Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

sokuban · 2013-09-29 19:33:46

I have two problems with netctl, first, ethernet-dhcp just doesn't work, even though I can get an ethernet dhcp connection working using dhcpcd.

My ethernet device name is ens9 and I have updated the "Interface=" in the config file to account for this.

This isn't really the end of the world, because I just use dhcpcd when I want to get a wired connection working now anyways (this even works on boot), but I thought it would be more elegant to use the same program for all network connections.

As for wireless, it works fine manually with wpa_supplicant & dhcpcd, or even with netctl start, but if I try to use netctl enable to get it to start on boot, it always fails. After booting I can use netctl start to get it to work again.

Other information:
I have a Macbook Pro Retina with a:

0a:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM57762 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe

And I use the broadcom-wl-dkms drivers from AUR.

I get ethernet ports using the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter plugged in at boot. I seem to get a different ethernet device name depending on which thunderbolt port I plug it into, so I have taken account of this and always make sure to plug it into the same port that always gives me ens9.

Any help would be appreciated!

cfr · 2013-09-30 00:47:49

For the wireless, you need to look at systemctl status <name-of-netctl-service> and relevant output from sudo journalctl, for example.

sokuban · 2013-10-01 01:23:42

Okay, here is the info from boot (at home; so only "TDAToronto" is in range):

journalctl:
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: ctrl_iface exists and seems to be in use - cannot override it
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: Delete '/run/wpa_supplicant/wlp4s0' manually if it is not used anymore
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: Failed to initialize control interface '/run/wpa_supplicant'.
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: You may have another wpa_supplicant process already running or the file was
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: left by an unclean termination of wpa_supplicant in which case you will need
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: to manually remove this file before starting wpa_supplicant again.
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[286]: Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[286]: ctrl_iface exists and seems to be in use - cannot override it
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[286]: Delete '/run/wpa_supplicant/wlp4s0' manually if it is not used anymore
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[286]: Failed to initialize control interface '/run/wpa_supplicant'.
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[286]: You may have another wpa_supplicant process already running or the file was
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[286]: left by an unclean termination of wpa_supplicant in which case you will need
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[286]: to manually remove this file before starting wpa_supplicant again.
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless network[284]: The WPA supplicant did not start for interface 'wlp4s0'
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless network[284]: Failed to bring the network up for profile 'TDAToronto'
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless network[286]: The WPA supplicant did not start for interface 'wlp4s0'
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless network[286]: Failed to bring the network up for profile 'TDA'
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless systemd[1]: netctl@TDAToronto.service: main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless systemd[1]: Failed to start A simple WPA encrypted wireless connection.
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless systemd[1]: Unit netctl@TDAToronto.service entered failed state.

systemctl status netctl@TDAToronto.service:
   Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/netctl@TDAToronto.service; enabled)
   Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Mon 2013-09-30 20:16:01 EDT; 6min ago
     Docs: man:netctl.profile(5)
  Process: 284 ExecStart=/usr/lib/network/network start %I (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
 Main PID: 284 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)

Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: Delete '/run/wpa_supplicant/wlp4s0' manually if it is not used anymore
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: Failed to initialize control interface '/run/wpa_supplicant'.
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: You may have another wpa_supplicant process already running or the file was
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: left by an unclean termination of wpa_supplicant in which case you will need
Sep 30 20:16:00 Cless network[284]: to manually remove this file before starting wpa_supplicant again.
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless network[284]: The WPA supplicant did not start for interface 'wlp4s0'
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless network[284]: Failed to bring the network up for profile 'TDAToronto'
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless systemd[1]: netctl@TDAToronto.service: main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless systemd[1]: Failed to start A simple WPA encrypted wireless connection.
Sep 30 20:16:01 Cless systemd[1]: Unit netctl@TDAToronto.service entered failed state.

Another problem happened at school today though, netctl didn't work, even on boot, or when I invoked it with netctl start. My wireless was working fine though if I used iw dev connect, so it was another netctl problem. Here are the relevant logs (I did this earlier, might have missed some stuff in journalctl):

Sep 30 17:26:12 Cless kernel: ERROR @wl_cfg80211_get_station : Wrong Mac address

systemctl status netctl@UTORwin.service:
netctl@UTORwin.service - A simple WEP encrypted wireless connection
   Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/netctl@UTORwin.service; enabled)
   Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Mon 2013-09-30 17:27:15 EDT; 7s ago
     Docs: man:netctl.profile(5)
  Process: 1922 ExecStart=/usr/lib/network/network start %I (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
 Main PID: 1922 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)

At this point I'm quite tempted to just forgo netctl altogether and just connect to the internet using homemade service files that just use the normal commandline options.

cfr · 2013-10-01 01:35:54

Are you positive that nothing else is trying to control the wireless device? You don't have dhcpd or wifi menu or anything whatsoever enabled in addition to the single netctl service to start at boot?

sokuban · 2013-10-01 13:58:52

list-units

UNIT                                          LOAD   ACTIVE SUB       DESCRIPTION
proc-sys-fs-binfmt_misc.automount             loaded active waiting   Arbitrary Executable File Formats File System
sys-devices-pc...0:01:00.1-sound-card1.device loaded active plugged   GK107 HDMI Audio Controller
sys-devices-pc...0:00:1b.0-sound-card0.device loaded active plugged   7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family High Defi
sys-devices-pc...00:04:00.0-net-wlp4s0.device loaded active plugged   AirPort Extreme
sys-devices-pc....3:1.0-bluetooth-hci0.device loaded active plugged   /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb4/4-1
sys-devices-pc...:0:0:0-block-sda-sda1.device loaded active plugged   APPLE_SSD_SD512E
sys-devices-pc...:0:0:0-block-sda-sda2.device loaded active plugged   APPLE_SSD_SD512E
sys-devices-pc...:0:0:0-block-sda-sda3.device loaded active plugged   APPLE_SSD_SD512E
sys-devices-pc...:0:0:0-block-sda-sda4.device loaded active plugged   APPLE_SSD_SD512E
sys-devices-pc...:0:0:0-block-sda-sda5.device loaded active plugged   APPLE_SSD_SD512E
sys-devices-pc...0:0-0:0:0:0-block-sda.device loaded active plugged   APPLE_SSD_SD512E
sys-devices-pl...-serial8250-tty-ttyS0.device loaded active plugged   /sys/devices/platform/serial8250/tty/ttyS0
sys-devices-pl...-serial8250-tty-ttyS1.device loaded active plugged   /sys/devices/platform/serial8250/tty/ttyS1
sys-devices-pl...-serial8250-tty-ttyS2.device loaded active plugged   /sys/devices/platform/serial8250/tty/ttyS2
sys-devices-pl...-serial8250-tty-ttyS3.device loaded active plugged   /sys/devices/platform/serial8250/tty/ttyS3
sys-module-configfs.device                    loaded active plugged   /sys/module/configfs
sys-subsystem-bluetooth-devices-hci0.device   loaded active plugged   /sys/subsystem/bluetooth/devices/hci0
sys-subsystem-net-devices-wlp4s0.device       loaded active plugged   AirPort Extreme
-.mount                                       loaded active mounted   /
boot-efi.mount                                loaded active mounted   /boot/efi
dev-hugepages.mount                           loaded active mounted   Huge Pages File System
dev-mqueue.mount                              loaded active mounted   POSIX Message Queue File System
home.mount                                    loaded active mounted   /home
sys-kernel-config.mount                       loaded active mounted   Configuration File System
sys-kernel-debug.mount                        loaded active mounted   Debug File System
tmp.mount                                     loaded active mounted   Temporary Directory
cups.path                                     loaded active running   CUPS Printer Service Spool
systemd-ask-password-console.path             loaded active waiting   Dispatch Password Requests to Console Directo
systemd-ask-password-wall.path                loaded active waiting   Forward Password Requests to Wall Directory W
session-1.scope                               loaded active running   Session 1 of user sokuban
colord.service                                loaded active running   Manage, Install and Generate Color Profiles
cups.service                                  loaded active running   CUPS Printing Service
dbus.service                                  loaded active running   D-Bus System Message Bus
getty@tty1.service                            loaded active running   Getty on tty1
kdm.service                                   loaded active running   K Display Manager
kmod-static-nodes.service                     loaded active exited    Create list of required static device nodes f
lm_sensors.service                            loaded active exited    Initialize hardware monitoring sensors
netctl@TDA.service                            loaded failed failed    A simple WPA encrypted wireless connection
netctl@TDAToronto.service                     loaded active exited    A simple WPA encrypted wireless connection
netctl@UTORwin.service                        loaded failed failed    A simple WEP encrypted wireless connection
polkit.service                                loaded active running   Authorization Manager
systemd-fsck@d...x2duuid-2860\x2d11F4.service loaded active exited    File System Check on /dev/disk/by-uuid/2860-1
systemd-fsck@d...b206\x2d8284b45aa31d.service loaded active exited    File System Check on /dev/disk/by-uuid/e67575
systemd-journald.service                      loaded active running   Journal Service
systemd-logind.service                        loaded active running   Login Service
systemd-modules-load.service                  loaded active exited    Load Kernel Modules
systemd-random-seed.service                   loaded active exited    Load/Save Random Seed
systemd-remount-fs.service                    loaded active exited    Remount Root and Kernel File Systems
systemd-sysctl.service                        loaded active exited    Apply Kernel Variables
systemd-tmpfiles-setup-dev.service            loaded active exited    Create static device nodes in /dev
systemd-tmpfiles-setup.service                loaded active exited    Recreate Volatile Files and Directories
systemd-udev-trigger.service                  loaded active exited    udev Coldplug all Devices
systemd-udevd.service                         loaded active running   udev Kernel Device Manager
systemd-update-utmp.service                   loaded active exited    Update UTMP about System Reboot/Shutdown
systemd-user-sessions.service                 loaded active exited    Permit User Sessions
systemd-vconsole-setup.service                loaded active exited    Setup Virtual Console
thermald.service                              loaded active running   Thermal Daemon Service
udisks2.service                               loaded active running   Disk Manager
upower.service                                loaded active running   Daemon for power management
user@1000.service                             loaded active running   User Manager for 1000
-.slice                                       loaded active active    Root Slice
system-getty.slice                            loaded active active    system-getty.slice
system-netctl.slice                           loaded active active    system-netctl.slice
system.slice                                  loaded active active    System Slice
user-1000.slice                               loaded active active    user-1000.slice
user.slice                                    loaded active active    User and Session Slice
cups.socket                                   loaded active running   CUPS Printing Service Sockets
dbus.socket                                   loaded active running   D-Bus System Message Bus Socket
dmeventd.socket                               loaded active listening Device-mapper event daemon FIFOs
lvmetad.socket                                loaded active listening LVM2 metadata daemon socket
systemd-initctl.socket                        loaded active listening /dev/initctl Compatibility Named Pipe
systemd-journald.socket                       loaded active running   Journal Socket
systemd-shutdownd.socket                      loaded active listening Delayed Shutdown Socket
systemd-udevd-control.socket                  loaded active running   udev Control Socket
systemd-udevd-kernel.socket                   loaded active running   udev Kernel Socket
basic.target                                  loaded active active    Basic System
bluetooth.target                              loaded active active    Bluetooth
cryptsetup.target                             loaded active active    Encrypted Volumes
getty.target                                  loaded active active    Login Prompts
graphical.target                              loaded active active    Graphical Interface
local-fs-pre.target                           loaded active active    Local File Systems (Pre)
local-fs.target                               loaded active active    Local File Systems
multi-user.target                             loaded active active    Multi-User System
network.target                                loaded active active    Network
paths.target                                  loaded active active    Paths
remote-fs.target                              loaded active active    Remote File Systems
slices.target                                 loaded active active    Slices
sockets.target                                loaded active active    Sockets
sound.target                                  loaded active active    Sound Card
swap.target                                   loaded active active    Swap
sysinit.target                                loaded active active    System Initialization
timers.target                                 loaded active active    Timers
systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timer                  loaded active waiting   Daily Cleanup of Temporary Directories

LOAD   = Reflects whether the unit definition was properly loaded.
ACTIVE = The high-level unit activation state, i.e. generalization of SUB.
SUB    = The low-level unit activation state, values depend on unit type.

93 loaded units listed. Pass --all to see loaded but inactive units, too.
To show all installed unit files use 'systemctl list-unit-files'.
lines 73-101/101 (END)

I don't believe I do. I have multiple wireless profiles enabled at boot though.

cfr · 2013-10-01 20:58:08

Maybe that's the problem? I don't use netctl but that seems like it would be problematic since they'd all be trying to use the same device? But like I say, I don't know. I guess I would try rebooting with just one enabled and see if that works.

sokuban · 2013-10-02 13:42:56

Indeed, now my home's wifi does start up on boot.

Now the problems left are just why ethernet-dhcp doesn't work, and why my school's wifi doesn't work. (I'll test this again next time I go to school to see.)

EDIT: Went to school, it mysteriously works now.

Last edited by sokuban (2013-10-04 18:23:43)

spareproject · 2013-10-11 19:46:03

Hi did you ever manage to get ethernet-dhcp to work? Just got my virtual network backup and would rather stick to just using netctl config files but like you said it just doesnt do anything. Even if I "netctl start ethernet-static" its grabbing a ip lease but still doesn't set the /etc/resolv.conf either : / scratch that last part turns out I cant even copy and paste config files properly dns server was failing but ethernet-dhcp definitly doesnt work

Last edited by spareproject (2013-10-11 20:16:05)

sokuban · 2013-10-19 21:19:08

Nope, sorry. It never worked for me.

Also the edit where I said it started working is also sort of misleading; while now netctl is generally working for me, there are always these odd days when it just doesn't, and I always have to go and manually set it with iw.

Arch Linux

#1 2013-09-29 19:33:46

Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#2 2013-09-30 00:47:49

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#3 2013-10-01 01:23:42

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#4 2013-10-01 01:35:54

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#5 2013-10-01 13:58:52

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#6 2013-10-01 20:58:08

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#7 2013-10-02 13:42:56

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#8 2013-10-11 19:46:03

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

#9 2013-10-19 21:19:08

Re: Netctl ethernet-dhcp doesn't work; wireless doesn't work on boot

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