odd wireless problem: networks "hidden"
 

Good morning all -

I recently upgraded my netbook (an Asus EeePC 1000HA btw) to Slackware 13.0 ... & now when I try to connect to the wireless network at work, the Wicd Network Manager comes up as before, but all the networks are listed as "<hidden>", and I can't connect. The system tries but fails to get an IP. I get

"Connection Failed: Unable to Get IP Address."

Post upgrade to 13.0, I was getting a popup indicating I needed to add myself to the netdev group, so I did that. So that wouldn't appear to be the issue.

I'm currently playing with adjusting the preferences to see if I can get the networks (a large university) to show up as anything but <hidden>. If anyone has any clue as to what I might have b0rked in the upgrade, though, I'd be grateful.

This worked fine under 12.2. I'm assuming I mucked up a configuration file somehow.

Thanks,

Glenn

I also have got the same issue.
Check this for a possible solution: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...sid...-752873/

I will try tomorrow a new version wicd 1.6.2.2.

Hi Alexiy -

How did this work out? I haven't had a chance to look at the issue lately but was wondering how you fared.

Thanks,

Glenn

Hi,

Yeah was busy a bit to report. So it has solved the issue, previously hidden networks are visible now with 1.6.2.2.

I notice this at the bottom of the -current changelog:

"extra/wicd/wicd-1.6.2.1-i486-1.txz: Upgraded.
Thanks to Adam Blackburn of the Wicd team working with us on this,
and to macavity for testing the hidden network changes."

... so something seems to have been changed there.

I'm afraid I don't know wireless well at all ... not sure where to even start. I should have made careful notes about what I did before to get this thing working.

I should mention one oddity. I was at a different location today for a conference ... the conference facility's wireless network showed up fine under wicd and I was able to connect with no issues. Now am back at work and the "hidden" networks are all the machine sees.

My last bit of odd info: my conf file

/etc/wicd/wireless-settings.conf

... is empty. Don't imagine that has anything to do with my lil' problem ...?

Sorry for all the clueless self-posting. If someone could/would point me in the direction of a good wireless guide or manual to read, I'd gladly do it.

I have chased down a number of threads on this forum and others, but so far have not found a solution. I don't even really understand what a "hidden" network is, exactly. Or why what was previously a named network is suddenly (under 13.0) "hidden" and not connect-to-able. I'm sure it's my fault, but where do I start fixing it?

Thanks,

Glenn

Have you updated your wicd to 1.6.2.2 ?

No, I haven't. I know it will sound lame but I was hesitant to stray outside official Slackware packages and Slackbuilds ... so was trying to see whether I could fix it otherwise ...

I'd also like to understand more about this stuff. At some point, anyway.

have you tried rc.inet1 yet?

Ok, if you are interested in understanding bugs then go carry on.