Wireless problem on F8 -- can't access secured networks

[Tom Stewart]

Quoting Tod Merley <todbot88 at gmail.com>:

> On Nov 30, 2007 8:43 AM, Tom Stewart <fedora at tastewar.com> wrote:
>> I've installed F8 on an IBM ThinkPad R40 with an IBM High Rate
>> wireless card. The wireless card is recognized as an Atheros AR5212.
>> NetworkManager starts up fine, and I can connect to unencrypted AP's
>> OK (like my neighbor's), but I can't connect to protected networks
>> (like mine).
>>
>> I've previously had Windows XP then Ubuntu on this box, and neither
>> had a problem connecting, so I am pretty confident that it's not a
>> hardware/compatibility issue. I've configured wpa_supplicant to run
>> via Service Configuration, which tells me that it is running. WPA
>> passphrases seem to get stored in the keyring OK.
>>
>> In attempting to troubleshoot this, here's what I've discovered. When
>> booting, there is a fairly long delay, which causes the Details window
>> to pop up automatically. The delay is in starting wpa_supplicant, and
>> in fact, an error is noted:
>>
>> Starting wpa_supplicant: /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf, ,
>> dbus_bus_get[ctrl_iface_dbus]: No such file or directory
>>
>> Now, there is a file /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf, owned by
>> root and with rw permissions for owner. I haven't touched this, and I
>> assume it is correct. So I wonder if the dbus_bus_get[ctrl_iface_dbus]
>> is the thing that's complaining. Searching on that string yields [1]
>> some source code:
>>
>>         /* Get a reference to the system bus */
>>         dbus_error_init(&error);
>>         iface->con = dbus_bus_get(DBUS_BUS_SYSTEM, &error);
>>         dbus_error_free(&error);
>>         if (!iface->con) {
>>                 perror("dbus_bus_get[ctrl_iface_dbus]");
>>                 wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Could not acquire the system bus.");
>>                 goto fail;
>>         }
>>
>> which looks like it might print that string followed by an error, but
>> then it should also be displaying (somewhere?) the "Could not acquire
>> the system bus." which I haven't found.
>>
>> The other data point I have is that in the system log, when attempting
>> to connect, I see the following error msg:
>>
>> Nov 18 20:56:29 think NetworkManager: <info>  Device 'wlan0' DHCP
>> transaction took too long (>45s), stopping it.
>>
>> Can anyone help me get my wireless up and running on this guy? Where
>> do I go next?
>>
>> [1]
>> http://www.koders.com/c/fid085500CFE02FD84CFEB332AE71A50A1E37F81D1A.aspx?s=base64
>>
>> --Tom
>>
>>
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>>
>
> Hi Tom Stewart!
>
> I am working on the same problem, so far I have not gotten arround to
> trying the results of the following research.  For what it is worth:
>
> Here:
>
> http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=171361
>
> I found:
>
> Originally Posted by c0d3g33k
> Yes, you can use the old NetworkManager, and yes it does work better
> than the current P.O.S. ... err, ummm, work in progress.
>
> You have to uninstall the current NetworkManager and dependencies,
> then find a Fedora mirror that still has the 7.90 test release and
> install the networkmanager components. You'll suffer from constant
> nagging from the Update utility, but your wireless networking will
> actually be functional.
>
> NOTE!!!!: Download the necessary packages first if your network
> connection depends on NetworkManager.
>
> I don't recall exactly what is removed, but a "yum erase
> NetworkManager" will take care of the dependencies for you.
>
>> From the Fedora 7.90 mirror download:
>
> NetworkManager
> knetworkmanager
> krb5-auth-dialog
> dhcdbd
> dhclient
>
> If you are running Gnome, you probably want to grab
> NetworkManager-glib and NetworkManager-gnome too (I'm running KDE, so
> don't need them).
>
> Install them using "yum localinstall <packages>" and enjoy functional
> networking again.
>
>
> BINGO! Thanks man. This worked like a charm. The only difference was,
> I used rpm instead of yum. I was having issues with yum wanting to
> remove pidgin as well. Just as a note, pidgin still works (just opened
> it and things logged in, nothing more). Here's what I ran:
>
> sudo rpm --nodeps -e NetworkManager NetworkManager-glib
> NetworkManager-gnome krb5-auth-dialog nautilus-sendto
>
> Hopefully, they'll get that fixed very soon and release an update. Not
> sure why this wasn't noticed in the release candidates?
>
> Anyway, makes me feel better. Lol... I was thinking it was something  
>   much more.
>

I had read this, but there was at least one negative experience, IIRC.
Also, I really didn't want to go down this route of downdating if it
can be avoided.

> Another Path:
>
> Jacques B   Nov 9
> Reply
>
> Got wireless to work with WPA-PSK.  The solution was at
> http://fedoraforum.org/forum/showpost.php?p=857006&postcount=52
>
> As root I edited /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf so that it
> contained the following:
>
> ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
> ctrl_interface_group=wheel
>  network={
>   ssid="your ssid"
>   psk="your passphrase"
>   key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
>   proto=WPA
>  }
>
>
> The first two lines were already there.  I added the remaining lines
> as per the the instructions on the site above.
>
> I then ran
> # ifconfig wlan0 up
> # wpa_supplicant -Dwext -iwlan0 -c/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf -dd
> (the process didn't exit so it seemed, but after doing the next
> command successfully I was able to close this window anyhow).
>
> Then in another terminal window as root I ran
> # dhclient wlan0
>
> I could then close both the windows and the wireless worked.  I went
> into system-config-network-gui (either via command line or via System,
> Administrator, Network) and ensured that my wireless card was checked
> off so that it will start up on reboot (haven't rebooted yet but I am
> fairly confident it will work - if not I will repost to that effect -
> otherwise it worked).
>
> Jacques B.
>

I had also tried something like this, but these directions are more
complete. Will try & will report back.

But also, there is clearly something wrong here, and if possible, I'd
like to help find the solution so that F8 can be a better product, and  
I'm hoping the error msgs will be meaningful to someone.

Thanks for the pointers, Tod.

--Tom

> Good Hunting!
>
> Tod
>
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