HowTo: WPA with wpa_supplicant

[luca_linux]

Please, post the wpa_supplicant.conf you are using at the moment.

[onioneater36]

Here is my current wpa_supplicant.conf

You will see that I put the RSN back in since taking it out was actually not the problem.

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
#ap_scan=2

network={
ssid="my_network_id"
scan_ssid=1
proto=WPA RSN
# proto=WPA
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
pairwise=CCMP TKIP
group=CCMP TKIP
psk=9ae6b101b503bedc93b2570b0c2d77e161932e752a82e0 ffc5db9317fb390ee4
}

[luca_linux]

First of all, I suggest you removing the psk key from your post for your privacy.
Then, as for your problem, try to uncomment the second line and rebooting wpa_supplicant. If that doesn't help, try changing its value to 0 and/or 1.
In the meanwhile, also try taking "CCMP" out, even though that shouldn't help as "RSN".

[onioneater36]

Thanks luca...

Just so you know, I too was concerned about putting the psk key in there too, so I changed a few numbers in there. I figured you wanted to make sure I had one in there, so left it in (altered) for demonstration purposes.

I assume by rebooting wpa_supplicant, you want me to either reboot the lappy or do a...

wpa_supplicant -Bw -Dmadwifi -iath0 -c/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

at a terminal window prompt. After I do the wpa_supplicant command, do I have to do an...

sudo ifconfig ath0 down
sudo ifconfig ath0 up

Thanks again.

[Magneto]

there is a bug in the 1.1.1 version of the ipw2200 driver that is included with ubuntu dapper/edgy etc and kernels (from linus) including 2.6.17

the bug will show you the following messages repeatedly
[4295722.986000] eth1: NETDEV_TX_BUSY returned; driver should report queue full via ieee_device->is_queue_full.

this bug causes connection problems like disconnects - its behind alot of my connection troubles
im compiling the new driver from source to try to solve my problems

[luca_linux]

Thanks luca...

Just so you know, I too was concerned about putting the psk key in there too, so I changed a few numbers in there. I figured you wanted to make sure I had one in there, so left it in (altered) for demonstration purposes.

I assume by rebooting wpa_supplicant, you want me to either reboot the lappy or do a...

wpa_supplicant -Bw -Dmadwifi -iath0 -c/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

at a terminal window prompt. After I do the wpa_supplicant command, do I have to do an...

sudo ifconfig ath0 down
sudo ifconfig ath0 up

Thanks again.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

[luca_linux]

there is a bug in the 1.1.1 version of the ipw2200 driver that is included with ubuntu dapper/edgy etc and kernels (from linus) including 2.6.17

the bug will show you the following messages repeatedly
[4295722.986000] eth1: NETDEV_TX_BUSY returned; driver should report queue full via ieee_device->is_queue_full.

this bug causes connection problems like disconnects - its behind alot of my connection troubles
im compiling the new driver from source to try to solve my problems

Ok, good to know.
Then let us know how it goes.

[Magneto]

Ok, good to know.
Then let us know how it goes.

well I installed the latest ieee80211, wireless tools, ipw2200 firmware and ipw2200 drivers and its a big improvement

no more queue full problems , no more disconnects every time I attempt to use the network

its much more reliable now - no need for the hwcrypto=0 module option because the issue has been fixed

one thing I did have to do is re-enable the apscan option in wpa_supplicant.conf because my essid is hidden and without that option I have serious problems trying to authenticate

its pretty much the same process as your old howto although some make processes run the removal scripts automatically

for me its really worth it - i have no idea why stable drivers and tools that have been out more than 6 months havent been included in ubuntu
wireless tools is at 28 ubuntu is at 18
ipw2200 is at 1.2.0 ubuntu is at 1.1.1
ipw firmware is at 3.0 ubuntu is at 2.4
same with ieee

[almax00]

good to find this how-to. is it advisable to delete anything before trying this...ie network-manager, network-manager-gnome etc? thankyou.

[luca_linux]

No, they shouldn't be a problem.