Wireless network doesn't auto-connect [Solved]

[Ymo]

I got same problem, fresh install of SL7 Xfce.

nm-applet + NetworkManager does not remember settings, I cant add 3G connection, I can connect to wifi network but only by typing root password. nm-applet manager looks wird (default gtk+2 theme, not like rest of the system)

Error log: http://pastebin.com/7hhCRtW1

[kashiura]

I admit I was a little hasty proposing this issue "solved". In fact, it was really far from solved.

As I said on my last post, killall and sudo NetworkManager process worked -- and now I don't know why -- for my home wifi network, but I realized only latter that it didn't worked for all other networks.

So I tried something else, and now NetworkManager auto-connect to every wifi I once connect successfully.

I had already noticed the problem lied within the "ifnet" plugin, so I disabled it on "/etc/NetworkManager/nm-system-settings.conf", leaving only the "keyfile" plugin, as the following:

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[main]
plugins=keyfile

This was enough to make almost all wifi connections be remembered by NetworkManager. The "keyfile" plugin creates a file on "/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections" for every wifi connection accessed, then use this file latter to connect automatically when this wifi network is again available, as these two examples, for WEP and WPA passwords (the parameters' list can be found on: http://projects.gnome.org/NetworkManager/developers/api/08/settings-spec-08.html)

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[connection]
id=Auto WIFI-A
uuid=
type=802-11-wireless

[802-11-wireless]
ssid=WIFI-A
mode=infrastructure
mac-address=
security=802-11-wireless-security

[802-11-wireless-security]
key-mgmt=none
auth-alg=open
wep-key0=wifi-a-passw
wep-key-type=1

[ipv4]
method=auto

[ipv6]
method=auto

Code: Select all

[connection]
id=Auto WIFI-B
uuid=
type=802-11-wireless

[802-11-wireless]
ssid=WIFI-B
mode=infrastructure
mac-address=
security=802-11-wireless-security

[802-11-wireless-security]
key-mgmt=wpa-psk
psk=wifi-b-password

[ipv4]
method=auto

[ipv6]
method=auto

But this worked for most connections: until today there was one on my workplace that did not connected, not even manually, no matter how much I tried. It kept refusing the wpa password, although it was correct -- and this network used to work perfectly before all changes I've done on NetworkManager. It seemed, as I investigated, there was a "conflict" (or something alike) between the keyfile and "/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf". The only -- yet unsophisticated -- solution I could imagine was turning off the wpa_supplicant service, what I've done using the "Services" application available on Programs/Others.

Now all wifi networks I use (home, university, work etc) are working perfectly and connecting automatically. I hope it works for you all either.

[Thema89]

Well done kashiura !! It seems that you've found "the guilty", thank you

I've just tested your workaround fix and it works fine... but let me give you a little hint:
you can disable that plugin by setting to false his boolean flag instead of phisically remove it from config file...
just set managed flag to false and you're done !


Here's a very simple walktrough if someone is interested in kashiura's method:

Press ALT+F2, write the following command and press enter:

Code: Select all

sudo gedit /etc/NetworkManager/nm-system-settings.conf


edit the "managed" flag: set it to FALSE as following:

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[main]
plugins=ifnet,keyfile

[ifnet]
managed=false
auto_refresh=false


You're done!

But this worked for most connections: until today there was one on my workplace that did not connected, not even manually, no matter how much I tried. (...) It seemed, as I investigated, there was a "conflict" (or something alike) between the keyfile and "/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf". The only -- yet unsophisticated -- solution I could imagine was turning off the wpa_supplicant service, what I've done using the "Services" application available on Programs/Others.

I haven't noticed this issue yet, but I'll keep investigating if something similar happens to me too

[Ymo]

This solution solves only auto connection problem.
But still I cant connect to 3G network. Connection is listed in "cell connection" but after left clikc on nm-applet icon I see only wired and wireless connection, no 3G/cell.

[kashiura]

I'm glad it worked for you either, Thema89. And thanks for the tip concerning the much more elegant edition of nm-system-settings.conf. I'm no expert, I told I done this the unsophisticated way.

The trouble with 3g connections (Ymo) are out of my grasp. I have no 3g network on my laptop. And the problem seems really not the same kind of the original one of this issue, so I suggest Ymo to address a new specific post in the forum.

[joe74]

Well done kashiura !! It seems that you've found "the guilty", thank you

Thank you, both of you. It worked for me

[aquarius]

I've filed this as a bug. Hope it would be fixed and new users won't experience this problem

[mhzuchini]

Hi, fellows.

I can confirm the solution:

Thema89 wrote:Well done kashiura !! It seems that you've found "the guilty", thank you

It worked pretty well for me. Fresh install, SL7-amd64-G, the problem becomes obvious at first as I tried to auto-connect.
Thema89 suggestion of simply disable the ifnet module works pretty well.

Thanks all for the tips.

[mhzuchini]

... as soon you "think" you won, as fast the problems come out...

New problem is: after disable ifnet, wireless auto-connect flawlessly. But, if I disable the wireless (through network applet or through the hardware switch) it simply dies forever... wlan0 simply disappeared.
I've tried to switch on and off many times, tried through Gnome applet (which insists on the "Airplane Mode -> ON", no matter how many times I switched it to OFF).

Found in /var/log/messages that wlan0 was apparently removed:

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Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost NetworkManager[7336]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: activated -> unavailable (reason 'none') [100 20 0]
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost NetworkManager[7336]: <info> (wlan0): deactivating device (reason 'none') [0]
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost dhcpcd[7729]: wlan0: removing interface
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost avahi-daemon[7487]: Withdrawing address record for 192.168.1.103 on wlan0.
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost avahi-daemon[7487]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv4 with address 192.168.1.103.
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost avahi-daemon[7487]: Interface wlan0.IPv4 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost NetworkManager[7336]: <info> (wlan0): canceled DHCP transaction, DHCP client pid 7729
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost kernel: [  993.155905] wlan0: deauthenticating from 00:1d:0f:ee:f4:ac by local choice (reason=3)
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost NetworkManager[7336]: <info> (wlan0): removing resolv.conf from /sbin/resolvconf
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost NetworkManager[7336]: <info> (wlan0): taking down device.
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost avahi-daemon[7487]: Interface wlan0.IPv6 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost avahi-daemon[7487]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlan0.IPv6 with address fe80::224:2bff:feef:befd.
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost avahi-daemon[7487]: Withdrawing address record for fe80::224:2bff:feef:befd on wlan0.
Oct 24 01:11:31 localhost NetworkManager[7336]: <warn> (pid 7729) unhandled DHCP event for interface wlan0


I tried ifconfig:

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calvin ~ # ifconfig wlan0 up
SIOCSIFFLAGS: Operation not possible due to RF-kill


The problem disappears on reboot, but is nonsense reboot your computer only to have your wireless card back.
Any clues?

[operative.terminus]

Here's a very simple walktrough if someone is interested in kashiura's method:

Press ALT+F2, write the following command and press enter:

Code: Select all

sudo gedit /etc/NetworkManager/nm-system-settings.conf


edit the "managed" flag: set it to FALSE as following:

Code: Select all

[main]
plugins=ifnet,keyfile

[ifnet]
managed=false
auto_refresh=false


You're done!

Fixed for me! Thank you