs (in 
> English).
> 
> > Please check:
> > https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=31002
> > http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.acpi.devel/49577
> > 
> > I can't help you more, I just noticed such a issue reported on ACPI
> > ML, you have to dig into this yourself (or someone else may help you).
> 
> Thanks for the links. I'll see if I can get anywhere from there.

Another thing you can try is to get usbmon traces under both 2.6.37 and 
2.6.38.  Instructions are in the kernel source file 
Documentation/usb/usbmon.txt.

Alan Stern

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Mihai Donțu]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: Text/Plain, Size: 1892 bytes --]

On Thursday 17 March 2011 04:36:54 Alan Stern wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Mar 2011, Mihai Donțu wrote:
> > On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:35:02 Rafał Miłecki wrote:
> > > 2011/3/16 Mihai Donțu <mihai.dontu@gmail.com>:
> > > > Added linux-usb and linux-wireless to CC.
> > > > 
> > > > On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:18:31 Mihai Donțu wrote:
> > > >> Hi,
> > > >> 
> > > >> I have just upgraded to 2.6.38 and discovered that I can't use my
> > > >> wireless device (BCM4312 802.11a/b/g). I press Fn + F2, the
> > > >> bluetooth led lights and after a second it turns off by itself. In
> > > >> dmesg I'm seeing the following:
> > > >> 
> > > >> [   88.167212] usb 1-2.2: new full speed USB device using ehci_hcd
> > > >> and address 5
> > > >> [   88.782330] usb 1-2.2: USB disconnect, address 5
> > > >> 
> > > >> I switched to 2.6.37 until I'll have some time to bisect this. In
> > > >> the mean time I have attached the output of lspci, interrupts and
> > > >> dmesg.
> > > 
> > > I suspect it's WMI related. What is your machine?
> > 
> > It's a Dell Latitude D520 but I can't find a link with full specs (in
> > English).
> > 
> > > Please check:
> > > https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=31002
> > > http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.acpi.devel/49577
> > > 
> > > I can't help you more, I just noticed such a issue reported on ACPI
> > > ML, you have to dig into this yourself (or someone else may help you).
> > 
> > Thanks for the links. I'll see if I can get anywhere from there.
> 
> Another thing you can try is to get usbmon traces under both 2.6.37 and
> 2.6.38.  Instructions are in the kernel source file
> Documentation/usb/usbmon.txt.

I'm unable to get a usbmon dump on 2.6.37. Strangely, the only USB device 
making noise (on 0u) is my mouse's wireless receiver. I had no such problem on 
2.6.38 though.

-- 
Mihai Donțu

[-- Attachment #2: 2.6.37-config.gz --]
[-- Type: application/x-gzip, Size: 17816 bytes --]

[-- Attachment #3: 2.6.37-lsusb.txt.gz --]
[-- Type: application/x-gzip, Size: 2117 bytes --]

[-- Attachment #4: 2.6.38-1.mon.out.gz --]
[-- Type: application/x-gzip, Size: 951 bytes --]

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Alan Stern]

On Sat, 19 Mar 2011, Mihai Donțu wrote:

> > Another thing you can try is to get usbmon traces under both 2.6.37 and
> > 2.6.38.  Instructions are in the kernel source file
> > Documentation/usb/usbmon.txt.
> 
> I'm unable to get a usbmon dump on 2.6.37. Strangely, the only USB device 
> making noise (on 0u) is my mouse's wireless receiver. I had no such problem on 
> 2.6.38 though.

I noticed your config has CONFIG_USB_EHCI_TT_NEWSCHED disabled.  You 
really should enable it (although I doubt that it is responsible for 
this problem, since 2.6.37 works without it).

The 2.6.38 usbmon trace shows pretty much what you might expect: The 
device connects and is initialized and enumerated normally, then 2 
seconds later it disconnects.  We really need to see a 2.6.37 usbmon 
trace to compare for differences.

Can you try again?  If usbmon isn't working, there's something _very_ 
strange going on.

Alan Stern

Re: [b43] usb device disconnects automatically after 1s

[Mihai Donțu]

On Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:11:31 -0600
"Joey Lee" <jlee@novell.com> wrote:

> Add Cc. to platform driver guys.
> 
> 於 四，2011-03-17 於 01:06 +0200，Mihai Donțu 提到：
> > On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:35:02 Rafał Miłecki wrote:
> > > 2011/3/16 Mihai Donțu <mihai.dontu@gmail.com>:
> > > > Added linux-usb and linux-wireless to CC.
> > > > 
> > > > On Thursday 17 March 2011 00:18:31 Mihai Donțu wrote:
> > > >> Hi,
> > > >> 
> > > >> I have just upgraded to 2.6.38 and discovered that I can't use
> > > >> my wireless device (BCM4312 802.11a/b/g). I press Fn + F2, the
> > > >> bluetooth led lights and after a second it turns off by
> > > >> itself. In dmesg I'm seeing the following:
> > > >> 
> > > >> [   88.167212] usb 1-2.2: new full speed USB device using
> > > >> ehci_hcd and address 5
> > > >> [   88.782330] usb 1-2.2: USB disconnect, address 5
> > > >> 
> > > >> I switched to 2.6.37 until I'll have some time to bisect this.
> > > >> In the mean time I have attached the output of lspci,
> > > >> interrupts and dmesg.
> > > 
> > > I suspect it's WMI related. What is your machine?
> > 
> > It's a Dell Latitude D520 but I can't find a link with full specs
> > (in English).
> > 
> > > Please check:
> > > https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=31002
> > > http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.acpi.devel/49577
> > > 
> > > I can't help you more, I just noticed such a issue reported on
> > > ACPI ML, you have to dig into this yourself (or someone else may
> > > help you).
> > 
> > Thanks for the links. I'll see if I can get anywhere from there.

Today I had some time on my hands and decided to get this working.
Which I did. So the difference between 2.6.37 and 2.6.38 is that now I
have to invoke rfkill to enable my wireless device, because pressing
Fn + F2 toggles the hard and soft lock states of the device _but_ only
to 'yes'. Pressing the key combination again will only remove the hard
lock. On 2.6.37 it would remove both. For example:

On 2.6.37:
# rfkill list 0               # wifi disabled
0: dell-wifi: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: yes

# rfkill list 0               # wifi enabled (via Fn + F2)
0: dell-wifi: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no

(rfkill events)
1301758599.537508: idx 0 type 1 op 2 soft 0 hard 0
1301758600.561087: idx 2 type 1 op 2 soft 0 hard 0

On 2.6.38:
# rfkill list 0               # wifi disabled
0: dell-wifi: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: yes

# rfkill list 0               # wifi enabled (via Fn + F2)
0: dell-wifi: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: no

(rfkill events)
1301758830.251541: idx 0 type 1 op 2 soft 1 hard 0

Is there supposed to be a piece of software that listens for these
events and toggles the soft state whenever the hard state changes?

Thanks,

-- 
Mihai Donțu