[opensuse] Re: wireless access points and traditional ifup on SuSE-12.2
Mark Hounschell wrote:
As Per implies in the next post or so down, there appears to be a bug but I can't tell at this point if it is in the userland side or the kernel side? I guess I need to go ahead and look closer at the /etc/sysconfig/network/ifup-wireless script to determine if it is getting the $WIRELESS_AP variable from the config file and then using it properly.
This is no bug. $WIRELESS_AP is only used for Wi-fi networks with no or WEP-based authentication, i.e., configurations that can be done by calling iwconfig. That's not possible for WPA-based authentication mode. Wi-fi networks using WPA-based authentication *must* use wpa_supplicant, if you don't want to use NetworkManager. The bad message for the OP: In wpa_supplicant.conf, there is no possibility to specify an AP MAC address. wpa_supplicant associates with SSID, and roams between APs with the same SSID. See /usr/share/doc/packages/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf for more information. I haven't exactly understood why the OP wants to associate to a specific AP device and isn't able to use the roaming-feature within an SSID network (wpa_supplicant calls this a "network block"). Well, according to documentation, that's not possible. As the OP, I would research if MAC-based association directives for WPA-authenticated Wi-fi networks are possible with NetworkManager and, if yes, would establish a static network interface definition in NM. My 0.02 EUR, Joachim -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Joachim Schrod, Roedermark, Germany Email: jschrod@acm.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 2012-11-27 01:20, Joachim Schrod wrote:
I haven't exactly understood why the OP wants to associate to a specific AP device and isn't able to use the roaming-feature within an SSID network (wpa_supplicant calls this a "network block")
Apparently it chooses the wrong point, one that is too far and weak. - -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 11.4 x86_64 "Celadon" (Minas Tirith)) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.16 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://www.enigmail.net/ iF4EAREIAAYFAlC0CpEACgkQja8UbcUWM1xFHAD+I5iTj/zSekY2ZM92YfD++xUs HgKz18M/ZppWv/fBYN0A/iPf98QJM0XEojcn3SzXKwYTTCACA/959TmPB9wnHYEQ =Hyt2 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org
On 11/26/2012 07:20 PM, Joachim Schrod wrote:
Mark Hounschell wrote:
As Per implies in the next post or so down, there appears to be a bug but I can't tell at this point if it is in the userland side or the kernel side? I guess I need to go ahead and look closer at the /etc/sysconfig/network/ifup-wireless script to determine if it is getting the $WIRELESS_AP variable from the config file and then using it properly.
This is no bug. $WIRELESS_AP is only used for Wi-fi networks with no or WEP-based authentication, i.e., configurations that can be done by calling iwconfig. That's not possible for WPA-based authentication mode.
Well "not yet implemented" is considered a BUG by many. Why should an AP not be selectable just because of being WPA-based? I guess I need to switch it over to WEP-based to verify the same problem? Selecting my AP works just fine using network manager and when doing so, I see 3 access points. I simply choose the one that shows the best signal. Since my desktop is NOT roaming and in the same room as the access point, I want to use it.
Wi-fi networks using WPA-based authentication *must* use wpa_supplicant, if you don't want to use NetworkManager. The bad message for the OP: In wpa_supplicant.conf, there is no possibility to specify an AP MAC address. wpa_supplicant associates with SSID, and roams between APs with the same SSID. See /usr/share/doc/packages/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf for more information.
So wpa_supplicant is broken. Either because it is choosing the wrong AP or because it is unable to let me choose which AP to use.
I haven't exactly understood why the OP wants to associate to a specific AP device and isn't able to use the roaming-feature within an SSID network (wpa_supplicant calls this a "network block"). Well, according to documentation, that's not possible.
Then you haven't read the post history of this post. Instead of it choosing the one that is actually in the same room, with the best signal, it chooses the one on the other side of the house. Sometimes it also chooses the centrally located router. That one sort of works but ends up being very slow and randomly disassociates with reason 7. It very very randomly chooses the correct one. I did notice that when using DHCP, it's success rate was much higher.
As the OP, I would research if MAC-based association directives for WPA-authenticated Wi-fi networks are possible with NetworkManager and, if yes, would establish a static network interface definition in NM.
My kernel messages indicate it is associating via a MAC address. I should be able to control what MAC address it chooses, no matter what type of security I choose. NO? You seem to indicate that if I was using WEP, I would not have this problem. I will try it and see. Regards Mark -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org
Mark Hounschell wrote:
On 11/26/2012 07:20 PM, Joachim Schrod wrote:
Mark Hounschell wrote:
As Per implies in the next post or so down, there appears to be a bug but I can't tell at this point if it is in the userland side or the kernel side? I guess I need to go ahead and look closer at the /etc/sysconfig/network/ifup-wireless script to determine if it is getting the $WIRELESS_AP variable from the config file and then using it properly.
This is no bug. $WIRELESS_AP is only used for Wi-fi networks with no or WEP-based authentication, i.e., configurations that can be done by calling iwconfig. That's not possible for WPA-based authentication mode.
Well "not yet implemented" is considered a BUG by many. Why should an AP not be selectable just because of being WPA-based?
Because ifup and/or YaST can't make something happen by magic that is not supported by the underlying commands and tools. And the underlying tool that you want to use doesn't support it. Furthermore, since they are not in widespread use (NM usage probably outstrips that of wpa_supplicant by vast amounts), chances for such a feature enhancement request are low. It wouldn't been implemented within openSUSE distribution anyhow, that missing feature is an upstream issue. openSUSE doesn't do application development; that's a task done in upstream projects.
I guess I need to switch it over to WEP-based to verify the same problem?
I wouldn't recommend to do so. Nowadays using WEP is as sensible as using no authentication since it's so easily broken; then you don't need to bother with authentication at all.
Selecting my AP works just fine using network manager and when doing so, I see 3 access points. I simply choose the one that shows the best signal.
Well, if NetworkManager supports that, I'd really recommend to research if that feature is available for its static network configurations as well. NM has configuration files like traditional ifup, just not the same files/syntax, where you can configure network interfaces statically. I haven't done so myself, but I have seen many posts where it was explained. Google should be your friend, here. ;-) Joachim -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Joachim Schrod, Roedermark, Germany Email: jschrod@acm.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org
On 11/27/2012 07:53 AM, Joachim Schrod wrote:
Selecting my AP works just fine using network manager and when doing so, I see 3 access points. I simply choose the one that shows the best signal. Well, if NetworkManager supports that, I'd really recommend to research if that feature is available for its static network configurations as well.
NM has configuration files like traditional ifup, just not the same files/syntax, where you can configure network interfaces statically. I haven't done so myself, but I have seen many posts where it was explained. Google should be your friend, here. ;-)
Ok, I'll look into that. However, the fact remains that whatever the underlying userland/kernel process is, that is supposed to select the AP, it is doing it incorrectly. It's picking the AP with the weakest signal and furthest away most of the time. I suppose if that selection process was being done correctly, I would not have to attempt picking it myself? Do you not see a valid BUG here somewhere? Regards Mark -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org
Mark Hounschell wrote:
On 11/27/2012 07:53 AM, Joachim Schrod wrote:
Selecting my AP works just fine using network manager and when doing so, I see 3 access points. I simply choose the one that shows the best signal. Well, if NetworkManager supports that, I'd really recommend to research if that feature is available for its static network configurations as well.
NM has configuration files like traditional ifup, just not the same files/syntax, where you can configure network interfaces statically. I haven't done so myself, but I have seen many posts where it was explained. Google should be your friend, here. ;-)
Ok, I'll look into that. However, the fact remains that whatever the underlying userland/kernel process is, that is supposed to select the AP, it is doing it incorrectly. It's picking the AP with the weakest signal and furthest away most of the time. I suppose if that selection process was being done correctly, I would not have to attempt picking it myself? Do you not see a valid BUG here somewhere?
There does appear be something wrong with that AP selection process, yes. -- Per Jessen, Zürich (6.4°C) http://www.dns24.ch/ - free DNS hosting, made in Switzerland. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org
Mark Hounschell wrote:
On 11/27/2012 07:53 AM, Joachim Schrod wrote:
Selecting my AP works just fine using network manager and when doing so, I see 3 access points. I simply choose the one that shows the best signal. Well, if NetworkManager supports that, I'd really recommend to research if that feature is available for its static network configurations as well.
NM has configuration files like traditional ifup, just not the same files/syntax, where you can configure network interfaces statically. I haven't done so myself, but I have seen many posts where it was explained. Google should be your friend, here. ;-)
Ok, I'll look into that. However, the fact remains that whatever the underlying userland/kernel process is, that is supposed to select the AP, it is doing it incorrectly. It's picking the AP with the weakest signal and furthest away most of the time. I suppose if that selection process was being done correctly, I would not have to attempt picking it myself? Do you not see a valid BUG here somewhere?
Yes, of course. That it doesn't pick up the appropriate AP is a big bug, very much so. Joachim -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Joachim Schrod, Roedermark, Germany Email: jschrod@acm.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org
participants (5)
-
Carlos E. R. -
Joachim Schrod -
Mark Hounschell -
Mark Hounschell -
Per Jessen