[SOLVED] Debian Lenny WPA using CLI

Joe of Loath · 05-13-2010, 01:09 PM

Hi there

As a challenge, I've setup a Debian box without a GUI. However, I'm having problems with the wifi. I know this question has probably been asked to death, but none of the internet how-tos work.

My card is a USB zd1211rw (3com branded). I can scan for networks, and find my own WPA network, but can't connect to it. I've setup my '/etc/network/interfaces' file like this:

Code:

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
     wpa-ssid BUFFALO
     wpa-bssid 00:16:01:a1:8a:7b
     wpa-psk (hex key here)
     wpa-psk-mgmt WPA-PSK

However, when it tries to connect to the network on boot I don't get any messages about encryption or having connected, only it trying to get a DHCP lease, which of course fails.

Is there a better way (IE one that works) to do this?

Thanks
Joe

EricTRA · 05-13-2010, 01:17 PM

Hello,

Have you looked at the iwconfig man page yet? That tool can be used on CLI level to make a connection and if you want to automate it, you can put it all togeter in a script to launch at logon.

Kind regards,

Eric

craigevil · 05-13-2010, 01:43 PM

Take a look at WiFi/HowToUse - Debian Wiki - http://wiki.debian.org/WiFi/HowToUse#wpasupplicant

Joe of Loath · 05-13-2010, 01:46 PM

Eric - Thanks, I'll have a play with it and see what happens

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigevil

Take a look at WiFi/HowToUse - Debian Wiki - http://wiki.debian.org/WiFi/HowToUse#wpasupplicant

That's what I started with, but didn't work, so I kept adding bits in the hope that it might...

EricTRA · 05-13-2010, 01:55 PM

Hello,

You're welcome, please let us know your progress and if you encounter any problems running the commands I'm sure LQ can help out.

Kind regards,

Eric

Shadow_7 · 05-13-2010, 02:06 PM

I've yet to use WPA yet. But based on my package manager:

apt-get install wireless-tools
apt-get install wpasupplicant

zcat /usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/README.wpa_supplicant.conf.gz | less

wpa<tab><tab> shows:
wpa_action
wpa_cli
wpa_passphrase
wpa_supplicant

if you want to read the manpages or try to do it all manually first.

propofol · 05-14-2010, 01:09 AM

For what it is worth, I have set up wireless N on a headless eBox with a Tp-Link TL-WN861N Wireless N Mini PCI Card.

This has Debian Lenny with the following setup to enable wpa supplicant:

/etc/network/interfaces

Code:

# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

# The primary network interface
#auto eth0
#iface eth0 inet dhcp
iface eth0 inet static
  address 192.168.xxx.xxx
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  broadcast 192.168.xxx.255
  network 192.168.xxx.0
  gateway 192.168.xxx.xxx

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
wireless-essid MYESSID
  wpa-diver wext
  wpa-conf /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
  wpa-psk <HEX_KEY_HERE>
  address 192.168.xxx.111
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  broadcast 192.168.xxx.255
  network 192.168.xxx.0
  gateway 192.168.xxx.xxx

/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

Code:

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
ctrl_interface_group=root
ap_scan=1
network={
        ssid="MYESSID"
        scan_ssid=1
        proto=RSN
        pairwise=CCMP TKIP
        group=CCMP TKIP
        key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
#        psk="ASCII_PASSPHRASE"
        psk=<HEX_KEY_HERE>
}

The following script starts the connection from the command line:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
echo "Loading Chipset Driver"
/sbin/modprobe ath9k
/bin/sleep 2

echo "De-activating eth0 interface - for some reason I cannot get wifi up without this"
/sbin/ifconfig eth0 down
/bin/sleep 2

echo "Activating wlan0 interface"
/sbin/ifconfig wlan0 down
/bin/sleep 1
echo "Setting network parameters"
/sbin/wpa_supplicant -v -B -iwlan0 -Dwext -c/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
/bin/sleep 1

echo "Setting IP Address"
# Via DHCP
#/sbin/dhclient wlan0
/bin/sleep 2
# Static IP config
/sbin/ifconfig wlan0 192.168.xxx.111 up
/sbin/route add default gateway 192.168.xxx.xxx

Regards,
Stefan

Joe of Loath · 05-14-2010, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by propofol

For what it is worth, I have set up wireless N on a headless eBox with a Tp-Link TL-WN861N Wireless N Mini PCI Card.

This has Debian Lenny with the following setup to enable wpa supplicant:

Regards,
Stefan

Well, one problem was that wpa_supplicant wasn't installed. Stupid me assumed every modern distribution installed it, stupid Debian didn't install it by default >.>

I adapted your scripts for my network and no dice. No error messages, but dhclient doesn't get a response. iwconfig tells me I'm associated with my access point, but not connected. I got this working on another box about 4 years ago, it was just a short script. Wish I could remember what I did...

This is a bit harder than wired eh?

propofol · 05-14-2010, 05:59 PM

I had a difficult time getting this working - I have another usb wifi that required iwpriv commands to get it running.

I would suggest disabling WPA and see if you can connect. Another option is to use:

Code:

iwlist wlan0 scan

I do not know much about the adapter you mentioned, but does seem to require firmware to be loaded.

If the adapter works, you could run wpa_supplicant with a '-dd' option for a more verbose debugging output. Some short and sweet instructions here.

Regards,
Stefan

Joe of Loath · 05-15-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by propofol

I had a difficult time getting this working - I have another usb wifi that required iwpriv commands to get it running.

I would suggest disabling WPA and see if you can connect. Another option is to use:

Code:

iwlist wlan0 scan

I do not know much about the adapter you mentioned, but does seem to require firmware to be loaded.

If the adapter works, you could run wpa_supplicant with a '-dd' option for a more verbose debugging output. Some short and sweet instructions here.

Regards,
Stefan

I'll setup a network without a password on my laptop, I don't trust the neighbours...

iwlist scanning works, my network and next door's shows up. I also have the firmware loaded.

I'll try that site you linked later, thanks!

Shadow_7 · 05-15-2010, 08:29 PM

wireless.kernel.org

A lot of the drivers and corresponding tools seem to be getting a complete makeover. I wasted most of today trying to revamp my wireless network after a power outage this morning. Turns out I fat fingered the key and it didn't match the existing network. So most of today figuring out why none of my wireless devices could talk to each other, even though they were all basically identical. Because the key on the AP / router didn't match the clients. I'm assuming since using the same script on the clients worked even though it was just a modified version of the existing scripts on those clients.

Joe of Loath · 05-20-2010, 12:16 PM

Got it

I initially copied this guide here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=288753, since it's similar to the one I know worked about 4 years ago. I then realised it didn't work perfectly, and adapted it. Now wpa_supplicant and dhclient simply run at boot.

Thanks for all the help, I'm now even able to run a webserver

Now, lets see how much uptime I can get without the electricity bill going through the roof...

EricTRA · 05-20-2010, 12:39 PM

Hello,

Great to hear you got it solved and thanks for posting the solution (without your adaptations

). I'm sure others can use it as a reference. Please mark your thread as solved using the Thread tools.

Kind regards,

Eric

Joe of Loath · 05-20-2010, 01:27 PM

Actually, I'm not completely finished yet, I still need to get it working on boot properly...

EricTRA · 05-20-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe of Loath

Now wpa_supplicant and dhclient simply run at boot.

Hi,

I assumed from this that you got it up and running. What are you 'struggling' with?

Kind regards,

Eric