Problem Description:
I’m new to Linux, so my apologies if this is a dumb question. Several months ago I installed Ubuntu Desktop (currently at 25.10) on a ThinkPad W550s; liking it a lot.
But it has happened to me twice now that when I’ve used the Software Updater, soon after I click “Install Now”, it stalls and I discover that my home’s modem/router (Bell Home Hub 3000) has lost its internet connection and WiFi is down everywhere in the house. Both times, I rebooted the router to restore the internet connection, tried again and the updating seemed to go ahead properly.
Can that happen, that my WiFi-connected laptop can disable the router’s internet connection? I’ve tried to search online for others with the same problem, but most of the results I find only discuss losing a connection on the Linux device itself, not on the router / whole WiFi network.
Any suggestions on how I can avoid this for future updates would be much appreciated.
Relevant System Information:
Lenovo ThinkPad W550s
Intel Core i7-5500U x 4
8GB RAM
When things are going properly, run sudo ss -tulpn and sudo ss -tupn
Save the output.
After things break, run both commands again.
Compare the outputs.
In the past, I had some software that quietly ran a conflicting DHCP server. It sometimes captured devices on my network, which appeared (to me) like a loss of internet connectivity across the entire LAN. That output is how I discovered the culprit.
You have had Ubuntu 25.10 for several months. When you updated the operating system during those several months did it knock out the modem/router?
You say that WiFi is down everywhere in the house. Do you mean that other devices connected to the modem/router by WiFi lost internet connection? Were they still connected to the modem/router by WiFi?
I can understand a modem loosing its connection to the Internet Service Provider (ISP). It happens to me if someone uses the telephone. I have broadband over a telephone landline.
Do you have cable/optical cable broadband? Is it possible that there are other devices connecting to the Internet through this modem/router and the demand for bandwidth is greater than that offered by the ISP?
Thank you all for your information and suggestions. Good to know this is not a known Ubuntu or Linux problem, so I’ll look into my router (which is apparently out of date now) and my ISP.
I will try my next update late at night when no one else needs the internet, and if it happens again and I’m able to discover anything more about the problem or solution, I’ll report back here.
@graymech Yes, I believe that updating the OS itself did also knock out the router. The other devices remained connected to the router by WiFi, but all showed “no internet connection”, so I think that somehow the router itself lost that connection. It’s a fiber optic connection with pretty decent bandwidth and speed, so I’d be surprised if the other devices exceeded the demand, but it’s a good thought, I will pay more attention next time! But I’ve read elsewhere that I should ask my ISP for a more up-to-date modem/router replacement, so I’ll start with that.
So, updating the operating system does indeed cause the modem to disconnect from the ISP.
I notice from Bell’s advertising that this modem is tri-band Wifi. 1 x 2.4 GHz & 2 x 5 GHz bands. It might be possible to dedicate Ubuntu to either the 2.4 GHz band or a 5 GHz band.
A command to run to see what channels the computer WiFi adapter can run at
I disagree with some of the previous suggestions, there is no way an OS update/upgrade would mess up the router. The router is just a box your ISP gives you, it takes a public ip and provides you with a local network, maybe DNS, DHCP, & wireless services. It could be coincidental that your ISP had a hiccup when you upgraded your OS. Whether you use 2.4G (slow) or 5G (faster) does not matter.
I would focus on your router, make sure you have a good box and monitor its logs. My router is on 24/7 for years w/o issues. Only when my ISP has issues, I see a disconnect. Next to my router, I have a pfsense firewall which monitors the network.
[public ip from ISP] -- router -- pfsense --[LAN & wireless 10.0.0.0/24]