Mint - "Authentication Required by Wireless Network"
 

I'm running Mint 14 and I seem to be having an issue with the "Authentication Required by Wireless Network" screen continually popping up for seemingly no reason. It remembers the password, but it stays disconnected until I physically click the button to reconnect to the WiFi. This presents a problem for me, because when I need to connect from a remote location (which is a frequent occurrence for me), I do not have access to the server because it is sitting at home, waiting for someone to click the "Connect" button.

Aside from calling home, hoping someone answers, and getting them to click the button for me, is there a way to change the functionality so that it automatically connects, provided the WiFi password has not changed? This would solve my issue, but I'm not sure how or if it's possible. Thanks

I looked at this yesterday, but did not have any ready answers. I do have a couple of thoughts.

I think a more important question is "why is the computer dropping connection?"

How far it is from the access point? Is there possibly a distance or interference issue? This article offers a generic look at possible causes of dropped connections.

Given the importance of this computer to your workflow, it might be better to have it on a wired connection, if that is at all feasible.

Are you using the default connection manager?

It's most likely the router or service, I visit my sisters house & the guest bedroom is the nearest room to router, say 20ft. & not only do I get dropped but everyone outside of the location where router is gets dropped. I bet if OP uses takes the laptop & connects to a different wireless network it stays connected.

One suggestion in the article I linked to was to try a different wireless channel.

The article goes on to list various common sources of interference.

I took a quick look at Gnome network-manager. Although there is a setting for "connect automatically," I didn't see one for "re-connect a dropped connection automatically."

I have a computer running Slackware with wicd that occasionally drops connection because of it's location in the house, and there doesn't seem to be an auto-reconnect-dropped setting there either.