RH4.0 Dell D810 Wireless Device # changes each boot confusing NetowrkManager?

tessier5894 · 01-28-2007, 11:22 AM

I am running a Dell 810 laptop with built in Intel Wireless Card. I have had this configuration working in the past but for some reason I cannot keep the card assigned to an "eth#" alias. Yes this card works, I have updated to the latest kernel with ipw2200 support, I have loaded the firmware, I can iwlist scan and this card finds networks near me.

My real issue was the desire to use NetworkManager as I move this box off the docking station a lot. I got tired of deactivating the dock ethernet and activating the wireless network.

In experimenting with NetworkManager I decided to update kernels to have the latest support (a RH suggestion). NetworkManger finds my wireless network then askes for the key. The GUI pops up with 128bit key, I type in my ASCII key and it says it is incorrect and won't log in. I am also seeing messages about the dev???? is not found in /etc/sysconfig/networking-scripts {this is related to the fact that the wireless card device changes every boot, thus I don't have an entry in this location}

I am willing to post whatever files the community thinks is necessary, but we are way beyond a simple install. Please don't say change DISTO's as that is not in the cards at this point. I am sticking with RH4.0 which I have a subscription for. You might as why haven't I talked to RH, I have for about 10 days but this forum has helped me so often before I decided to turn to you.

Thanks,
TomT...

Lenard · 01-28-2007, 12:00 PM

Please post contents of the /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-ethX file for your wireless device. Also post the contents of the /etc/modprobe.conf file.

In the meantime please turn off the kudzu service, as root type something like;

chkconfig --level 345 kudzu off

This will stop kudzu from changing your system configuration when booting, if you boot un-docked the hardware is different then when you boot docked. The service kudzu is responible for the undesired changes.

tessier5894 · 01-28-2007, 02:41 PM

Attached:

modprobe.conf

Code:

alias scsi_hostadapter ata_piix
alias snd-card-0 snd-intel8x0
options snd-card-0 index=0
install snd-intel8x0 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-intel8x0 && /usr/sbin/alsactl restore >/dev/null 2>&1 || :
remove snd-intel8x0 { /usr/sbin/alsactl store >/dev/null 2>&1 || : ; }; /sbin/modprobe -r --ignore-remove snd-intel8x0
alias usb-controller ehci-hcd
alias usb-controller1 uhci-hcd
alias eth1 tg3
options ipw2200 associate=0 led=1

ifcfg-dev31897

Code:

# Please read /usr/share/doc/initscripts-*/sysconfig.txt
# for the documentation of these parameters.
ONBOOT=no
USERCTL=no
IPV6INIT=no
PEERDNS=yes
TYPE=Wireless
DEVICE=dev31897
HWADDR=00:12:f0:a2:d3:80
BOOTPROTO=dhcp
NETMASK=
DHCP_HOSTNAME=
IPADDR=
DOMAIN=
ESSID=FOOBAR
CHANNEL=1
MODE=Auto
RATE=Auto

I also turned off kuzdu and rebooted and the device stayed the same.

I am running kernal 2.6.9-42.0.3.EL which is the current RH4.0 WS release. RH said the device support was included. Here is the report of lspci for this device:

Code:

03:03.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection (rev 05)
        Subsystem: Intel Corporation: Unknown device 2721
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 177
        Memory at dfbff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2

Here is the DMESG concerning this device and the ieee80211 setup:

Code:

ipw2200: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200/2915 Network Driver, git-1.0.10
ipw2200: Copyright(c) 2003-2005 Intel Corporation
ipw2200: Detected Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
ieee80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'NULL'
ieee80211: 802.11 data/management/control stack, git-1.1.7
ieee80211: Copyright (C) 2004-2005 Intel Corporation <jketreno@linux.intel.com>

I hope this information helps you provide some guidance.
TomT...

Lenard · 01-28-2007, 03:42 PM

Everything look good, but I do have to ask the question just to be sure.

Is this device dev31897 your wireless card?

I was expecting to see something a bit different, like ethX or wlanX, but this is OK if it is. Hopefully you do not need to do anything since kudzu is now disabled. But if you still have a problem (or if you just want to) then as a suggestion:

Create the alias (above the options ipw2200 line) in /etc/modprobe.conf, for example;

alias eth2 ipw2200
options ipw2200 associate=0 led=1

Copy and/or rename the ifcg-dev31897 file to something like ifcfg-eth2 and remember to change the line DEVICE=dev31897 to match the new filename, i.e DEVICE=eth2

.

tessier5894 · 01-28-2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenard

Everything look good, but I do have to ask the question just to be sure.

Is this device dev31897 your wireless card?

Yes, this is part of the problem as the device number just kept changing every reboot.

Quote:

I was expecting to see something a bit different, like ethX or wlanX, but this is OK if it is. Hopefully you do not need to do anything since kudzu is now disabled. But if you still have a problem (or if you just want to) then as a suggestion:

So was I and at one time I had it working like this.

Quote:

Create the alias (above the options ipw2200 line) in /etc/modprobe.conf, for example;

alias eth2 ipw2200
options ipw2200 associate=0 led=1

I tried this and I just got another wireless device that I couldn't configure. It is like the OS is confused by the hardware I have installed. The only thing I have installed (hardware wise) recently was an iPOD Nano?

Quote:

Copy and/or rename the ifcg-dev31897 file to something like ifcfg-eth2 and remember to change the line DEVICE=dev31897 to match the new filename, i.e DEVICE=eth2
.

I have tried that without success.

Regarding NetworkManager when it pops up and asks for the 128bit key can you use "s:" prefix to tell it that this is a string?

Thanks for your responses, I am still confused but nice to see others are also. If you have any more ideas please post again!
TomT...

Lenard · 01-28-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tessier5894

Regarding NetworkManager when it pops up and asks for the 128bit key can you use "s:" prefix to tell it that this is a string?

Honestly, I 'm not sure as I do not use Network manager. You can however create and use a keys-dev31897 file in the same location (/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts) to supply the key(s), a couple of examples;

Hex: KEY=01234567890ABCDE
String: KEY s:whateverhere

tessier5894 · 01-28-2007, 05:43 PM

Lenard,

Thanks for the help, I will keep pinging RH hopefully they will arrive at the solution this week?

TomT...

Lenard · 01-29-2007, 05:40 AM

Your welcome. Keep RH informed on the work you have done to date to resolve this, it will help them resolve this issue for your case and others in the future.