NetworkManager Wi-Fi powersaving configuration

networkmanager-wifi-powersave.md

NetworkManager WiFi Power Saving

NetworkManager supports WiFi powersaving but the function is rather undocumented.

From the source code: wifi.powersave can have the following value:

• NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_DEFAULT (0): use the default value
• NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_IGNORE (1): don't touch existing setting
• NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_DISABLE (2): disable powersave
• NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_ENABLE (3): enable powersave

Then I propose 2 files, only one of them needs to be put under /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/.
One is forcing to disable powersaving, while the other one enable it.

Once you have put the file in the right folder, simply restart NetworkManager:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

wifi-powersave-off.conf

# File to be place under /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d
[connection]
# Values are 0 (use default), 1 (ignore/don't touch), 2 (disable) or 3 (enable).
wifi.powersave = 2

wifi-powersave-on.conf

# File to be place under /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d
[connection]
# Values are 0 (use default), 1 (ignore/don't touch), 2 (disable) or 3 (enable).
wifi.powersave = 3

My wifi connection is often interrupted when using battery power, while using AC power, the connection is stable. It is solved after I modify the wifi.powersave to 2. Thank you very much!

Spelling correction in comment: "File to be placed under", with a d after place
Thanks!

In any case, interesting and long-lasting bug...
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/1960817

It started earlier than that see https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/1557026

Check with

iwconfig <interface> | grep "Power Management"

this is amazing.

# cat /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf 
[connection]
wifi.powersave = 3

literally kills ssh performance.
and
wifi.powersave = 2
creates a miracle!

If you aren't using NetworkManager (default in the minimal RaspberyOS 11 install at least) you can temporarily (until reboot) turn off power management with:

iwconfig wlan0 power off

There are many conceivable ways of making this persist, e.g. putting it in rc.local.

If you aren't using NetworkManager (default in the minimal RaspberyOS 11 install at least) you can temporarily (until reboot) turn off power management with:

iwconfig wlan0 power off

There are many conceivable ways of making this persist, e.g. putting it in rc.local.

It may just be Ubuntu and its derivatives that set the wifi.powersave=3

Is there a way to test the configuration has succeeded without iwconfig?

I have tried to disable wifi powersaving:

> cat /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-powersave-off.conf
[connection]
wifi.powersave = 2

> sudo systemcl restart NetworkManager

However nmcli shows no changes:

> nmcli con show MIWIFI_FAC2_5G | grep save
802-11-wireless.powersave:              0 (default)

PS from the logs of the service it looks like the file has been read:

Jun 27 15:54:31 think NetworkManager[6030]: <info>  [1719496471.3339] Read config: /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf (lib: 20-connectivity-fedora.conf, 22-wifi-mac-addr.conf) (etc: wifi-powersave-off.conf)

有没有办法不用iwconfig来测试配置是否成功？

我尝试禁用 wifi 省电功能：

> cat /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-powersave-off.conf
[connection]
wifi.powersave = 2

> sudo systemcl restart NetworkManager

但是 nmcli 没有显示任何变化：

> nmcli con show MIWIFI_FAC2_5G | grep save
802-11-wireless.powersave:              0 (default)

PS：从服务日志来看该文件似乎已被读取：

Jun 27 15:54:31 think NetworkManager[6030]: <info>  [1719496471.3339] Read config: /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf (lib: 20-connectivity-fedora.conf, 22-wifi-mac-addr.conf) (etc: wifi-powersave-off.conf)

Me too.
But

[wifi]
powersave=2

is useful

@josecastillolema try the following

❯ nmcli con show

NAME                UUID                                  TYPE   
   DEVICE 

Name 4G     wifi   
 .......

❯ nmcli con show "Name 4G" | grep save


802-11-wireless.powersave:              0 (default)

❯ nmcli connection modify "Name 4G" 802-11-wireless.powersave 2

❯ nmcli connection up "Name 4G"

Connection successfully activated (D-Bus active path: /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/ActiveConnection/21)

❯ nmcli con show "Name 4G" | grep save


802-11-wireless.powersave:              2 (disable)