Major AirPort-related (Atheros) Kernel Panics on Core 2 Duo MacBook/Pros

[blufire]

Hello,

I have several friends who own new MacBooks and MacBook Pros (all Core 2 Duo with the Atheros wireless chipset). They're all up-to-date with 10.4.9 and other software, but they are continuously experiencing kernel panics (from once a week up to 5 times a week). I am inclined to believe this is a widespread problem because this is occurring on at least 3 brand-new machines. One user noted a decrease in KPs when 10.4.8 came out, but he's still getting them now and then in 10.4.9.

Here are logs from the last two kernel panics on the MacBook Pro:

*********

Wed Apr 18 21:26:56 2007
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0035C30A): mbuf address out of range 0x2012a00
Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x24f2bca8 : 0x128d08 (0x3cb134 0x24f2bccc 0x131de5 0x0)
0x24f2bce8 : 0x35c30a (0x3eb8f4 0x2012a00 0x24f2bd28 0x197c2c)
0x24f2bd08 : 0x35c6aa (0x2012a00 0x804c 0x1 0x800)
0x24f2bd28 : 0x9e064d (0x36c9b800 0x0 0x0 0x1)
0x24f2bf08 : 0x39a463 (0x2361d2c8 0x3bf9780 0x1 0x38ad3b4)
0x24f2bf58 : 0x399635 (0x3bf9780 0x135eb4 0x0 0x38ad3b4)
0x24f2bf88 : 0x39936b (0x3c06d80 0x0 0x450 0x1203)
0x24f2bfc8 : 0x19ac1c (0x3c06d80 0x0 0x10 0x4ce40e0) Backtrace
terminated-invalid frame pointer 0x0
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros(223.47.4)@0x9af000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.1)
@0x6c4000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.2)@0x582000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(153.2)@0x800000

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.9.1: Thu Feb 22 20:55:00 PST 2007;
root:xnu-792.18.15~1/RELEASE_I386


*********

Thu Apr 19 22:27:03 2007
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x001A429B): Unresolved kernel trap (CPU 0, Type
14=page fault), registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x0a02023f, CR3: 0x01754000, CR4: 0x000006e0
EAX: 0x0a02023f, EBX: 0x378e3b00, ECX: 0x378e3b44, EDX: 0x05010103
CR2: 0x0a02023f, EBP: 0x26023c28, ESI: 0x05010103, EDI: 0x378e3b00
EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x05010144, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00000010

Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x26023a08 : 0x128d08 (0x3cb134 0x26023a2c 0x131de5 0x0)
0x26023a48 : 0x1a429b (0x3d0e4c 0x0 0xe 0x3d0670)
0x26023b58 : 0x19ada4 (0x26023b70 0x135380 0x4be70d8 0x35d09000)
0x26023c28 : 0x35c6aa (0x378e3b00 0x4b084c 0xc 0x23faa4bc)
0x26023c48 : 0x3ccdc98e (0x378e3b00 0x378e3b00 0x243a2004 0x0)
0x26023d28 : 0x3ccfbb1e (0x243a2004 0x378e3b00 0x15 0xa9b872e2)
0x26023f08 : 0x39a463 (0x23faa2c8 0x4b7cd00 0x1 0x464260)
0x26023f58 : 0x399635 (0x4b7cd00 0xf0b 0x40c76c8 0x4b9000)
0x26023f88 : 0x39936b (0x4bb8b40 0x26023fd4 0x134c09 0x39934e)
0x26023fc8 : 0x19ac1c (0x4bb8b40 0x0 0x19e0b5 0x4be4828) Backtrace
terminated-invalid frame pointer 0x0
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros(223.47.4)@0x3ccca000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.1)
@0x3bdeb000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.2)@0x35b48000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(153.2)@0x3ccad000

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.9.1: Thu Feb 22 20:55:00 PST 2007;
root:xnu-792.18.15~1/RELEASE_I386

*********

Has anyone else been experiencing this, and is this something Apple needs to address in software? Or should we send in these machines for repair? My Core Duo MacBook has never experienced any issues whatsoever, so I'm convinced it's an issue with the Atheros pre-N cards. I have sent message to Apple through several channels (apple.com/feedback, support page feedback for the "10.4.7 kernel panics" article, and through a local Systems Engineer) regarding the issue.

Thanks a lot for any input!

 

[polishmacuser]

i have a core duo macbook(black) and everything works fine with me it could be possible that the pre n cards are causing the problem not sure though

 

[LindsayKate]

I am having the same problem

Hi! I am having the SAME EXACT PROBLEM and i have the same computer....

have you found a solution ?

Wed Apr 25 16:07:47 2007
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x001A429B): Unresolved kernel trap (CPU 0, Type 14=page fault), registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0xd48d7bea, CR3: 0x00d80000, CR4: 0x000006e0
EAX: 0xd48d7be6, EBX: 0x1d36a300, ECX: 0x1d36a344, EDX: 0xd48d7be6
CR2: 0xd48d7bea, EBP: 0x0b7a3d08, ESI: 0xd48d7be6, EDI: 0x09d242c8
EFL: 0x00010282, EIP: 0x0035c387, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00000010

Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0xb7a3af8 : 0x128d08 (0x3cb134 0xb7a3b1c 0x131de5 0x0)
0xb7a3b38 : 0x1a429b (0x3d0e4c 0x0 0xe 0x3d0670)
0xb7a3c48 : 0x19ada4 (0xb7a3c60 0x20000 0xb7a3c78 0x6)
0xb7a3d08 : 0x35c6aa (0x1d36a300 0x804c 0x1 0x800)
0xb7a3d28 : 0x98f6ad (0x1d36a300 0xb7a3dec 0x6 0x341304f0)
0xb7a3f08 : 0x39a463 (0x9d242c8 0x2148e00 0x1 0x2)
0xb7a3f58 : 0x399635 (0x2148e00 0x0 0x0 0x19e23a)
0xb7a3f88 : 0x39936b (0x215b940 0x0 0x18 0x6d1b)
0xb7a3fc8 : 0x19ac1c (0x215b940 0x0 0x10 0x22923c0) Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0x0
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros(223.47.4)@0x95e000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.1)@0x6a1000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.2)@0x582000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(153.2)@0x941000

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.9.1: Thu Feb 22 20:55:00 PST 2007; root:xnu-792.18.15~1/RELEASE_I386

 

[mopppish]

I used to have a similar problem on a C2D MBP. A few weeks ago I installed the 10.4.9 combo update for an unrelated problem (after previously doing the 10.4.9 update) and haven't had one since. *crosses fingers*

 

[ilkevinli]

There is a fix. Set the encryption type in the router to TKIP. When its set to AES, you will get the kernel panics.

Hi! I am having the SAME EXACT PROBLEM and i have the same computer....

have you found a solution ?

Wed Apr 25 16:07:47 2007
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x001A429B): Unresolved kernel trap (CPU 0, Type 14=page fault), registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0xd48d7bea, CR3: 0x00d80000, CR4: 0x000006e0
EAX: 0xd48d7be6, EBX: 0x1d36a300, ECX: 0x1d36a344, EDX: 0xd48d7be6
CR2: 0xd48d7bea, EBP: 0x0b7a3d08, ESI: 0xd48d7be6, EDI: 0x09d242c8
EFL: 0x00010282, EIP: 0x0035c387, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00000010

Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0xb7a3af8 : 0x128d08 (0x3cb134 0xb7a3b1c 0x131de5 0x0)
0xb7a3b38 : 0x1a429b (0x3d0e4c 0x0 0xe 0x3d0670)
0xb7a3c48 : 0x19ada4 (0xb7a3c60 0x20000 0xb7a3c78 0x6)
0xb7a3d08 : 0x35c6aa (0x1d36a300 0x804c 0x1 0x800)
0xb7a3d28 : 0x98f6ad (0x1d36a300 0xb7a3dec 0x6 0x341304f0)
0xb7a3f08 : 0x39a463 (0x9d242c8 0x2148e00 0x1 0x2)
0xb7a3f58 : 0x399635 (0x2148e00 0x0 0x0 0x19e23a)
0xb7a3f88 : 0x39936b (0x215b940 0x0 0x18 0x6d1b)
0xb7a3fc8 : 0x19ac1c (0x215b940 0x0 0x10 0x22923c0) Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0x0
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros(223.47.4)@0x95e000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.1)@0x6a1000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.2)@0x582000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(153.2)@0x941000

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.9.1: Thu Feb 22 20:55:00 PST 2007; root:xnu-792.18.15~1/RELEASE_I386

 

[blufire]

There is a fix. Set the encryption type in the router to TKIP. When its set to AES, you will get the kernel panics.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've told one MacBook Pro owner to give it a try, and I've notified an Apple Systems Engineer as well.

 

[e12a]

never had a kernel panic yet. Week 43 built. When i set my router to TKIP/AES Mix, the MBP cant connect to it. I have to have it TKIP or AES for it to work, so i set it to AES and have no problems.

but the stupid airport process is giving me trouble on a cold boot. (takes 99% of the cpu on my school's wireless...not so much my dorm's though..weird.)

 

[iW00t]

What kind of fix is it? What if you are not the administrator of the network?

Just like PeeCees and Windoze...

 

[m.furlong]

I've got all the most recent updates. My wireless router does not have encryption turned on, it doesn't even have MAC filtering turned on. I still get the kernel panics.

This is my second mac book on which I've had this problem (returned the first one). Even if changing the settings on the router does prevent the kernel panics, it still leaves open the possibility (I think) that some one could remotely crash a computer. Since it looks like a buffer overflow is caused, they might be able to do worse things again.

This is just a tinfoil hat type guess, but I'm beginning to suspect that Apple is trying to forestall a recall.

 

[jlagrew]

Wireless N driver?

I've had problems with differing encryption standards for different access points or wireless routers. At least for my MacBook, I'm not convinced that this is the same issue in my case.

My recent problems began after upgrading to the wireless N driver for my laptop. Since that time, I've had many kernel panics or freezes, of course while only using wireless. Diagnostics have passed on the laptop (which might not mean all that much), but due to this happening with multiple access points with or without encryption, I'm wondering if it's the N Atheros driver.

Is anyone else having this problem with the N driver?

 

[79mac]

My macbook with 11n enabled worked well for several weeks up until my first Apple software update (which included an airport extreme 2007-02 update) - then came my first Kernel Panic. Somehow, I was able to resolve the issue with help from Apple Tech Support. Things got worse after the second software update (which included airport extreme 2007-03) 2 weeks ago - more KPs. After endless hours at the genius bar, Apple TS, erase & installs, and macbook repairs (got the wireless card replaced 2x, HDD, and logic board replaced) - still more KPs. Long story short, the specialist who helped me on my last call to Apple TS figured out that the problem was somehow related to my atheros-based router. A log file has already been forwarded to Apple TS and I'm assuming/hoping that an upcoming airport extreme update will fix the issue. In the meantime, I don't log on to my home wireless network and have had no KPs since.