Re: NM repeatedly asking for WEP key

[Dan Williams <dcbw redhat com>]

On Wed, 2010-03-31 at 15:26 +0100, Timothy Murphy wrote:
> On Tuesday 30 March 2010 08:28:46 pm you wrote:
> 
> > > As I said, NM keeps asking for the WEP key.
> > 
> > What kind of WEP key is it?  There are 3 types; hexadecimal, ASCII, and
> > passphrase.  It could be that you're choosing the wrong type in NM.  How
> > long is the WEP key you're using, and does it have any non-hexadecimal
> > characters in it (ie anything not [A-F] or [0-9]) ?
> 
> Thank you for your response.
> It is a 10-digit hexadecimal WEP key,
> which works perfectly on 4 other laptops, 2 Fedora-12 Linux (with NM)
> and 2 Windows XP.
> 
> I'm running Fedora-12/KDE on this machine,
> with an old Avaya PCI-to-PCMCIA WiFi card,
> which works fine using the network service in place of NM,
> as also under Windows XP.

Ok, so we know the WEP key is right, that leaves just the wifi card as
the culprit.

So I'm going to go out on a limb and say that orinoco doesn't play well
with wpa_supplicant these days, which is what I found last time I tried
to use my Orinoco cards with NM and older kernels.

If you can, try to make a plain wpa_supplicant config file for the
network (check
out /usr/share/doc/wpa_supplicant-0.6.8/wpa_supplicant.conf or whatever
the path is on your machine) and then:

service NetworkManager stop
killall -TERM wpa_supplicant
wpa_supplicant -dddt -i <your interface name> -c /path/to/your/config/file -D wext

and we'll see what we get.  If that fails to eventually connect (you'll
see it enter the CONNECTED state) then we know we've got a driver
problem.  The fact that iwconfig and service 'network' work is a good
baseline, but we need wpa_supplicant to work instead.

Dan

> I give below the relevant /var/log/messages from an attempt I just made
> to use NM, as also /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1,
> /var/log/wpa_supplicant.log and the output of "sudo iwlist scan":
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  starting...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Trying to start the modem-
> manager...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: Loaded plugin ifcfg-rh: (c) 2007 - 
> 2008 Red Hat, Inc.  To report bugs please use the NetworkManager mailing list.
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Found wlan radio killswitch 
> rfkill0 (at /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:0d.0/0.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0) 
> (driver <unknown>)
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  WiFi enabled by radio 
> killswitch; enabled by state file
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  WWAN enabled by radio 
> killswitch; enabled by state file
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager:    ifcfg-rh: parsing 
> /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1 ... 
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager:    ifcfg-rh:     read connection 
> 'System dd-wrt (eth1)'
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): driver supports SSID 
> scans (scan_capa 0x01).
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): new 802.11 WiFi device 
> (driver: 'orinoco_cs')
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): exported as 
> /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/0
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): now managed
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 1 
> -> 2 (reason 2)
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): bringing up device.
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): preparing device.
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): deactivating device 
> (reason: 2).
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: supplicant_interface_acquire: 
> assertion `mgr_state == NM_SUPPLICANT_MANAGER_STATE_IDLE' failed
> ...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  modem-manager is now available
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Trying to start the 
> supplicant...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet avahi-daemon[1237]: Network interface enumeration 
> completed.
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant manager 
> state:  down -> idle
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 2 
> -> 3 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant interface 
> state:  starting -> ready
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) starting 
> connection 'System dd-wrt (eth1)'
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 3 
> -> 4 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) scheduled...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) started...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) scheduled...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) complete.
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) starting...
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 4 
> -> 5 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1/wireless): 
> connection 'System dd-wrt (eth1)' has security, and secrets exist.  No new 
> secrets needed.
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'ssid' value 'dd-
> wrt'
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'scan_ssid' value 
> '1'
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 
> 'NONE'
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'wep_key0' value 
> '<omitted>'
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'wep_tx_keyidx' 
> value '0'
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) complete.
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: set interface ap_scan 
> to 1
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  scanning -> disconnected
> Mar 31 14:13:13 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  disconnected -> associating
> Mar 31 14:13:23 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  associating -> disconnected
> Mar 31 14:13:23 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  disconnected -> scanning
> Mar 31 14:13:24 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  scanning -> associating
> Mar 31 14:13:29 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  eth1: link timed out.
> Mar 31 14:13:34 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  associating -> disconnected
> Mar 31 14:13:34 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  disconnected -> scanning
> Mar 31 14:13:34 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  scanning -> associating
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1/wireless): 
> association took too long.
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 5 
> -> 6 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1/wireless): 
> asking for new secrets
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) scheduled...
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) started...
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 6 
> -> 4 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) scheduled...
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) complete.
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) starting...
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 4 
> -> 5 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1/wireless): 
> connection 'System dd-wrt (eth1)' has security, and secrets exist.  No new 
> secrets needed.
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'ssid' value 'dd-
> wrt'
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'scan_ssid' value 
> '1'
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 
> 'NONE'
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'wep_key0' value 
> '<omitted>'
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: added 'wep_tx_keyidx' 
> value '0'
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) complete.
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  associating -> disconnected
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Config: set interface ap_scan 
> to 1
> Mar 31 14:13:39 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  disconnected -> associating
> Mar 31 14:13:49 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  associating -> disconnected
> Mar 31 14:13:49 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  disconnected -> scanning
> Mar 31 14:13:49 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  scanning -> associating
> Mar 31 14:13:54 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  eth1: link timed out.
> Mar 31 14:13:59 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  associating -> disconnected
> Mar 31 14:13:59 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  disconnected -> scanning
> Mar 31 14:13:59 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): supplicant connection 
> state:  scanning -> associating
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1/wireless): 
> association took too long.
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 5 
> -> 6 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1/wireless): 
> asking for new secrets
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) scheduled...
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) started...
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 6 
> -> 4 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) scheduled...
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 
> (Device Prepare) complete.
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 
> (Device Configure) starting...
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  (eth1): device state change: 4 
> -> 5 (reason 0)
> Mar 31 14:14:04 harriet NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth1/wireless): 
> connection 'System dd-wrt (eth1)' has security, and secrets exist.  No new 
> secrets needed.
> 
> Same messages repeated ...
> ---------------------------------------------------
> # Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller
> DEVICE=eth1
> BOOTPROTO=dhcp
> TYPE=Wireless
> NM_CONTROLLED=yes
> ONBOOT=yes
> USERCTL=yes
> IPV6INIT=no
> ESSID=dd-wrt
> MODE=Managed
> RATE=auto
> HWADDR=00:02:2d:4a:52:80
> DEFAULTKEY=1
> DEFROUTE=yes
> PEERDNS=yes
> PEERROUTES=yes
> UUID=9c92fad9-6ecb-3e6c-eb4d-8a47c6f50c04
> CHANNEL=
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Trying to associate with 00:16:b6:da:56:b4 (SSID='dd-wrt' freq=2437 MHz)
> Association request to the driver failed
> Authentication with 00:16:b6:da:56:b4 timed out.
> Trying to associate with 00:16:b6:da:56:b4 (SSID='dd-wrt' freq=2437 MHz)
> 
> Repeated many times
> ---------------------------------------------------
> eth1      Scan completed :
>           Cell 01 - Address: 00:16:B6:DA:56:B4
>                     Channel:6
>                     Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
>                     Quality=36/70  Signal level=-74 dBm  
>                     Encryption key:on
>                     ESSID:"dd-wrt"
>                     Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
>                               24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
>                     Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
>                     Mode:Master
>                     Extra:tsf=000001e1c28c6041
>                     Extra: Last beacon: 178ms ago
>                     IE: Unknown: 000664642D777274
>                     IE: Unknown: 010882848B962430486C
>                     IE: Unknown: 030106
>                     IE: Unknown: 2A0104
>                     IE: Unknown: 2F0104
>                     IE: Unknown: 32040C121860
>                     IE: Unknown: DD06001018020100
> ---------------------------------------------------
> 
>