Arch Linux

ordinary.schreiber

Member

Registered: 2021-10-15

Posts: 145

[SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

Hi, recently I had an issue with a Edimax network adapter in KDE Plasma and the solution was to replace it with a ALFA awus036nha (Atheros) adapter.

Now I am struggling with another system. I installed Xfce on a different computer where I am using Network Manager to handle connections.
This time I went straight with the ALFA awus036nha (Atheros) adapter, but I am unable to connect to the wi-fi anyways.

Here is the output of lsusb:

$ lsusb

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:8008 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 0bda:0157 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Mass Storage Device
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 093a:2510 Pixart Imaging, Inc. Optical Mouse
Bus 003 Device 005: ID 0cf3:9271 Qualcomm Atheros Communications AR9271 802.11n
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 17ef:6099 Lenovo Lenovo Traditional USB Keyboard
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

And here is the list of the active services:

$ find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print | awk -F'/' '{ printf ("%-40s | %s\n", $(NF-0), $(NF-1)) }' | sort -f

dbus-org.freedesktop.nm-dispatcher.service | system
dirmngr.socket                           | sockets.target.wants
display-manager.service                  | system
getty@tty1.service                       | getty.target.wants
gpg-agent-browser.socket                 | sockets.target.wants
gpg-agent-extra.socket                   | sockets.target.wants
gpg-agent.socket                         | sockets.target.wants
gpg-agent-ssh.socket                     | sockets.target.wants
iwd.service                              | multi-user.target.wants
NetworkManager.service                   | multi-user.target.wants
NetworkManager-wait-online.service       | network-online.target.wants
p11-kit-server.socket                    | sockets.target.wants
pipewire-media-session.service           | pipewire.service.wants
pipewire-pulse.socket                    | sockets.target.wants
pipewire-session-manager.service         | user
pipewire.socket                          | sockets.target.wants
remote-fs.target                         | multi-user.target.wants
xdg-user-dirs-update.service             | default.target.wants

I used the command "wifi-menu" but after selecting the wi-fi network and entered the password I got the following error:

Job for netctl@wlan0\x2dTISCALI\x2dXXXXX.service failed because the control process exited with error code.
See "systemctl status "netctl@wlan0\\x2dTISCALI\\x2dXXXXX.service"" and "journalctl -xeu "netctl@wlan0\\x2dTISCALI\\x2dXXXXX.service"" for details.

And here are the two suggested journals:

$ sudo journalctl -xeu netctl@wlan0\\x2dTISCALI\\x2dXXXXX.service

gen 25 21:55:43 io network[1922]: Starting network profile 'wlan0-TISCALI-XXXXX'...
gen 25 21:55:43 io network[1922]: The interface of network profile 'wlan0-TISCALI-XXXXX' is already up
gen 25 21:55:43 io systemd[1]: netctl@wlan0\x2dTISCALI\x2dXXXXX.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE

gen 25 21:55:43 io systemd[1]: netctl@wlan0\x2dTISCALI\x2dXXXXX.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'

gen 25 21:55:43 io systemd[1]: Failed to start Networking for netctl profile wlan0-TISCALI-XXXXX.

$ sudo journalctl -xeu netctl@wlan0\\x2dTISCALI\\x2dXXXXX.service

gen 25 21:55:43 io network[1922]: Starting network profile 'wlan0-TISCALI-XXXXX'...
gen 25 21:55:43 io network[1922]: The interface of network profile 'wlan0-TISCALI-XXXXX' is already up
gen 25 21:55:43 io systemd[1]: netctl@wlan0\x2dTISCALI\x2dXXXXX.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE

gen 25 21:55:43 io systemd[1]: netctl@wlan0\x2dTISCALI\x2dXXXXX.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.

gen 25 21:55:43 io systemd[1]: Failed to start Networking for netctl profile wlan0-TISCALI-XXXXX.

I feel like the system is missing some essential configuration but I can't figure it out.

Last edited by ordinary.schreiber (2022-01-25 22:17:54)

-thc

Member

Registered: 2017-03-15

Posts: 775

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

Yep - netctl and NetworkManager are both full-sized network managers - choose one.

ordinary.schreiber

Member

Registered: 2021-10-15

Posts: 145

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

Ok.. so how do I disable one of them?

Just "systemctl disable netctl"?

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,320

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

You don't want iwd enabled at the same time as NetworkManager, either.

-thc

Member

Registered: 2017-03-15

Posts: 775

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

I have zero experience with netctl.

Try removing all netctl profiles followed by removing the netctl package - but that's just an educated guess.

Then setup the Wi-Fi connection with "nmcli" or another frontend.

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 60,805

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

There doesn't seem to be an enabled netctl connection, the conflict arose from using wifi-menu (which will then use netctl) - the active conflict is iwd, as Scimmia has pointed out.

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ordinary.schreiber

Member

Registered: 2021-10-15

Posts: 145

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

Ok.. so how do I disable iwd?

Also.. what can I use instead of "wifi-menu"?
The Xfce wi-fi network utility doesn't seem ti work properly and I can't connet to the wi-fi with any GUI.

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 60,805

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

You can't connect to the wifi because iwd is dogging on the chip - you disable the service like you enabled it, https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd#Using_units

Otherwise no idea about xfce, but there's eg. https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x8 … er-applet/ what should provide you w/ a GUI for NM.

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ordinary.schreiber

Member

Registered: 2021-10-15

Posts: 145

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

Ok it was incredibly simple... Xfce was just missing the applet.

Solved by disabling iwd and installing network-manager-applet.

FormalSnake

Member

Registered: 2022-12-27

Posts: 1

Re: [SOLVED] Can't connect to wi-fi in Xfce

Can confirm, the network-manager-applet works.