Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 crashing the system if it run a container

Troubleshooting Kernel Panics Caused by Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 Wi-Fi Adapter in Home Server Environments

In recent weeks, I have been working on enhancing my home server setup, aiming to run various containers for improved file management and system flexibility. During one such operation, I encountered a critical issue: launching a container for FileBrowser resulted in a complete system crash, registering as a kernel panic.

Understanding the Issue

The crash was linked to the system’s network interface, specifically the Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 Wi-Fi adapter. As observed through logs retrieved via Cockpit—a web-based system management tool—the error appeared directly associated with the network hardware. Given that the server connects to the network via Wi-Fi, this hardware was a crucial component in the problem.

System Details

• Hardware: HP ProBook 6460b
• Operating System: Arch Linux
• Network Interface: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 Wi-Fi Adapter

What Happened

When attempting to start the container, the system became unstable, ultimately triggering a kernel panic. Kernel panic is a safety measure within the operating system to prevent further damage or data corruption, and it often indicates underlying hardware or driver conflicts.

Investigation and Resolution Strategies

1. Review System and Kernel Logs:
   Utilizing Cockpit and journalctl logs can help identify specific errors related to the network driver or hardware during container launch.

2. Update Networking Drivers:
   Ensuring the latest kernel and driver updates for the Intel Wi-Fi hardware can eliminate known bugs or incompatibilities.

3. On Arch Linux, this could involve updating the system with sudo pacman -Syu or specifically reinstalling kernel modules.

4. Switch to Wired Connection (If Possible):
   To isolate the issue, connecting via Ethernet might prevent the crash during network-intensive operations such as container startup.

5. Disable Wi-Fi Temporarily:
   As a workaround, disabling the Wi-Fi interface during container operations can prevent crashes while a more permanent solution is sought.

6. Check for Known Hardware Bugs:
   Research whether the Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 has documented issues related to kernel compatibility, and explore community solutions or workarounds.

7. Consider Alternative Drivers or Firmware:
   Sometimes, alternative drivers or firmware packages can provide better stability. The iwlwifi driver is typically used for Intel wireless adapters; verifying its configuration and