[ipw2200] cannot connect to hidden network

[Christiansen]

Binary package hint: network-manager

As stated by Alexander Sack in bug #50214 https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/50214/comments/200 I submit this as a new bug.

Connecting with network-manager-0.6.6-0ubuntu5 in Kubuntu Hardy still seems buggy for both Intel 2200BG and 2915ABG chipset, using the ipw2200 kernel driver. Mostly connecting doesn't succeed - but sometimes after entering the WPA password one or more times in the "Connect to Wireless Network - KNetworkManager" dialog that pops up, the connection succeed (very slowly).

This seems similar to what Gpothier describes in the privies reported ipw2200 bug #199679 on 2008-03-27 just for Ubuntu Hardy.

I've reinstalled a couple of boxes with Kubuntu Hardy Beta, and updated thees to all the latest packages available in the archive as of 2008-04-09 - including network-manager-0.6.6-0ubuntu5 and the latest Kernel update 2.6.24-16.30. Tested against 2 different WPA1 secured APs with hidden SSID and got same result as described above.

Using an other PCMCIA atheros based adapter in the boxes and without any changes to software make them connect right away.

Attached screenshot of the dialog box mentioned above, that keeps coming up when trying to connect - just to eliminate misunderstanding.

[Christiansen (happylinux)]

Just to verify that this IS a problem with network-manager 0.6.6 I today did further testing, and downgraded my Hardy Beta (including updates as of 2008-04-16) to the network-manager 0.6.5 released with Hardy Alpha 5. Removing the following packages sequentially :
 1) network-manager-kde_0.2.2-1ubuntu2_i386.deb
 2) network-manager_0.6.6-0ubuntu5_i386.deb
 3) libnl1_1.1-1_i386.deb
And then installed thees Hardy beta 5 packages instead :
 1) libnl1-pre6_1.0~pre6-6_i386.deb
 2) network-manager_0.6.5-0ubuntu16.7.10.0_i386.deb
 3) network-manager-kde_0.2ubuntu1-0ubuntu7_i386.deb

I was now able to connect again and again without having to confirmation on the above mentioned dialog box. Hopefully this network-manager 0.6.6 bug could bee solved before the final release, as the Intel 2200BG/2915ABG adapter to my knowledge is used in a lot of laptops around the globe (HP, Acer, Thinkpad etc.).

[Christiansen (happylinux)]

Found this solution for network-manager_0.6.6, and the ipw2200 connecting to hidden networks

I seems that in Gutsy AP_SCAN 1 was used, whereas the latast network-manager update fore Hardy use AP_SCAN 2.

Downloaded the latest Branch-files (119) from Alexander Sacks :
  https://code.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-core-dev/network-manager/ubuntu.0.6.x
Changed the AP_SCAN 2 to AP_SCAN 1 for the ipw2200 and compiled it, and are now able to connect without need to confirm the WPA password every time. Have tested this on boxes with both Intel 2200BG and 2915ABG chipsets, on Hardy Beta with latest updates as of 2008-04-18.

Attaching the two files I changed before compiling.

[Christiansen (happylinux)]

If you are experiencing the described issue, you could try to use the binarys in this archive witch contains the change mentioned above.

[Andy Clayton (q3aiml)]

Applying the attached patch (replacing 0.6.6-0ubuntu5) works for me as well on Ubuntu Hardy to fix hidden networks and WPA. Can we get an official fix released for this regression?

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

should be fixed in hardy and intrepid.

[aidave (aidave)]

Its not fixed for me. Unless the patch is yet to appear.

[Christiansen (happylinux)]

Certainly not fixed in Hardy, but Interpid seems okay.
BTW The patch attached above still works for Hardy.