Cannot access Internet via the public Library's WiFi signal; Ubuntu v. 12.04 is my OS

JLBB · 06-12-2013, 06:11 PM

I am using a Dell laptop (D620) running Ubuntu version 12.04 (Precise Pangolin). Although I can easily get onto unsecured (no password required) public WiFi signals--such as those offered by coffeshops & hotels, I cannot access the Internet via the Library's wifi signal. I don't know why yet.

The status symbol/icon at top shows that it IS CONNNECTED to the library's Wifi, & shows good signal strength. But when I try to get onto the Internet, it fails to do so. I says something like "Web Authorization Redirect".

The laptop is a good one & the Wifi is working o.k., I've confirmed that: as I can easily get onto other public wifi signals like at coffeeshops. I've tried connecting the laptop directly to a wired connection at the Library--that did work fine for connecting to the Internet.

This laptop, running Ubuntu/Linux, absolutely refuses to go to the Internet. I've spent several hours to adjust settings, introduce/add this laptop to the Library's Wifi, etc., but all my efforts have been in vain.

The HelpDesk people in the Library's system have failed to contact me back after I tried contacting them via phone, email, & text. The librarians have tried to help me, but is beyond their level of expertise.
This is in Hennepin County, Minnesota. I am using Mozilla Firefox; I've tried Google Chrome, but that doesn't work either to connect to Internet via the Library's wifi signal.

Can anyone help, please?? Do I need to adjust some setting within my computer?? I would appreciate answers with possible solutions. I am totally brand new to this LinuxQuestions.org website; & relatively new to Linux; so please go easy on me. I would appreciate relatively simple, step-by-step instructions on solutions you may want me to try.
Thank-you in advance!!

Jeff
June 12, 2013

shane25119 · 06-12-2013, 06:14 PM

Does the library require a VPN client at all? If so, that may be your issue.

JLBB · 06-12-2013, 06:25 PM

Shane: thanks for quick response; I am totally new to this Linux forum website. I don't know about if they require a VPN client; in fact I don't even know what that is or where to find it in my laptop. Can you clarify please??
I'm going to Library tomorrow & want to go there prepared to troubleshoot this & have success after working on this issue for too many hours.
I'm good, & diligent, at troubleshooting & problem solving, but I need more info about this VPN client thing in order to proceed.
I'm getting off Internet for a while now, but I'll check back in to LQ.org later tonight. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!!

Jeff

selfprogrammed · 06-12-2013, 08:11 PM

Hennepin County Library runs an XP system (they were going to upgrade when I last talked to them). They have locked down some of their access, as can be seen in using their Mozilla. I have talked to the computer people by leaving a note at the Brooklyn Center branch (where they have a Computer Lab and a few people).

I don't use the WiFi, but have been asking them to put DownThemAll as a tool on their Mozilla.

Firerat · 06-12-2013, 08:47 PM

This is a longshot, you could try disabling IPv6

yancek · 06-12-2013, 08:48 PM

Do you see the HCL_Public in your network manager and select it? Not much detail at their site:

http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/wireless.cfm

Do you see a window in your browser where you can agree to their intended usage policy, seems to be required.

http://archives.mn-linux.org/piperma...er/062515.html

shane25119 · 06-12-2013, 11:24 PM

I missed the bit about this being the H. County system.

A VPN would be some form of a client where you have to provide your credentials before they let you online. For instance, on the campus where I work yyou need to provide an ID number and password to get online. I came up with a Linux work around, that's more trouble than it is worth (hence I usually just use a wired connection on campus).

The way to check would be to look to see if you can get online using Windows or your phone. Failing that, you could try asking the IT folks (try the main branch). On the campus where I did undergrad I asked and the IT guys were excited to do something other than "fix my spyware."

Of course, do try everything suggested above- esp. Yanek's second link- that looks like it describes your issue exactly.

JLBB · 06-13-2013, 06:10 PM

Hi Guys: I've studied all of your suggestions, then tried solving the problem for about 40 minutes--but no solution that I can see yet. I still cannot get onto the Internet, despite the fact that the computer is showing that it is connected to the Wifi signal here at the library. I am flummoxed here on this issue.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I'll start by replying to Shane25119's suggestions:
Regarding VPN Client thing you mentioned:
Although the public library here requires you to type in your library cards' barcode number & a password when logging into THEIR hardwired computers, those 'credentials' are not required when accessing their WiFi with your own personal laptop.
Here's how things normally work when I bring in my OTHER laptop (an HP Mini 110 netbook, running Windows 7 Starter version): It is easy to access the Internet here via the Library's Wifi signal: I just open up Firefox, or Internet Explorer, which opens up a page that seems to be a homepage for Mozilla Firefox. Then, I proceed by opening up one of my bookmarked webpages--usually I go to my email inbox at Yahoo!
What opens up immediately is NOT Yahoo!, but rather the 'consent & agree' type page for Hennepin County Library opens up. I of course click on 'Agree', then I am automatically directed to the Library's homepage; from which I can then go to any other website I want to. So it's normally easy, user-friendly, a no-brainer.

BUT, with this other laptop I am trying to use (a Dell D620, running Ubuntu v. 12.04--Precise Pangolin), I can never get onto any website--not even the Library's 'consent & agree' page. Don't know why yet still, even after reading several people's suggestions to me here on LQs.

The library has not (or cannot) offer me any helpful technical advice. In fact, a "Tech" person at the Library (who tried to help me in person one day) told me that they are not trained at all in Ubuntu or Linux. So it is a dead end to pursue help with any of the Library staff here; they are useless in this area for me. The so-called "IT" folks either don't exist here; or if they do, they've completely ignored my efforts to contact them (via phone, email, & text).
One lady did find out that the Hennepin Co. library system is in the process of 'updating' their entire wireless system; and she didn't know how long that would take (maybe 'til end of this summer, maybe end of year). So, perhaps the whole problem is NOT my laptop running Ubuntu--maybe the problem is that the library's wireless Internet access system is not yet compatible with Linux/Ubuntu. Shane--do you think that is the ultimate problem here?? & not with any settings on my laptop??

JLBB · 06-13-2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firerat

This is a longshot, you could try disabling IPv6

Hello Firerat: Although I was able to find that page in the menu which listed IPv6 & IPv4 options, there was no specific option to disable the IPv6. I could choose an option of 'ignore'; which I think I tried but unsuccessfully. I've tried a LOT of things, but no luck yet. I am thinking now that it is the Library's fault--that their wireless system is currently not compatible with Ubuntu or Linux. One librarian told me they are currently in process of 'updating' the entire wireless Internet system; & that it may be end of summer or end of year even before they are done with that project.
So as of yet, I still cannot get onto the Internet via the library's Wifi signal. This is frustrating, 'cause I can easily get onto the Internet with this laptop at many other public places like coffeeshops & hotel lobbies. It is frustrating when small businesses like coffeeshops & local hotels are doing a much better job than the large, bureaucratic organization of a county-wide public library organization that is taxpayer funded!!

Z038 · 06-13-2013, 06:48 PM

Let's see if we can get some data that will help.

Take your HP netbook with Windows in to the library and click through the Libraries "consent & agree" page. Then open up a command window (cmd.exe) and enter "ipconfig /all". Cut & paste the output here (in code tags, please).

Take your Linux system. Try to connect via your browser again, just in case you get lucky. Open a terminal window and as root (or using sudo) enter "ifconfig -a". Cut & paste the output here.

Enter "iwlist eth? scanning", where eth? is your wireless interface. Cut & paste the output.

Scan your /var/log/messages and /var/log/syslog for dhcpcd messages. E.g., "cat /var/log/messages | grep dhcpcd". Show us that output too.

Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this.

shane25119 · 06-13-2013, 07:30 PM

Probably not a VPN issue. I don't see a reason why operating system should matter here. I defer to these folks here talking about IP addresses. They're smarter than me and will probably be able to square you away.

The only thing I have, have you tried e-mailing the IT department at the main library? They'll probably be more techie than the techs at the branches.

selfprogrammed · 06-13-2013, 10:27 PM

Hennipen County contracts the service and maintenance to an outside company. Company software is involved, and no one other than the company may know exactly what it does.
Getting answers from such 3rd party companies usually comes down to them saying that their software handles the most common users and they're not wanting to bother with a few people who want to be different (by using Linux). This will only change when the people who handle the contract get enough written complaints from Hennipen County residents.

The most helpful answers probably will come from looking at your Windows machine and that redirection.
- the URL it redirects to ?
- does it switch internet ports ? (maybe using one that that is not turned on in Linux)
(and I do not know how to find that out on windows, sorry)

Internet ports and the Linux firewall settings are the most likely points of contention.
If your Linux firewall is silently blocking the redirected connection, it would explain why it just stops with no error messages.

haertig · 06-13-2013, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLBB

The status symbol/icon at top shows that it IS CONNNECTED to the library's Wifi, & shows good signal strength. But when I try to get onto the Internet, it fails to do so. I says something like "Web Authorization Redirect".

I didn't read through all the responses that have been posted thus far, but that message sounds like they are trying to redirect you to someplace where you must authenticate to gain access to the external web. That redirect is apparently failing. Could be that the person who coded that didn't do it correctly and it's just buggy code, or they have infrastructure problems. Or could be that they are trying to use Active-X or some other Microsoft-specific technology to authenticate you, and that's not working because you're on a Linux box. Or it could be that they are using Javascript and you have that blocked in your browser or with a plugin.

shane25119 · 06-14-2013, 12:11 AM

^Perhaps you could....

1: Install Firefox in Wine.
2: Use FF in Wine to authenticate.
3: Use Firefox in Linux from there on out.

reli · 09-21-2016, 10:59 AM

I faced the same problem in a college network. The WIFI works in other networks. The notebook (Fresh ubuntu 16.04 installed) connects with the college wifi, after some refresh redirects me to a partial login page but then no internet connections. Same pc with windows connects perfectly and my other pc with ubuntu 15.10 works at the same network.

Code:

andrea@andrea-Latitude-E4310:~$ route -n
Kernel IP routing table
Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags Metric Ref    Use Iface
0.0.0.0         10.200.0.1      0.0.0.0         UG    600    0        0 wlp2s0
10.200.0.0      0.0.0.0         255.255.0.0     U     600    0        0 wlp2s0
andrea@andrea-Latitude-E4310:~$ ifconfig -a
eno1      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 5c:26:0a:4c:d2:ee  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
          Interrupt:20 Memory:f5400000-f5420000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:65536  Metric:1
          RX packets:4200 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:4200 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1 
          RX bytes:335755 (335.7 KB)  TX bytes:335755 (335.7 KB)

wlp2s0    Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 18:3d:a2:37:62:5c  
          inet addr:10.200.99.21  Bcast:10.200.255.255  Mask:255.255.0.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::e04b:28ab:40a3:dc19/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:23116 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:2864 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:3419152 (3.4 MB)  TX bytes:345942 (345.9 KB)

andrea@andrea-Latitude-E4310:~$ rfkill list
0: hci0: Bluetooth
    Soft blocked: no
    Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
    Soft blocked: no
    Hard blocked: no

lspci -nnk | grep -ia2 net  Subsystem: Dell 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset KT Controller [1028:0410]
    Kernel driver in use: serial
00:19.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Intel Corporation 82577LM Gigabit Network Connection [8086:10ea] (rev 05)
    DeviceName:  Onboard LAN
    Subsystem: Dell 82577LM Gigabit Network Connection [1028:0410]
    Kernel driver in use: e1000e
    Kernel modules: e1000e
--
    Kernel driver in use: intel ips
    Kernel modules: intel_ips
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6200 [8086:422c] (rev 35)
    Subsystem: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6200 2x2 AGN [8086:1321]
    Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi

wget -N -t 5 -T 10 https://github.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/raw/master/wireless-info && \
> 
> chmod +x wireless-info && \
> ./wireless-info
--2016-09-20 19:39:33--  https://github.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/raw/master/wireless-info
Resolving github.com (github.com)... 192.30.253.113
Connecting to github.com (github.com)|192.30.253.113|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/master/wireless-info [following]
--2016-09-20 19:39:48--  https://raw.githubusercontent.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/master/wireless-info
Resolving raw.githubusercontent.com (raw.githubusercontent.com)... 151.101.44.133
Connecting to raw.githubusercontent.com (raw.githubusercontent.com)|151.101.44.133|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 16156 (16K) [text/plain]
Saving to: ‘wireless-info’

wireless-info        12%[=>                  ]   1.92K  --.-KB/s    in 0s      

Last-modified header missing -- time-stamps turned off.
2016-09-20 19:43:35 (191 MB/s) - Read error at byte 1970/16156 (Success). Retrying.

--2016-09-20 19:43:36--  (try: 2)  https://raw.githubusercontent.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/master/wireless-info
Connecting to raw.githubusercontent.com (raw.githubusercontent.com)|151.101.44.133|:443... failed: Connection timed out.
Resolving raw.githubusercontent.com (raw.githubusercontent.com)... failed: Connection timed out.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘raw.githubusercontent.com’

I tried:

upgrade kernel
set ipv6 to ignore
restart nm
set google dns
using different browsers
no results with any of them.

Is there anything else I can try? Thank you very much