|
I have used several "how to" tutorials / instructions and still cannot figure out "who is on first" when it comes to activating wireless connection - IN GENERAL
I can do " ifconfig" , "wpa_supplicant.conf " etc.
I did use wicd and could not make the connection.
What I am missing is - <b>how does Linux starts / makes wireless connection in general.</b> . In what sequence and which files are involved.
PS I have SSH working and it was much easier to install / activate/ test.
Any pointers would be appreciated.
Please no references to RPi tutorial(s) needed, been there, done that,
Thanks
Vaclav
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless is the same as wired, it is just a network connection. The decision of 'who is on first' is decided by the systems that are connected to the network. Servers listen, and clients call. But servers can also be clients, and clients can be servers. Just the same as the telephone.
|
|
|
|
|
There's a couple of different ways to do this:
If you want to optimize you will need to manually configure the connection in the /etc/wpa_supplicant/<name>.conf file. Assuming that your distro is also relatively modern (i.e. uses systemd rather than sysvinit) you should also have systemd-networkd available, which is simple to configure.
When checking into Linux items, my general go-to is the ArchWiki. It's comprehensive, generally presents multiple use cases, and is pretty no-nonsense:
WPA supplicant - ArchWiki
systemd-networkd - ArchWiki
If you want to make your life a bit easier and add some flexibility, you can install NetworkManager:
NetworkManager - ArchWiki
"Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity."
- Hanlon's Razor
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for reply.
I have been busy trying to find stable OS which actually does WiFi.
What I really need is to know how the whole communication process starts.
During my research I found this gem "wpa_supplicant is build by OS , copied to /etc/... and deleted..." When I try to simply implement "standard" WiFi I actually received "Wpa_supplicant does not exist ". Not much help there.
That is why I ask "who is on first"
Actually I like to use "bonding" so I do not have to worry which type of network I'll am using.
But I really need to hit the books first.
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah, all Linux distros, AFAIK, use iw and wpa_supplicant to implement wifi over WPA. Generally both will be embedded in the installer software, but not the core distribution. It (they) just needs to be installed like any other package while bootstrapping the install.
"Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity."
- Hanlon's Razor
|
|
|
|
|
You are correct, however in case of both Raspian Desktop and Ubuntu MATE OS one is lead to believe that "raspi-config" does the (WiFi) activation. AS you pointed out - unfortunately one cannot activate something which is not properly or not at all installed in the first place.
I need to find a REAL controller hardware "computer". I am getting frustrated with these OS for toys which are good for flashing LED at best.
Of course when I say something to that effect I get kicked out from forum.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Been there and experienced many show stopping issues.
Is I pointed out - one has to read the mail to see there are few "gotcha" which points to so far unsolved basic problems with latest release of Ubuntu WiFi.
The "problem" is , IMHO, nobody addresses the basic (WiFi) issue and people post hacks to solve THEIR issue only.
"solutions " like "remove battery and reinstall it" , reboot , reinstall etc do not solve this.
I can do
pi@pi $ ifconfig
eth0: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
inet 10.0.1.38 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 10.0.1.255
inet6 fe80::db20:1d69:504c:9820 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x20<link>
ether b8:27:eb:bb:95:28 txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 581 bytes 148393 (144.9 KiB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 290 bytes 54470 (53.1 KiB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING> mtu 65536
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0
inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128 scopeid 0x10<host>
loop txqueuelen 1000 (Local Loopback)
RX packets 38 bytes 1962 (1.9 KiB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 38 bytes 1962 (1.9 KiB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
wlan0: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
inet 10.42.0.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 10.42.0.255
inet6 fe80::ba27:ebff:feee:c07d prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x20<link>
ether b8:27:eb:ee:c0:7d txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 176 bytes 16942 (16.5 KiB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 420 bytes 95606 (93.3 KiB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
My "problem " is - I have TWO wlan interfaces - RPI and Belkin.
So I unplug the belkin and plug it back
Here is ifconfig AFTER
pi@pi $ ifconfig
eth0: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
inet 10.0.1.38 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 10.0.1.255
inet6 fe80::db20:1d69:504c:9820 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x20<link>
ether b8:27:eb:bb:95:28 txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 842 bytes 167321 (163.3 KiB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 455 bytes 86115 (84.0 KiB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING> mtu 65536
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0
inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128 scopeid 0x10<host>
loop txqueuelen 1000 (Local Loopback)
RX packets 245 bytes 27113 (26.4 KiB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 245 bytes 27113 (26.4 KiB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
wlan0: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
inet 10.42.0.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 10.42.0.255
inet6 fe80::ba27:ebff:feee:c07d prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x20<link>
ether b8:27:eb:ee:c0:7d txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 227 bytes 19690 (19.2 KiB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 523 bytes 120456 (117.6 KiB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
wlan1: flags=4099<UP,BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
ether b4:75:0e:7a:72:27 txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 0 bytes 0 (0.0 B)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 0 bytes 0 (0.0 B)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
pi@pi $
See "the issue " ?
Why did the OS missed the USB Wifi on first ifconfig?
Or did it missed RPi interface?
And this is just one example of how this goofy WiFi behavior is being "troubleshooted " by unsubstantiated suggestions - "try this...".
Sorry for the long vent.
Cheers Vaclav
|
|
|
|
|
Vaclav_ wrote: Sorry for the long vent.
We've all needed to do that occasionally.
|
|
|
|
|
Hi,
Vaclav_ wrote: Sorry for the long vent.
For what it's worth... I completely understand your frustration. I have many hobby boards including several RPI, Qualcomm Dragonboard and a few Allwinner based boards. It seems like I am always hacking something together when I am working with my Linux-based IoT hobby projects.
Vaclav_ wrote: Why did the OS missed the USB Wifi on first ifconfig?
Or did it missed RPi interface?
When I did an OUI lookup on your MAC address it looks like the raspberry pi ethernet is the only interface available in your first ifconfig.
It sounds like a timing issue which is one of the most common problems I seem to face on these boards.
If I were debugging this I would first make sure that the USB device is present after booting the board:
lsusb
If the USB device is listed then you probably have a timing issue where the device is not ready when your network comes up. The easiest 'hack' to fix this would be a simple network restart at the end of your init script:
/etc/init.d/networking restart
I actually have this 'hack' on two of my Allwinner based boards and both of them have a USB wifi/ethernet.
I am not a Linux guru so don't listen to me. There are probably other ways to fix USB timing issues on Linux.
Best Wishes,
-David Delaune
|
|
|
|
|
David, thanks for the "sympathy card".
I have switched to Linux about three / four years ago - just because.
I went thru hell for few months trying to figure out why my USB devices were just coming and going. My solution - get rid of my switched POWERED USB hub connected between two devices - PC and RPi. It is hard to believe , but the problem was and still is TWO 6 feet long USB cables connected to the switch! Any cables - it is the length and as you pointed out - the timing.
After realizing the doggy OS RPi operates with I decided to do cross-compiling...
Learn ssh and now looking at WiFi.
I do not mind learning and pasting things together IF they work as "advertised".
This WiFi is such incomplete kluge I should get my money back from the "charitable corporation ".
Yes, I am rebuilding the configuration files to make sure the booting process actually checks the presence of devices , USB included, and all the files to make WiFi fly - not just posting meaningless errors.
So - I am learning how to write bash scripts!
And I though I left "bat" files somewhere in Oregon 30 some odd years back.
Cheers and good night
Vaclav
|
|
|
|
|
I really do not know here to ask to find somebody who DOES use TCF.
There is no activity on another computer forum "supporting" TCF.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
What is "TCF"
[edit]
Read the title of the post - dummy
[/edit]
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
|
|
|
|
|
Looks as some "reply" got deleted.
Not everything in computers is digital - black and white.
If you do not know what it is - why are you posting?
My wife would tell you - Google is your friend...
PLEASE - no names calling.
Cheers
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
Vaclav_ wrote: My wife would tell you - Google is your friend..
Sounds like a very intelligent lady. You should take her advice.
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Richard,
long time no see.
Doing well?
I miss Wisconsin, visited few months ago and iceskated on lake!
Prediction is "three digits temperature" in Huston. AGAIN
To quote
" are you talking to me ? "
I think the reply was to somebody who's message was deleted.
|
|
|
|
|
Vaclav_ wrote: three digits temperature
Been close to that here in the UK recently.
Vaclav_ wrote: I think the reply was to somebody who's message was deleted.
lol.
|
|
|
|
|
I did not see the "edit" tags at first - so I think the poster was talking to himself.
Either way - still no real replies to my post.
|
|
|
|
|
You do understand that the chances of someone who knows some obscure framework seeing your message is not very high? The majority of people who answer questions here are C/C++/C# Windows or Web developers.
|
|
|
|
|
Yes,
I realized that TCF is as obscure as assembly language to many.
The "problem" is that the authors must not had an incentive to provide much "help" to implement it. It works fine , but it is a pain to fix when it goes sideways.
I have a knack to pick wrong technology....
|
|
|
|
|
Vaclav_ wrote: still no real replies to my post.
Other side of the planet!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
|
|
|
|
|
chuckle - you seem to think I was calling you a dummy, that was aimed at myself for not reading the title of the OP. Actually searching for TCF was useless that is why I asked.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
|
|
|
|
|
No problem, no harm done.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
Ah
are you talking to yourself ??
|
|
|
|
|
There is a mailing-list on their site. Most activity will be there, from both users and developers.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
