Re: Hi, NM and hidden ESSIDs

[Dan Williams <dcbw redhat com>]

On Fri, 2006-04-14 at 08:53 -0400, Bruno Marc-AurXle wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I use NetworkManager with my IPW2200 and it works like a charm! The only 
> thing I was wondering is if there was a way for NM to remember a hidden 
> ESSID. For a non-encrypted network, it wouldn't be a problem, but for a WEP 
> encrypted network, is causes me a problem: always rewrite the WEP key.
> 
> Is there a possibility of doing this witht the current implementation or is 
> there a way to add this feature (remembering hidden ESSIDs) without 
> reprogramming a whole buch of stuff?

NM should be remembering hidden ESSIDs once you've successfully
connected to a specific AP/BSSID at least once.  When NM sees that BSSID
again, it looks up the ESSID for that BSSID and then tries to connect.
It may be broken, but if an 'iwlist eth1 scan' shows the BSSID of your
access point, then NM should be doing the right thing.

For example:

      Cell 08 - Address: 00:14:BF:8C:90:28  <--- BSSID
                ESSID:""
                Protocol:IEEE 802.11bg
                Mode:Master
                Channel:6
                Encryption key:off
                Bit Rates:54 Mb/s
                Extra: Rates (Mb/s): 1 2 5.5 6 9 11 12 18 24 36 48 54
                Quality:20  Signal level:0  Noise level:0

It will probably look something like this from 'iwlist'.  If your AP
shows up, there's likely a bug in NM.

Dan