Setting up Wireless | skybert.net

The Old School Way

Configure your wireless networks in e.g./etc/wpa_supplicant/my-networks.conf:

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant

# WEP
network={
  ssid="myessid"
  scan_ssid=1
  key_mgmt=NONE
  auth_alg=OPEN
  wep_key0="foo"
  wep_tx_keyidx=0
}

# WPA
network={
  ssid="myothernetw2ork"
  scan_ssid=1
  key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
  psk="myverydifficultpassword"
}

and make/etc/network/interfaces use it:

iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wpa-conf /etc/wpa_supplicant/my-networks.conf
post-up /etc/init.d/firewall start

wpasupplicant also supports roaming, to use roaming, replace wpa-conf with wpa-roam.

Getting help with all the required fields

If you've got problems figuring out all the correct settings for yourwpasupplicant configuration file, you may use NetworkManager to read the settings:

$ grep "Config: added" /var/log/daemon.log | grep NetworkManager

Troubleshooting

wpa_supplicant fails to start

If you see thatwpa_supplicant fails to start with this message:

wpa_supplicant: /sbin/wpa_supplicant daemon failed to start

run the wpa_supplicant command manually in the foreground (this means not adding the-B switch) with debugging (this means adding the-q switch):

# /sbin/wpa_supplicant -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/my-networks.conf -q

SIOCSIFFLAGS: Unknown error 132

I was all of a sudden, without changing my system (as far as I know) getting this really odd error on kernel version2.6.32-trunk-686:

# ifup -v wlan
[..]
SIOCSIFFLAGS: Unknown error 132
Failed to bring up wlan0.

I was just about trying another kernel, when I checked the wifi on/off switch on my laptop. It turned out, my wifi wasn't properly turned on. Pushing the switch in place made a world of diffrence,ifup wlan0 now got the interface up!