[Trusty] hostapd package is broken

[Michael Murphy]

When trying to create an access point, I am met with a fatal error with hostapd:

nl80211: Could not configure driver mode
nl80211 driver initialization failed.
hostapd_free_hapd_data: Interface wlan0 wasn't started

What worked before no longer works today after a package upgrade.

After installing hostapd deb from Ubuntu 13.10, it works.

WORKAROUND: For this to persist through reboots, execute the following in a terminal:
sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf

Add the following entry where the x's are replaced with your WiFi MAC address, save, and then reboot:
[keyfile]
unmanaged-devices=mac:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: hostapd 1:2.1-0ubuntu1
Uname: Linux 3.14.0-031400rc5-lowlatency x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.13.2-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Mar 6 16:57:20 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-01 (33 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20140121.1)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
 LANGUAGE=en_CA:en
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: wpa
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Kootee (kootee)]

Is there any mode to disable upgrading this package from 13.10 (which works for me too)? I mean when i use "sudo apt-get upgrade" it upgrades this package to 1:2.1 version, which doesn't work (surely bugged).

I get the same result on new version from hostapd:
nl80211: Could not configure driver mode
nl80211 driver initialization failed.

[Kootee (kootee)]

Ok, I've found it. If anyone need stop upgrading by apt, you must use "sudo apt-mark hold hostapd". ( For other update managers etc, see here: http://askubuntu.com/questions/18654/how-to-prevent-updating-of-a-specific-package )

[Alberto Salvia Novella (es20490446e)]

It has a severe impact on a large portion of Ubuntu users.

[Ezmer DeKleaner (edekleaner)]

Interestingly it appears that now the driver (vers 2.1) does something with error, and before it ignored it.

a solution (in desktop cases) is to do following to release resource.. then hostapd has no error....

sudo nmcli nm wifi off
sudo rfkill unblock wlan

this info has been gleaned from https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1221799

[Mehdi Hassanpour (mehdi)]

Simple workaround is to downgrade/re-install the package to saucy version which is hostapd_1.0-3ubuntu2.1_i386.deb...

[Bruno Medeiros (brunojcm)]

> sudo nmcli nm wifi off
> sudo rfkill unblock wlan

It works on Ubuntu 14.04! My complete script to set the AP up now is:

    sudo nmcli nm wifi off
    sudo rfkill unblock wlan

    sudo ifconfig wlan0 10.15.0.1/24 up
    sleep 1
    sudo service isc-dhcp-server restart
    sudo service hostapd restart

[Sergio Benjamim (sergio-br2)]

I'm using ap-hotspot (script that use hostapd), and with the older package from saucy i can see mon.wlan0 when type ifconfig. With this new package, there is no mon.wlan0. Is it a new behavior or a bug?

[Michael Murphy (mmstick)]

This new package has a bug that completely broke it, so the reason you can't see it is because the package doesn't even work.

[C.Lee Taylor (leenx-leet)]

Using U13.10 package, but would like to help if can with debugging or test packages.

[Joni-Pekka Kurronen (joni-kurronen)]

hi,

Upgraded from 12.04 to 14.04 and lost wlan0,...
but problem was at configuration, I forget from interfaces,

iface wlan0 inet manual
        pre-up iw dev wlan0 set type __ap
        hostapd /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf

two last lines !

my hostapd.conf :

interface=wlan0
bridge=br0
driver=nl80211
macaddr_acl=1
accept_mac_file=/etc/hostapd.accept
ssid=HARASOO
hw_mode=g
channel=3
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=xXXxxXXXx
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP CCMP
wpa_ptk_rekey=600

I have 1USD chines wifi ship's at all machines and
creating 4 wifi hotspots's that brideg giganet.
Manual so can ifup wlan0 and ifdown wlan0
at cron,...

[Joni-Pekka Kurronen (joni-kurronen)]

I have still one machien not solved,...

[god (humper)]

So what's the proper workaround for 14.04 to automatically start hostapd on boot?
Do I have to put smth into /etc/network/interfaces? Or disable interface in NetworkManager.conf?

[Andrea Olivo (andryandrew)]

I'm on 15.04 and the bug persists. The workarounds still work but the syntax for nmcli has become:

sudo nmcli radio wifi off

Instead of

sudo nmcli nm wifi off

Is there hope for a bugfix soon?

[Phil (ph35sm)]

Hello,

Is there any news (ie correction) with the latest ubuntu version 15.04 or 15.10?
Thanks - Phil.

[Andrea Olivo (andryandrew)]

Still present in 15.10.

Using a previous version of hostapd is not a valid workaround.

[kenn (whatnext)]

It's unbelievable to see that the buggy package ist still in repo and no fix has proposed yet!

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

I am still using the pinned-down version hostapd_1.0-3ubuntu2.1 which (seems to) work. If anyone lands here and it's stuck with the bug, here: http://www.webupd8.org/2013/06/how-to-set-up-wireless-hotspot-access.html you have the instruction on how to get it working.

Having it fixed for good would be nice, but the workaround does work, at least last time I checked.

[Andrej Shadura (andrew.sh)]

You can't have the same device managed by both hostapd and network-manager.

[Heiri (phlomos)]

I don't have NetworkManager installed.