netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

iphitus · 2009-05-18 11:30:05

netcfg v2.2.0 is in [testing]

This is a fairly big release for netcfg, quite a few new inclusions
- iproute support (CONNECTION='ethernet-iproute')
- wireless configuration via wpa_supplicant's dbus interface (CONNECTION='wireless-dbus')
- Improved reliability in regular wireless (CONNECTION=wireless)
- Wired wpa_supplicant support (untested)
- Some new netcfg arguments for convenience: 'reconnect', 'clean'.
- Support for connection methods written in other languages than bash
- Refactored resuable functions into separate files from connection methods.
- Additional documentation of supported options (in git)
- Many bug fixes

The new ethernet-iproute and wireless-dbus are preferred to the older methods (CONNECTION=wireless and ethernet) however the old methods will be supported as long as practical.

Upgrading
* Existing configs should continue to function
* Remove any QUIRKS options, as most of these are no longer necessary, or are unneccesary due to changes in netcfg. These were a poor solution in the first place and cause more problems than they solve in some cases.

Wireless using wpa_supplicant dbus interface
The wpa_supplicant/dbus based wireless configuration (CONNECTION="wireless-dbus") is still a little wobbly[1], but once it has been tested it should be more reliable than the existing wireless. I encourage people to use it instead of the older iwconfig/wpa_passphrase based wireless support, however the old method won't be removed as long as it works.

Migration to the new wireless is simple, just change:

CONNECTION='wireless'
to
CONNECTION='wireless-dbus'

This will work for most cases[2]. All security settings are supported, except wpa-config doesnt work at the moment, and string based wep keys are untested.

IPRoute Support
iproute support has been implemented (CONNECTION="ethernet-iproute"). The config options I've setup for it make connecting using a simple static IP or more advanced configurations easier.

This support is not option compatible with the old, so a new config is required. Examples are provided.

Documentation
Documentation is still catching up a little bit.
* There are example configs for the new -dbus/-iproute connection methods.
* Initial documentation of supported configuration options is presently in git.
* Wiki needs to be updated to reflect -iproute/-dbus
* netcfg manpage needs to be updated

Third party netcfg tools/addons
I am unsure whether many of these will work with this release. I have contacted some of the developers and hopefully these will be updated to reflect the changes soon.

Errata
[1] I'm not sure if wep strings based keys work, and I still need to test wpa-config. Plain wpa and wep work.
[2] wireless-dbus uses iproute, so any static ethernet connections over wireless will need to be rewritten using the ethernet-iproute syntax. Quirks are not supported, however they're mostly obsolete anyway.

Last edited by iphitus (2009-06-01 14:39:50)

ilembitov · 2009-05-18 13:08:54

I wonder if there any applet that would enable NetCfg to replace NetworkManager for laptop users.

Ropez · 2009-05-18 13:50:20

1. Is WPA-EAP supported now, without using SECURITY=wpa-config?
2. If not, then what about us using SECURITY=wpa-config, can we switch to CONNECTION=wireless-dbus?

edit: I didn't see [1] above. I would still like to have an update on the issue though.

Last edited by Ropez (2009-05-18 13:51:55)

eldragon · 2009-05-18 13:51:27

after this update, there is a complain during suspend..

pm-suspend.log releavnt error:

/usr/lib/pm-utils/sleep.d/11netcfg suspend suspend: /usr/lib/network/network: line 64: `$prof': not a valid identifier

anything i can do to debug it?

shining · 2009-05-18 15:32:02

It's not clear which SECURITY values are valid for which CONNECTION values.

folletto · 2009-05-18 17:25:48

@ilembitov
Try netcfggui: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=23988
http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.ph … tent=99509
I use it for my wired connections but it manages wireless as well. For me it does what it suposes to do perfectly

iphitus · 2009-05-19 04:11:48

Ropez:
No, still need to use a wpa-config. Theres too many authentication suites supported by wpa_supplicant, so a 1-1 mapping for them all isnt practical. There is support for wpa-config in wireless-dbus, but it doesnt work. I havn't had a chance to work out why.

shining:
All are supported, except wpa-config doesnt work, and string based wep keys are untested. I'll add this to the initial post.

eldragon:
Just experienced that this morning, Replace /usr/lib/network/network with the one provided here: http://rafb.net/p/30cmmr93.html (I dont have SSH access at this location, so pastebin will have to do)

eldragon · 2009-05-19 04:36:13

iphitus wrote:

Ropez:
No, still need to use a wpa-config. Theres too many authentication suites supported by wpa_supplicant, so a 1-1 mapping for them all isnt practical. There is support for wpa-config in wireless-dbus, but it doesnt work. I havn't had a chance to work out why.
shining:
All are supported, except wpa-config doesnt work, and string based wep keys are untested. I'll add this to the initial post.
eldragon:
Just experienced that this morning, Replace /usr/lib/network/network with the one provided here: http://rafb.net/p/30cmmr93.html (I dont have SSH access at this location, so pastebin will have to do)

thanks for the fast reply, ive been trying to fix it myself, but it got messy really fast....so decided to downgrade till a fix came from more knowledagble people

gonna try it tonight

Ropez · 2009-05-19 06:20:02

Thanks very much

Duologic · 2009-05-19 07:00:52

ilembitov wrote:

I wonder if there any applet that would enable NetCfg to replace NetworkManager for laptop users.

folletto wrote:

@ilembitov
Try netcfggui: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=23988
http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.ph … tent=99509
I use it for my wired connections but it manages wireless as well. For me it does what it suposes to do perfectly

Certainly try ArchAssistant [AUR], I used it a while, now I just have a menu listing with most of the wireless connections I use, otherwise I still use archassistant on unknown networks.

With Netcfg, I have some problems connecting/reconnecting at my school (Wireless Association failed), I still use Wicd over there. Is this solved after this version?

eldragon · 2009-05-19 12:33:28

the new network file fixes suspend.

ive just tested the new wireless-dbus method with wep and it works as expected.
my profile as follows:

CONNECTION="wireless-dbus"
DESCRIPTION="my own wireless, its wep and insecure"
INTERFACE=wlan0
SCAN="yes"
SECURITY="wep"
ESSID="myssid"
KEY="XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
IP="dhcp"
PRE_UP="/usr/bin/proxy_script proxy-off"
POST_UP="iwconfig wlan0 rate 24M"

if you need any extra testing concering wep, let me know.

irfan · 2009-05-19 19:15:44

Hi,
With CONNECTION="wireless-dbus" I get this error:

sudo netcfg -r lublin
:: lublin down                                                           [DONE] 
:: lublin up                                                             [BUSY] 
ERROR:dbus.proxies:Introspect error on :1.68:/fi/epitest/hostap/WPASupplicant: dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoReply: Message did not receive a reply (timeout by message bus)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/network//connections//wireless-dbus", line 175, in <module>
    start(profile)
  File "/usr/lib/network//connections//wireless-dbus", line 100, in start
    path = wpas.addInterface(profile["INTERFACE"], {"driver":dbus.String(driver,variant_level=1)})
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__
    **keywords)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 622, in call_blocking
    message, timeout)
dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name :1.68 was not provided by any .service files

With CONNECTION="wireless" everything works fine.

my profile:

CONNECTION="wireless-dbus"
INTERFACE="wlan0"
SECURITY="wpa"
ESSID="Ya Yeti"
KEY="XXXXXXXXXXXX"
IP="dhcp"

Last edited by irfan (2009-05-19 19:16:51)

eldragon · 2009-05-19 19:32:59

ok, coming back from suspend, i get the following error:

rm: cannot remove `/var/run/network//suspend/': Is a directory
Returned exit code 1.

and thus, some stuff isnt being resumed correctly... there is this // there that breaks stuff

Solid1986Snake · 2009-05-20 06:17:53

irfan wrote:

Hi,
With CONNECTION="wireless-dbus" I get this error:

sudo netcfg -r lublin
:: lublin down                                                           [DONE] 
:: lublin up                                                             [BUSY] 
ERROR:dbus.proxies:Introspect error on :1.68:/fi/epitest/hostap/WPASupplicant: dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoReply: Message did not receive a reply (timeout by message bus)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/network//connections//wireless-dbus", line 175, in <module>
    start(profile)
  File "/usr/lib/network//connections//wireless-dbus", line 100, in start
    path = wpas.addInterface(profile["INTERFACE"], {"driver":dbus.String(driver,variant_level=1)})
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__
    **keywords)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 622, in call_blocking
    message, timeout)
dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name :1.68 was not provided by any .service files

With CONNECTION="wireless" everything works fine.

my profile:

CONNECTION="wireless-dbus"
INTERFACE="wlan0"
SECURITY="wpa"
ESSID="Ya Yeti"
KEY="XXXXXXXXXXXX"
IP="dhcp"

I get this error too, but only if I suspend and then move to another wireless network...

eldragon · 2009-05-20 15:34:20

i fixed the problem deleting the suspend folder by adding a -r to the command, but there is another error thats beyond my understanding during resume, it fails to actually bring back the profiles..

/usr/lib/pm-utils/sleep.d/11netcfg resume suspend: /bin/stty: standard input: Inappropriate ioctl for device
basename: missing operand
Try `basename --help' for more information.
basename: missing operand
Try `basename --help' for more information.

any hints here? ive been tracking the script jumping it does, and i dont see anything fishy...

Solid1986Snake · 2009-05-20 15:52:21

You should not need this quirk anymore....

just touch /etc/pm/sleep.d/11netcfg

eldragon · 2009-05-20 16:01:47

Solid1986Snake wrote:

You should not need this quirk anymore....
just touch /etc/pm/sleep.d/11netcfg

still the network is not coming back, ive edited the touched quirk to restart net-auto and now all is dandy

Solid1986Snake · 2009-05-20 16:49:38

how does it look? Maybe share it?

eldragon · 2009-05-20 17:52:58

Solid1986Snake wrote:

how does it look? Maybe share it?

its just a skeleton that restarts the net-auto service upon thaw/resume......and here it is...*drumroll*

$  cat /etc/pm/sleep.d/11netcfg 
#!/bin/bash

    case "$1" in
        hibernate|suspend)
            ;;
        thaw|resume)
            /etc/rc.d/net-auto restart
            ;;
        *)
            ;;
    esac

on another topic, for further debugging: using wireless-dbus with my univ's open wireless network fails: here are messages:

$ dmesg | tail
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

using the old method still works.

iphitus · 2009-05-20 23:01:05

The suspend issue has been fixed in git (also http://bugs.archlinux.org/task/14761).

I can't push a new release out until friday, until then replace /usr/lib/network/network with: http://projects.archlinux.org/?p=netcfg … rk;hb=HEAD

eldragon: For the uni network, I need more information, such as the output of netcfg and an example config.

eldragon · 2009-05-21 01:44:52

iphitus wrote:

The suspend issue has been fixed in git (also http://bugs.archlinux.org/task/14761).
I can't push a new release out until friday, until then replace /usr/lib/network/network with: http://projects.archlinux.org/?p=netcfg … rk;hb=HEAD
eldragon: For the uni network, I need more information, such as the output of netcfg and an example config.

whoops, sorry... cant get that now that im not there...when i get back, i'll do the whole thing....

for now, here's the profile

CONNECTION="wireless-dbus"
DESCRIPTION="biblioteca fiuba"
INTERFACE=wlan0
IP="dhcp"
ESSID=FIUBA-BIBLIOTECA
SECURITY=none
SCAN="YES"
TIMEOUT=20
POST_UP="/usr/bin/proxy_script proxy-on 10.20.0.4 8080"
PRE_DOWN="/usr/bin/proxy_script proxy-off"

the proxy_script part is just a small script that enables / disables my univ proxy using gconf-tool. if you need that too, let me know

bender02 · 2009-05-21 10:05:44

@iphitus: Thanks for fixing the suspend issue, I just discovered it this morning, started hacking the /usr/lib/network/network and was pleasantly surprised that you fixed it already.

Army · 2009-05-21 10:53:48

At boot, I start my network with net-profiles. I continued using my config once created by archassistant, which looks like this

CONNECTION="ethernet"
DESCRIPTION=""
INTERFACE=eth0
IP="static"
IFOPTS="xxx.xx.xx.xx netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast xxx.xx.xxx.xxx"
GATEWAY="xxx.xx.xxx.x"
DNS1=xxx.xx.x.xxx
DNS2=

It used to work perfectly, but now I simply get a

No connection

When running netcfg PROFILE as root after booting, it works just fine. Where's my mistake?
I also tried to make a new profile according to the examples, but then it doesn't work at all.

schuay · 2009-05-27 05:33:27

iphitus wrote:

I can't push a new release out until friday, until then replace /usr/lib/network/network with...

Could we get a new release even if it only contains this fix? This breaks suspend for everyone using [testing].

Edit: I don't mind replacing the file on one computer, but I've got arch on over 10 boxes

Last edited by schuay (2009-05-27 05:55:34)

bangkok_manouel · 2009-05-27 08:02:50

there are times like this in one's man life when you feel like you're the undisputed king of dumbland. that time has come for me. before i can say it doesn't work and because any iproute related web page needs you to be a CS PhD, could someone please, i mean plz, give an example of a working ethernet-static profile using iproute. just please mention your gateway + static IP and hopefully, i'll figure it out. TIA.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-05-18 11:30:05

netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#2 2009-05-18 13:08:54

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#3 2009-05-18 13:50:20

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#4 2009-05-18 13:51:27

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#5 2009-05-18 15:32:02

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#6 2009-05-18 17:25:48

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#7 2009-05-19 04:11:48

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#8 2009-05-19 04:36:13

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#9 2009-05-19 06:20:02

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#10 2009-05-19 07:00:52

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#11 2009-05-19 12:33:28

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#12 2009-05-19 19:15:44

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#13 2009-05-19 19:32:59

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#14 2009-05-20 06:17:53

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#15 2009-05-20 15:34:20

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#16 2009-05-20 15:52:21

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#17 2009-05-20 16:01:47

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#18 2009-05-20 16:49:38

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#19 2009-05-20 17:52:58

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#20 2009-05-20 23:01:05

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#21 2009-05-21 01:44:52

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#22 2009-05-21 10:05:44

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#23 2009-05-21 10:53:48

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#24 2009-05-27 05:33:27

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

#25 2009-05-27 08:02:50

Re: netcfg v2.2.0 beta 2

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