I'm having a problem with WPA

pegs · 11-30-2009, 08:56 PM

I can't seem to get my WPA wireless connection working. I click on the network. A window pops up and asks for the "WPA & WPA2 Personal" password. Tries to connect....but, then the window pops up again. Repeatedly.

- I'm using Ubuntu 9.10
- Connecting to a D-Link router
- BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller

I've tried many things - I've got no internet connection with this laptop at all. I've tried connecting with an ethernet cable, but that doesn't work at all (not a problem though, I just need wireless).

I've tried wpasupplicant, and that doesn't work. It tries to configure b43-fwcutter, and that fails because it can't "resolve host address 'downloads.openwrt.org'".

I installed b43-fwcutter with directions from another site - I'm not sure which one at this point, since I've looked at so many websites to try to solve my wireless connection problem.

I've got a usb flash drive that I can use to transfer from this current computer to the ubuntu computer...that's what I've been using to install things such as b43-fwcutter.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mrmnemo · 11-30-2009, 09:37 PM

are you connecting to the router wirelessly with the machine your posting from? this may sound real dumb but you got the simple stuff out of the way right( correct passphrase, tkip or AES)? if all the simple stuff is out of the way>>has it ever worked? i had issues like this using wpa on slackware 12.2 and a dlink. the driver HALF way worked. Anyways, you should check this link and see if this helps @ http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43

exvor · 11-30-2009, 09:39 PM

I don't think you need wpasupplicant anymore since the latest version of wirless tools has WPA support. You should verify that your wireless card is even working. Open a terminal and type iwconfig and see if it lists a network connection with wireless extensions.

mrmnemo · 11-30-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exvor

I don't think you need wpasupplicant anymore since the latest version of wirless tools has WPA support. You should verify that your wireless card is even working. Open a terminal and type iwconfig and see if it lists a network connection with wireless extensions.

your correct. i was talking about simple stuff and didnt even do the simple check. DOH!

exvor · 11-30-2009, 10:04 PM

I actually did some reading on the subject since I was not sure and as it turns out you can use either one now. I always thought wpa_supplicant needed wireless tools but I guess not anymore.

mrmnemo · 11-30-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exvor

I always thought wpa_supplicant needed wireless tools but I guess not anymore.

i thought wpa_supplicant AND wireless-tools each operated on their own? they dont work together . wpa_supplicant handles wep and wpa on its own then talking to the kernel doesnt it( when you can instruct supplicant to use whichever driver)? correct me if i am wrong.

exvor · 11-30-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmnemo

i thought wpa_supplicant AND wireless-tools each operated on their own? they dont work together . wpa_supplicant handles wep and wpa on its own then talking to the kernel doesnt it( when you can instruct supplicant to use whichever driver)? correct me if i am wrong.

I am not sure its been about 3 years since I used wpa_supplicant and for some reason I thought you needed wireless tools to setup the essid and channels. Anyway I don't wanna hijack this thread with this discussion.

pegs · 11-30-2009, 11:11 PM

Yep, I'm using the router on this current laptop.

The wireless card works - I had Windows XP right before it, and it worked fine. Actually, I have another HD for the laptop with Windows XP on it, and it works fine with that when I hook it up.

I was having a problem with getting the wireless card to work AT ALL earlier - I figured it out, now it simply won't work with the WPA.

I installed the firmware, driver, everything needed. I'll try to remove the WPA, just to see if it connects without it (but I'll need to add the WPA back on, not going without password protection)

pegs · 11-30-2009, 11:17 PM

BTW, thanks for all the replies - I'm glad I'm getting feedback.

Anyways, I did get it connected without the WPA - however, I'd like the security of having WPA...

pegs · 11-30-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exvor

I don't think you need wpasupplicant anymore since the latest version of wirless tools has WPA support. You should verify that your wireless card is even working. Open a terminal and type iwconfig and see if it lists a network connection with wireless extensions.

Ah, I see...thanks.

Probably no point in this, but w/o WPA:

Code:

eric@pegsix:~$ sudo iwconfig
[sudo] 
password for eric: 


lo        no wireless extensions.



eth0      no wireless extensions.



wlan0     IEEE 802.11g  ESSID:"Brian"  
          
Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.462 GHz  
Access Point: 00:15:E9:14:A2:14   
          
Bit Rate=24 Mb/s   Tx-Power:25 dBm   
          
RTS thr:2347 B   Fragment thr:2346 B   
          
Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          
Link Quality:45/100  
Signal level:-67 dBm  Noise level:-96 dBm
          
Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          
Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

and with WPA:

Code:

eric@pegsix:~$ sudo iwconfig
lo        
no wireless extensions.


eth0      no wireless extensions.


wlan0     IEEE 802.11g  ESSID:off/any  
          
Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.462 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated   
          
Bit Rate:54 Mb/s   Tx-Power:25 dBm   
          
RTS thr:2347 B   Fragment thr:2346 B   
          
Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          
Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
          
Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          
Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

pegs · 12-01-2009, 04:44 PM

Still having a problem with this...

I'm wondering....Should I try getting a different linux? Are there any wireless/WPA-friendly linux distro out there?

mrmnemo · 12-02-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pegs

Still having a problem with this...

I'm wondering....Should I try getting a different linux? Are there any wireless/WPA-friendly linux distro out there?

you dont need to do that. you'll just end up having another problem that you will need to get figured out.
do you have networkmanager? if yes, then you should be able to browse the wireless networks. i am kinda tired...did you get prompted for a passphrase ( dumb wuestion right)? if ya really want to make it easy on yourself until you can get in and play with settings>>>>install wicd. that should address all you issues IF you are able to connect via wep. but i dont think that network manager is installed default. I think its just a front end gui for wireless tools and wpa not sure...google it(i did 8)). anywho, if your using kde just open Kpackage by pressing alt+f2 and doing a search for networkmanager.

if you want you can try it this way ( ref: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-set...10-karmic.html) the only part you will need to pay attention to on that link will be your repository edit and the apt update.

Networkmanager is stand alone as far as wpa authentication. i think installing network-manager or wicd will be the eaiest way out for ya.