Hi David,
thanks for your kind answer.

I get the following:

ifconfig

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:20274 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:20274 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:1389738 (1.3 Mb) TX bytes:1389738 (1.3 Mb)

wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:40:F4:5E:65:56
inet addr:192.168.1.116 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:12 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:9 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:100
RX bytes:1241610 (1.1 Mb) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
Interrupt:10 Base address:0xd400


route -n

Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
192.168.1.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 wlan0
169.254.0.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.0.0 U 0 0 0 lo
127.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 U 0 0 0 lo

I have a question too. My default gateway is actually 192.168.1.1. WHy the destination is 192.168.1.0?

Very breifly my network configuration is
CABLE MODEM
ROUTER 192.168.1.1
AP 192.168.1.101
I have enabled DHCP in the AP. But for my LINUX PC I have fixed the IP address as you can see. I am currently wiritng to you from a XP machine which access the AP using the DHCP service.

Thanks for your kind help
Carlo

You can fix it like this


route add default gw 192.168.1.1


Also before you can browse the internet you will need to setup DNS.

you need to put the nameservers in /etc/resolv.conf like this..


nameserver ipaddress


you should be ables to get the ip addresses for your nameservers from any machine configured on the connection, or from your isp


here is what mine looks like
[david@zeus david]$ cat /etc/resolv.conf
nameserver 192.168.0.1

David,
I added the command you gave to me and now an additional line has been added when I issued the command route -n

0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 wlan0

However when I ping my router I still get Destination Host Unreachable

As regard the nameserver, I believe they are the DNS server which are
DNS 216.148.227.68 204.127.202.4

I am a little new to LINUX/UNIX (I was just PC user but I want to "play with LINUX") and so forgive me if I am not too knowleadgeable

I guess the command would be something like

nameserver 216.148.227.68 204.127.202.4

Thanks for your help
Carlo

you need to edit the file /etc/resolv.conf to look like this


nameserver 216.148.227.68
nameserver 204.127.202.4

Thanks,
any idea why I cannot ping my router? I can send you any result from any command if this can help


Thanks for your kind help
Carlo

David,
I did the command dmesg. I got the attached file. Actually it is just an extract. It seems it cycle several times repeating the attached pattern. Do you know what it means?

Thanks a lot and Happy New Year!
Carlo



wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 1
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 2
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 3
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 4
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 5
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 6
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 7
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 8
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 9
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 10
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 11
wlan0:rtl_delete_timer delete_timer at 0xc61c1744, timer_cnt=1
wlan0_MLME-ScanFinishedTimerHandler rtl_delete_timer( &(wCtx->pMIB.ScanFinishedTimerHandle) );
wlan0_MLME-ScanFinishedTimerHandler rtl_delete_timer( &(wCtx->pMIB.ScanEachChnlTimeoutHandle) );
wlan0_MLME-MlmeScanRequest rtl_request_timer( &pMIB->ScanEachChnlTimeoutHandle..) Scan Each Channel Time=0x47839, expires=5
wlan0:rtl_request_timer request_timer at 0xc61c1744, timer_cnt=2
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 1
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 2
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 3
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 4
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 5
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 6
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 7
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 8
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 9
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 10
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 11
wlan0:rtl_delete_timer delete_timer at 0xc61c1744, timer_cnt=1
wlan0_MLME-ScanFinishedTimerHandler rtl_delete_timer( &(wCtx->pMIB.ScanFinishedTimerHandle) );
wlan0_MLME-ScanFinishedTimerHandler rtl_delete_timer( &(wCtx->pMIB.ScanEachChnlTimeoutHandle) );
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 6
wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr bssdscr info:wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
BSSID = wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x0 wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x6 wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x25 wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x54 wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x2c wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0xb5 wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
SSID = wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x62(b) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x65(e) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x74(t) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x73(s) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x79(y) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x61(a) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x6e(n) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x64(d) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x63(c) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x61(a) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x72(r) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x6c(l) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr 0x6f(o) wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
bdType = 0wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
beacon period = 100wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
Dtim period = 3wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
Capability = 0x1wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
Channel number = 6wlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
Basic rate = 0xfwlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
supported rate = 0xfwlan0_MLME-show_BssDscr
wlan0_MLME-wlan_deny_mac_filter_tbl_check deny wlan_mac_filter_tbl == NULL
wlan0_MLME-wlan_sta_tbl_add Aid=1, station 00:06:25:54:2c:b5 is added.
wlan0_MLME-wlan_sta_tbl_add Aid=1, Orates=0xf, Brates=0xf, HighOrates=0x16, HighBrates=0x16
wlan0_MLME-MlmeJoinRequest rtl8180_request_timer( &pMIB->Timer_SynchronizationTJoin..), Join Request time=0x47936, expires=200
wlan0:rtl_request_timer request_timer at 0xc61c1728, timer_cnt=2
wlan0:SwChnl Set PHY channel number = 6
wlan0:rtl_delete_timer delete_timer at 0xc61c1728, timer_cnt=1
wlan0_MLME-MlmeJoin_Confirm rtl_delete_timer( &(wCtx->pMIB.Timer_SynchronizationTJoin) );
wlan0_MLME-MlmeJoin_Confirm Ready to send Authenticate request.<authAlg=open_system>
wlan0_MLME-MlmeAuthenticateRequest rtl_request_timer( &pMIB->Timer_AuthReqService..), request auth_req timer. expires = 500
wlan0:rtl_request_timer request_timer at 0xc61c0164, timer_cnt=2
wlan0:rtl_delete_timer delete_timer at 0xc61c0164, timer_cnt=1
wlan0_MLME-MlmeScanRequest rtl_request_timer( &pMIB->ScanEachChnlTimeoutHandle..) Scan Each Channel Time=0x48453, expires=5
wlan0:rtl_request_timer request_timer at 0xc61c1744, timer_cnt=2

It appears that you are not conecting to the AP

try this command..

[david@zeus david]$ cat /proc/rtl*/status


---------------------------------------
Driver status
---------------------------------------

rtl8180_pci_driver version 1.4 loaded.
The Network is configured as Infrastructure mode.
MacAddr = 00:0c:41:a6:9e:49
ioaddr = 0x4800
irq = 5


---------------------------------------
Wireless Link status
---------------------------------------

Link Success!

Channel number = 1
beacon period = 100
BSSID = 0x00 0x0c 0x41 0xd7 0x23 0x99
SSID = davix
Capability = 0x01
AID = 0x03
Operational rates = <1><2><5.5><11>Mbps
Current TX operational rates = <11>Mbps
[david@zeus david]$

It's not a routing problem now.

The error you get means there was no response from the ip address.

This could be due to the wireless link being down, a firewall or maybe your ipaddress is not valid or is blocked or already used.

Can you confirm the link by accessing the AP?

Run iptraf and see if you see any traffic.

David,
Happy New Year.
The result of the command you said is

---------------------------------------
Driver status
---------------------------------------

rtl8180_pci_driver version 1.4 loaded.
The Network is configured as Infrastructure mode.
MacAddr = 00:40:f4:5e:65:56
ioaddr = 0xd400
irq = 10


---------------------------------------
Wireless Link status
---------------------------------------

Link Fail!

Channel number = 6
beacon period = 100
BSSID = 0x00 0x06 0x25 0x54 0x2c 0xb5
SSID = betsyandcarlo
Capability = 0x01
AID = 0x00
Operational rates = <1><2><5.5><11>Mbps
Current TX operational rates = <1>Mbps


I can access the AP from a PC (wirelss laptop) which is 3 feet away form the LINUX PC. I doubt it could be a problem of "link too weakk" so to speak.

I have no firewall in the AP or router. I did not block any IP address or MAC address in the AP or router (any IP in the range 192.196.1.100 to 192.196.1.140)can access the router.

I tried to run the command iptraf but was unable. I tried to find if I had such a file in the systems but I was not able to find it.

Thanks for your kind help
Ciao (it is a real Ciao. I am actually italian and we have the copyright!)
Carlo

has anyone here tried to set their card in roaming mode with 'iwpriv wlan0 roam on' with success, mine returns "this device doesn't support roaming".

i think this might the problem with not seeing any frames when using airfart for example.

Not sure what to say on the link failure!

It would seems that you may have it locked to a certain ssid or channel.

my script runs like this..
That should get the link up with my default network settings for wlan0, then I add this..


When I'm at home I use vpn over the connection with all other traffic blocked. I enter the command like this...

wlanup infra home

Normally at a public access site I use this..

wlanup infra dhcp

David,
If I use /sbin/modprobe rtl8180_24x
I get an error message
modprobe Can't locate module rtl8180_24x

If I use /sbin/ifup wlan0 I get the following message

Determining IP location for wlan0
and apparently the system does not do anything (no message, does not continue the script, no prompt appear).


My script look like

/sbin/insmod rtl8180_24x.o
sleep 2

/sbin/iwpriv wlan0 msglevel 9
sleep 1


/sbin/iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para networktype=infra
sleep 1
/sbin/iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid2scan=betsyandcarlo
sleep 1
/sbin/iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para channel=6
sleep 1

/sbin/iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para wepmode=off
sleep 1


/sbin/iwpriv wlan0 enable

sleep 1

/sbin/ifconfig wlan0 192.168.1.125
/sbin/ifconfig wlan0 netmask 255.255.255.0
/sbin/ifconfig wlan0 up
sleep 1

route add default gw 192.168.1.1 wlan0


My AP has betsyandcarlo as SSID and works on the channel 6 and I temporarily disabled the WEP (to make sure I am not "seeing problem with the WEP". As soon as I fix the issue I will reenable the WEP).


Any suggestion?
Thanks
Carlo

If your ifcfg-wlan0 file has been setup for dhcp that would explain whats happening, dhclient will wipe out the configuration in an attempt to set it up by contacting a dhcp server. In addition to that it will likely keep retrying so any manual settings on the interface settings will be changed when the dhclient attempts to renew any old lease that it might have defaulted to.

my file has this

BOOTPROTO=none

That would explain the error about dhcp.

As far as the link goes, maybe it's being picky. I would remove the ssid and channel settings and see what it does.


And yes it's a great idea to disable wep, at least until it works without it. I did have my wep working fine but it's trivial to hack into it so I went with vpn instead.



you can monitor the log file as you bring up the interface to see if it's scanning like this

tail -n0 -f /var/log/messaages

Jan 1 22:06:11 zeus kernel: ******** RTL8180 Wireless Lan Driver 2003-10-17 loaded********
Jan 1 22:06:11 zeus kernel: RTL8180: 03:00.0: region #0 IS a PIO resource!
Jan 1 22:06:11 zeus kernel: RTL8180: request_region(0x00004800,0x00000100) !
Jan 1 22:06:11 zeus /etc/hotplug/net.agent: invoke ifup wlan0
Jan 1 22:06:13 zeus logger: punching nameserver 192.168.0.1 through the firewall
Jan 1 22:06:13 zeus kernel: RTL8180: Turn on RTL_DDEBUG_OUTINFO
Jan 1 22:06:14 zeus kernel: RTL8180: ------ Enable wlan driver ------
Jan 1 22:06:14 zeus kernel: RTL8180 WLAN driver version 1.4
Jan 1 22:06:14 zeus kernel: RTL8180: wireless LAN controller RTL8180 + MAXIM RF.
Jan 1 22:06:14 zeus kernel: RTL8180: MAXIM_Config()
Jan 1 22:06:14 zeus kernel: RTL8180: Set dot11PrivacyInvoked = 0.
Jan 1 22:06:14 zeus kernel: RTL8180: encryptmode = RTL_ENC_NONE
Jan 1 22:06:14 zeus kernel: RTL8180: wepkeymode = WEP_MODE_OFF

---- vpn and iptables stuff ---


Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 1.
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: ----------------------------------------------------------
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: wlan0 Link status:
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: Channel number = 1
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: beacon period = 100
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: BSSID = 0x00:0x0c:0x41:0xd7:0x23:0x99
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: SSID = davix
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: Capability = 0x01
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: AID = 0x03
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: Operational rate = 0x0F <bit 0~3 = 1~11 Mbps>
Jan 1 22:06:15 zeus kernel: RTL8180: ----------------------------------------------------------

[root@zeus root]# tcpdump
tcpdump: listening on wlan0


Jan 1 22:25:36 zeus kernel: RTL8180: wlan0: Promiscuous mode enabled.
Jan 1 22:25:36 zeus kernel: device wlan0 entered promiscuous mode


"unhooked power to AP"


Jan 1 22:26:32 zeus kernel: RTL8180: tx a packet failure!!
Jan 1 22:26:35 zeus last message repeated 3 times
Jan 1 22:26:36 zeus kernel: RTL8180: Roaming...



I believe it is automatic.

If you set something to prevent it from connecting maybe it will roam even though there is an AP available

David,
I changed to BOOTPROTO=none and this fixed the problem. Then I did as you said. I have removed the definition of SSID and channel, leaving them undefined.

I am still using insmod as a command not modprobe
The log I get is as follow:


Jan 1 20:06:31 localhost kernel:
Jan 1 20:06:31 localhost kernel:
Jan 1 20:06:31 localhost kernel: ******** RTL8180 Wireless Lan Driver 2003-10-17 loaded********
Jan 1 20:06:31 localhost kernel: PCI: Found IRQ 10 for device 00:0a.0
Jan 1 20:06:31 localhost kernel: RTL8180: 00:0a.0: region #0 IS a PIO resource!
Jan 1 20:06:31 localhost kernel: RTL8180: request_region(0x0000d400,0x00000100) !
Jan 1 20:06:31 localhost /etc/hotplug/net.agent: invoke ifup wlan0
Jan 1 20:06:36 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Turn on RTL_DDEBUG_OUTINFO
Jan 1 20:06:37 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Using RTL private command [networktype]
Jan 1 20:06:38 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Using RTL private command [ssid2scan]
Jan 1 20:06:39 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Using RTL private command [wepmode]
Jan 1 20:06:39 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Set wepmode = OFF
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180: ------ Enable wlan driver ------
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180 WLAN driver version 1.4
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180: wireless LAN controller RTL8180 + philips RF.
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180: PHILIPS_Config()
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180: PHILIPS_Config() - Analog mode
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Set dot11PrivacyInvoked = 0.
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180: encryptmode = RTL_ENC_NONE
Jan 1 20:06:40 localhost kernel: RTL8180: wepkeymode = WEP_MODE_OFF
Jan 1 20:06:42 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.
Jan 1 20:06:47 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Authenticate failed!
Jan 1 20:06:47 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Join Request Timeout 1 times. Select another BSS to Join.
Jan 1 20:06:48 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.
Jan 1 20:06:53 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Authenticate failed!
Jan 1 20:06:53 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Join Request Timeout 1 times. Select another BSS to Join.
Jan 1 20:06:54 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.
Jan 1 20:06:59 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Authenticate failed!
Jan 1 20:06:59 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Join Request Timeout 1 times. Select another BSS to Join.
Jan 1 20:07:00 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.
Jan 1 20:07:05 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Authenticate failed!
Jan 1 20:07:05 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Join Request Timeout 1 times. Select another BSS to Join.
Jan 1 20:07:06 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.
Jan 1 20:07:11 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Authenticate failed!
Jan 1 20:07:11 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Join Request Timeout 1 times. Select another BSS to Join.
Jan 1 20:07:12 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.
Jan 1 20:07:17 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Authenticate failed!
Jan 1 20:07:17 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Join Request Timeout 1 times. Select another BSS to Join.
Jan 1 20:07:18 localhost kernel: RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.



Looks like it got the ESSID (Betsyandcarlo) and the channel (6), wihtout having defined them before. But apparently the AP is still picky and do not let me in!

Any idea?
Thanks
Carlo