Does not detect hidden WiFi on first attempt

[Niklas Wenzel]

The WiFi network I use at home is a hidden one. While it works with my Ubuntu Phone, I always have to toggle WiFi on and off about 3 times until it is detected.

phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ system-image-cli --info
current build number: 129
device name: mako
channel: ubuntu-touch/devel-proposed
alias: ubuntu-touch/vivid-proposed
last update: 2015-03-11 13:19:54
version version: 129
version ubuntu: 20150310.3
version device: 20150210
version custom: 20150310.3

[Niklas Wenzel (nikwen)]

I can especially see this happening after a reboot.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

settings is only an ui, the backend is in the indicator

[Niklas Wenzel (nikwen)]

I don't think this is a duplicate bug as the other bug mentions some behaviour which I do not see.

Here is the behaviour I do *not* see (copied from the other bug):

"Instead of the "connected" icon in the top bar there's just a blank space, the hidden network shows up in the indicator's network list twice, and there's no check mark next to either of the entries in the network list"

Here is what I see:

Nothing happens. There is no blank space (the icon displays the state of my mobile connection or the "not connected" wifi icon), nor does the network show up in the list even once.

[Jonas G. Drange (jonas-drange)]

Niklas, thank you! Could you attach the syslog? Also, if you have a shell on the phone, you could talk to wpa_supplicant directly (sudo wpa_cli, scan, scan_results) and see if wpa actually sees the Wi-Fi. All other pertinent logs are welcome too.

[Niklas Wenzel (nikwen)]

Of course. :)

Here's the output of wpa_supplicant: http://paste.ubuntu.com/11690994/

[Niklas Wenzel (nikwen)]

If you need any other logs, feel free to ask. :)

(This one was taken after booting with wifi enabled and toggling wifi off and on once. It did not connect to the network during that.)

[Niklas Wenzel (nikwen)]

Forgot to add: the hidden wifi was not in the list which was returned by wpa_supplicant.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Aat (aatdevries80)]

I see the exact behaviour on the Nexus 7 as Niklas describes in post no. 3. I'm on the devel-proposed channel.
Sometimes it takes up to 10 times turning wifi off and on, before it sees the network.

[Juhapekka Piiroinen (juhapekka-piiroinen)]

This affects also the MX4 device, for which I have raised another bug #1470948. If you need any help on providing debug information etc, just ask.

[Juhapekka Piiroinen (juhapekka-piiroinen)]

System-image-cli information for the MX4 image which is affected.

[Juhapekka Piiroinen (juhapekka-piiroinen)]

System-image-cli information for the MX4 image which is affected.

[Jonas G. Drange (jonas-drange)]

An improvement to the "Connect to hidden network…" functionality was released in OTA5.

Given that you upgrade to OTA5, remove the hidden network and reconnect to it, does this issue persist? Thanks.

[Niklas Wenzel (nikwen)]

I have been testing this for a few days now. I removed the network and readded it. While I am inclined to believe that it detects the network a bit faster now, most of the time I still have to turn it on and off for about 5 times until the network is finally recognized. Therefore, the bug still remains unresolved for me.

[Allan LeSage (allanlesage)]

Confirming this FWIW, arale r242.

[Maureen (omaureen24)]

Confirming this for OTA-11 on both e4.5 and m10 devices.