Activation of network connection failed" on LAN and USB

Hi All

I hope i can get some help with my issue. I am running a dual boot system, Zorin OS 17 Core with WIN10.
I also use NordVPN. After isntallation of Zorin everything worked perfectly, my PC was linked with LAN cable to my network.
One of of the days my PC did not connect to the NW received "connection failed : Activation of network connection failed" error.

I tried to research on the net and I see it is pretty common issue, however all formus i found was in relation to WiFi.
After I was not able to resolve the issue, I ordered a LAN=>USB adapter and again for few weeks everything worked fine through the adapter.

However, I received the same error now for the USB LAN.

ATM I use my mobile as hotspot with USB tethering.

So far I deactivated fast boot in BIOS.
Tried to restart NetworkManager
Tried to reinstall the NetworkManager
Executed the recommendations from:

Tried the following, my USB adapter is "enx207bd2ccfcf6"
sudo ip link set enx207bd2ccfcf6 down
sudo iw enx207bd2ccfcf6 set type managed
sudo ip link set enx207bd2ccfcf6 up

Not sure if the "iw" is a typo in the middle command or not.
When I run the middle command with "iw" the output is
mrweaver@MrPC:~$ sudo iw enx207bd2ccfcf6 set type managed
sudo: iw: command not found

With "ip" command the output is:
mrweaver@MrPC:~$ sudo ip enx207bd2ccfcf6 set type managed
Object "enx207bd2ccfcf6" is unknown, try "ip help".

I tried the solutions from Activation of network connection failed everytime
But if i understand many of those commands are for WiFi chipsets.

The output for "sudo lshw -C network" is:

mrweaver@MrPC:~$ sudo lshw -C network
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
logical name: enp4s0
version: 0c
serial: 9c:5c:8e:85:69:90
capacity: 1Gbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=6.5.0-44-generic firmware=rtl8168g-2_0.0.1 02/06/13 latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair
resources: irq:17 ioport:d000(size=256) memory:fe900000-fe900fff memory:f0900000-f0903fff
*-network:0
description: Ethernet interface
physical id: 5
bus info: usb@2:2
logical name: enx207bd2ccfcf6
serial: 20:7b:d2:cc:fc:f6
capabilities: ethernet physical
configuration: autonegotiation=off broadcast=yes driver=cdc_ncm driverversion=6.5.0-44-generic duplex=half firmware=CDC NCM (NO ZLP) link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair
*-network:1
description: Ethernet interface
physical id: 6
bus info: usb@5:2
logical name: enx9a3286805f7b
serial: 9a:32:86:80:5f:7b
capabilities: ethernet physical
configuration: autonegotiation=off broadcast=yes driver=rndis_host driverversion=6.5.0-44-generic duplex=half firmware=RNDIS device ip=192.168.73.172 link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair

Fingers crossed someone can assist with this issue.
Thank you in advance!!!

Welcome to the Forum!

You wrote that you use NordVPN. When you have these Problems with Your connection: Is this with activated VPN or with deactivated or in both Situations?

Hi Ponce-De-Leon
Thanks, for the response.

The VPN is off-line. In config of the VPN I set the VPN to auto-connect from terminal. The VPN is not setup in the Network Settings/VPN section, never was and worked perfectly- for a while. The VPN client unable to connect.

When I activate either the PCI or the USB internet, it is in "Connecting" status for minutes and even if it shows connected I am unable to ping my local router.

ATM the only way to connect to the internet is with USB tethering with my mobile. With the mobile hotspot, i can ping the router and able to activate the VPN.

Maybe this could be the Problem. Could you try to deactivate this auto-connect and look if the Network connection works?

1 Like

Unfortunately it is the same with or without the auto-connect enabled. Also the same happens when I logged out and and shutdown the VPN client.

Did You controled if in the ''Additional Drivers'' Tab in Software & Updates are Drivers for Your built-in Network Card or Your USB Adapter?

No. The system did not find any additional drivers.
Screenshot from 2024-07-19 20-42-03

Same as on my daughter`s laptop, which also dual boot W11/Zorin 17 Education.

Maybe the Question is stupid but have You tried another Ethernet Cable?

Not stupid, i tried. Also tested the cable with cable tester.

Did you controled Your Router if there is anything in the Settings maybe changed? From a Router-Update or so?

There were no changes on the router, when originally installed Zorin and used the integrated NW card I had a static IP for the PC.
Once the issue started is could not access the router with the USB or the PCI card.

Have you tried simply restarting your Router?

Yes. Cables removed/reseated. Usual turn off- turn on :smile:
Whats interesting is while now i use USB tethering through my mobile and the error still pops up time to time. However I don`t lose connection.

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