Wireless connection doesn't work

Vena · 2011-04-23 17:54:49

Hi,
I'm new to Archlinux, I switched from Ubuntu.
In advance, I'm sorry for my english, I hope you get at least the point.

My problem is that I'm not able to connect to a wireless network.

This is the procedure I do (Yes, I am logged in as root):
1. I installed package wireless_tools-29-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz because obviously it's not installed by default.
2.

mv /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf.original

3.

wpa_passphrase SSID_of_my_wireless "password" > /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

4. Afterwards I find this in /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

network={
    ssid="SSID_of_my_wireless"
    #psk="password"
    psk=54b9cdd8f6cb2ea83463e43272d7c5f567b4514a45c6c0e1b59ebc2efc20466a
}

5. So I add ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=wheel and /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf look like this:

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=wheel
network={
    ssid="SSID_of_my_wireless"
    #psk="password"
    psk=54b9cdd8f6cb2ea83463e43272d7c5f567b4514a45c6c0e1b59ebc2efc20466a
}

6.

ifconfig wlan0 up

7.

wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

After executing this command, I get no output (just prompt).
Executing iwconfig wlan0 prints this output:

wlan0 IEEE 802.11bgn Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated
         Tx-Power=20 dBm
         Retry long limit:7 RTS Thr:off Fragment thr:off
         Encryptyon key:off
         Power Management:on

8.

dhcpcd wlan0

Something here probably causes the problem, no IP is assigned. After waiting for a few seconds I get this output:

dhcpcd: version 5.2.2 starting
dhcpcd: wlan0: waiting for carrier
dhcpcd: timed out

My wireless security settings:
Security mode: Mixed WPA/WPA2 - Personal
WPA algorithms: AES
Pass phrasse: password
Key Renewal Interval: 3600 second

edit: I tried set my wireless security off again and it works now, so there is a problem probably with wpa_supplicant..
I tried even to set my wireless security off and then execute this command:

iwconfig wlan0 essid "SSID_of_my_wireless"

and then:

dhcpcd wlan0

but it doesn't work either, again I get this output:

dhcpcd: version 5.2.2 starting
dhcpcd: wlan0: waiting for carrier
dhcpcd: timed out

I don't know what I'm missing, I tried searching for a similar issue a lot but I didn't find anything. So if you help, I will be very glad.

Last edited by Vena (2011-04-24 09:14:26)

ewaller · 2011-04-23 21:32:36

It has been a long time since I've done this by hand, but....

I think you must

Associate with an access point using iwconfig
Establish a secure session with wpa_supplicant
Acquire an address with dhcpcd

In that order.

Unlike WEP, which encrypts everything. including the association; WPA establishes an unencrypted association, then encrypts everything on top of it. In other words, establish association first.

YMMV, it has been a long time. Oh, you might try experimenting with wpa_cli to get play with it by hand in order to get it working.

Vena · 2011-04-23 22:29:54

Ok, I tried:
iwconfig wlan0 essid "ssid"
wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
dhcpcd wlan0

Didn't work, again the same output, timed out.

A while ago I also tried to connect to wired and it didn't work either unless I set IP, netmask, broadcast and gateway manually. But I wasn't able to ping www.google.com (I guess DNS wasn't set either). I just was able to ping gateway. I'm so confused, I don't know how to configure rc.conf so that dhcp work properly.
INTERFACES=(eth0) or INTERFACES=(lo eth0)
ROUTES=(!gateway) or ROUTES=(gateway)
What setting should I use ?

n00b · 2011-04-24 01:25:27

For now don't use the -B option on wpa_supplicant. That makes it run in the background. This way it should give you some output, maybe relating to why it's not working.

Also, don't you have to use the -D and selecte which driver you are using with wpa_supplicant? (usually -D wext i think)

The dhcpcd output about no carrier is because you're not associated. If you can get associated first then dhcpcd will work.

Vena · 2011-04-24 10:07:47

This is the output it gives me when I don't use -B option:

[root@vaclav-laptop ~]# wpa_supplicant -Dwext -i wlan0 -c/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
IOCTL[SIOCGIWSCAN]: Resource temporarily unavailable
IOCTL[SIOCGIWSCAN]: Device or resource busy
Failed to initiate AP scan.
IOCTL[SIOCGIWSCAN]: Resource temporarily unavailable
IOCTL[SIOCGIWSCAN]: Device or resource busy
Failed to initiate AP scan.
WPS-AP-AVAILABLE 
WPS-AP-AVAILABLE 
WPS-AP-AVAILABLE 
WPS-AP-AVAILABLE 
^CCTRL-EVENT-TERMINATING - signal 2 received

As you can see, I used -Dwext option (I think it is not necessary though)..

I tried changing my wireless security setting like this:
Security mode: Mixed WPA/WPA2 - Personal
WPA algorithms: TKIP&AES
Pass phrasse: mypass
Key Renewal Interval: 3600 second

and my /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf:

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
network={
        ssid="myssid"
        proto=RSN
        key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
        pairwise=CCMP TKIP
        group=CCMP TKIP
        #psk="mypass"
        psk=my encrypted pass
}

Doesn't work. It still gives me the same output as well.

Last edited by Vena (2011-04-24 10:09:09)

Vena · 2011-04-24 12:31:09

Hh, It works now. I'm such an idiot.. Thank you for your help but the problem was between the keyboard and the chair. I used a wrong SSID. Don't know why I didn't notice it.. I'm really sorry for waisting your time.
I hope you accept my humble apology :X

Last edited by Vena (2011-04-24 12:31:44)

Arch Linux

#1 2011-04-23 17:54:49

Wireless connection doesn't work

#2 2011-04-23 21:32:36

Re: Wireless connection doesn't work

#3 2011-04-23 22:29:54

Re: Wireless connection doesn't work

#4 2011-04-24 01:25:27

Re: Wireless connection doesn't work

#5 2011-04-24 10:07:47

Re: Wireless connection doesn't work

#6 2011-04-24 12:31:09

Re: Wireless connection doesn't work

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