[karmic] Connect-to-Hidden... doesn't work for saved connections

[Andrew Hawkins]

Binary package hint: network-manager

I am using Karmic beta and a hidden WPA2-secured wireless network. Sometimes network-manager will connect to the network after boot automatically with no problems, other times it won't connect at all. When I click on the network-manager icon and select "Connect to Hidden Wireless Network..." I can see my network in the list. However, when I select it, the passkey field is blank and greyed out, along with the "Connect" button. In order to connect, I must create a new connection and re-enter all of my network's information again.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Date: Mon Oct 12 15:19:48 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
IfupdownConfig:
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
IpRoute:
 192.168.1.0/24 dev wlan0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.107 metric 2
 169.254.0.0/16 dev wlan0 scope link metric 1000
 default via 192.168.1.1 dev wlan0 proto static
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: network-manager 0.8~a~git.20091005t192303.1d28ad1-0ubuntu2
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-13.44-generic
SourcePackage: network-manager
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-13-generic x86_64
XsessionErrors:
 (gnome-settings-daemon:1843): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (gnome-settings-daemon:1843): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:1942): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_once_init_leave: assertion `initialization_value != 0' failed
 (nautilus:1931): Eel-CRITICAL **: eel_preferences_get_boolean: assertion `preferences_is_initialized ()' failed
 (gnome-panel:1930): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 24

[Tony Espy (awe)]

OK, discussed with a upstream, and this is definitely a bug, as if the network in question is open, then the Connect button isn't greyed out.

I can't promise that this will be fixed for Karmic final, but it's being worked on...

[Andrew Hawkins (akai-kenshi)]

Recently it hasn't been much of a problem, I just have to wait a few extra seconds sometimes for it to automatically connect. This morning however, it tried to automatically connect but failed, and I had to go through the steps I outlined in the first post to get connected.

[Pere Toran (petovi)]

Same problem here.

[Scott Shields (atomicspark)]

Same problem here. Using WPA2 AES with broadcasting disabled.

[Alaric (jroose)]

Same here. Unable to connect to hidden wireless networks.

Device Information
Inspiron 1545
Network Card BCM4312 802.11b/g [14e4:4315]

Network Information
Security: WPA/WPA2 - Enterprise
Authentication: PEAP
Anonymous Identity: None
CA Certificate: Thawte_Premium_Server_CA.pem
Peap Version: Automatic
Inner Auth: MSCHAPv2
Username: ***
Password: <BLANK>

GUI State
Show Password Checkbox: <Disabled, cannot change>
Cancel Button <Enabled>
Connect Button <Disabled>

It appears to me that NetworkManager is simply not retrieving the network password from the keyring because Password is greyed out. I never got a "enter password for keyring" prompt.

[Alaric (jroose)]

For more experienced users desperate for a quick fix, exchanging this attachment for the default file within the network-manager-gnome source file /src/wireless-dialog.c will allow you to edit the hidden network settings. Please keep in mind that (as you probably noticed) I have no affiliation with ubuntu except for using it as my desktop. I only added the single line "is_new = true".

[Alaric (jroose)]

Here's the attachment