Access Point not showing up when looking for wireless connections.

lucky13th · Jan 10, 2011, 4:21 AM

I believe I have set everything up correctly but the SSID is not showing up on my laptops.

Here's the demsg and ifconfig outputs, if they are of any help.

$ dmesg
Copyright (c) 1992-2010 The FreeBSD Project.
Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
	The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
FreeBSD is a registered trademark of The FreeBSD Foundation.
FreeBSD 8.1-RELEASE-p2 #1: Sat Jan  8 15:19:46 EST 2011
    sullrich@FreeBSD_8.0_pfSense_2.0-snaps.pfsense.org:/usr/obj.pfSense/usr/pfSensesrc/src/sys/pfSense.8 i386
Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
CPU: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.00GHz (2000.15-MHz 686-class CPU)
  Origin = "GenuineIntel"  Id = 0xf29  Family = f  Model = 2  Stepping = 9
  Features=0xbfebfbff <fpu,vme,de,pse,tsc,msr,pae,mce,cx8,apic,sep,mtrr,pge,mca,cmov,pat,pse36,clflush,dts,acpi,mmx,fxsr,sse,sse2,ss,htt,tm,pbe>Features2=0x4400 <cnxt-id,xtpr>real memory  = 536870912 (512 MB)
avail memory = 473341952 (451 MB)
ACPI APIC Table: <asus  ="" p4sc-ea="">
ioapic0 <version 8.0=""> irqs 0-23 on motherboard
wpi: You need to read the LICENSE file in /usr/share/doc/legal/intel_wpi/.
wpi: If you agree with the license, set legal.intel_wpi.license_ack=1 in /boot/loader.conf.
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (wpi_fw, 0xc09529d0, 0) error 1
ipw_bss: You need to read the LICENSE file in /usr/share/doc/legal/intel_ipw/.
ipw_bss: If you agree with the license, set legal.intel_ipw.license_ack=1 in /boot/loader.conf.
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_bss_fw, 0xc075dcc0, 0) error 1
wlan: mac acl policy registered
ipw_ibss: You need to read the LICENSE file in /usr/share/doc/legal/intel_ipw/.
ipw_ibss: If you agree with the license, set legal.intel_ipw.license_ack=1 in /boot/loader.conf.
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_ibss_fw, 0xc075dd80, 0) error 1
ipw_monitor: You need to read the LICENSE file in /usr/share/doc/legal/intel_ipw/.
ipw_monitor: If you agree with the license, set legal.intel_ipw.license_ack=1 in /boot/loader.conf.
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_monitor_fw, 0xc075de40, 0) error 1
kbd1 at kbdmux0
cryptosoft0: <software crypto=""> on motherboard
padlock0: No ACE support.
acpi0: <asus p4sc-ea=""> on motherboard
acpi0: Overriding SCI Interrupt from IRQ 9 to IRQ 20
acpi0: [ITHREAD]
acpi0: Power Button (fixed)
acpi0: reservation of 0, a0000 (3) failed
acpi0: reservation of 100000, 1df00000 (3) failed
Timecounter "ACPI-fast" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 1000
acpi_timer0: <24-bit timer at 3.579545MHz> port 0xe408-0xe40b on acpi0
cpu0: <acpi cpu=""> on acpi0
acpi_button0: <power button=""> on acpi0
pcib0: <acpi host-pci="" bridge=""> port 0xcf8-0xcff on acpi0
pci0: <acpi pci="" bus=""> on pcib0
agp0: <sis 651="" host="" to="" agp="" bridge=""> on hostb0
pcib1: <acpi pci-pci="" bridge=""> at device 1.0 on pci0
pci1: <acpi pci="" bus=""> on pcib1
vgapci0: <vga-compatible display=""> port 0xd800-0xd87f mem 0xf0000000-0xf7ffffff,0xe7800000-0xe781ffff irq 16 at device 0.0 on pci1
isab0: <pci-isa bridge=""> at device 2.0 on pci0
isa0: <isa bus=""> on isab0
atapci0: <sis 962="" udma133="" controller=""> port 0x1f0-0x1f7,0x3f6,0x170-0x177,0x376,0xa400-0xa40f irq 16 at device 2.5 on pci0
ata0: <ata 0="" channel=""> on atapci0
ata0: [ITHREAD]
ata1: <ata 1="" channel=""> on atapci0
ata1: [ITHREAD]
pci0: <multimedia, audio=""> at device 2.7 (no driver attached)
ohci0: <sis 5571="" usb="" controller=""> mem 0xe7000000-0xe7000fff irq 20 at device 3.0 on pci0
ohci0: [ITHREAD]
usbus0: <sis 5571="" usb="" controller=""> on ohci0
ohci1: <sis 5571="" usb="" controller=""> mem 0xe6800000-0xe6800fff irq 21 at device 3.1 on pci0
ohci1: [ITHREAD]
usbus1: <sis 5571="" usb="" controller=""> on ohci1
ehci0: <ehci (generic)="" usb="" 2.0="" controller=""> mem 0xe6000000-0xe6000fff at device 3.3 on pci0
ehci0: [ITHREAD]
usbus2: EHCI version 1.0
usbus2: <ehci (generic)="" usb="" 2.0="" controller=""> on ehci0
sis0: <sis 10="" 900="" 100basetx=""> port 0x8800-0x88ff mem 0xe5800000-0xe5800fff at device 4.0 on pci0
miibus0: <mii bus=""> on sis0
ukphy0: <generic ieee="" 802.3u="" media="" interface=""> PHY 1 on miibus0
ukphy0:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto
sis0: [ITHREAD]
skc0: <d-link dge-530t="" gigabit="" ethernet=""> port 0x8400-0x84ff mem 0xe5000000-0xe5003fff at device 14.0 on pci0
skc0: DGE-530T Gigabit Ethernet Adapter rev. (0x9)
sk0: <marvell semiconductor,="" inc.="" yukon=""> on skc0
miibus1: <mii bus=""> on sk0
e1000phy0: <marvell 88e1011="" gigabit="" phy=""> PHY 0 on miibus1
e1000phy0:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, 1000baseT, 1000baseT-FDX, auto
skc0: [ITHREAD]
atrtc0: <at realtime="" clock=""> port 0x70-0x73 irq 8 on acpi0
uart0: <16550 or compatible> port 0x3f8-0x3ff irq 4 flags 0x10 on acpi0
uart0: [FILTER]
atkbdc0: <keyboard controller="" (i8042)=""> port 0x60,0x64 irq 1 on acpi0
atkbd0: <at keyboard=""> irq 1 on atkbdc0
kbd0 at atkbd0
atkbd0: [GIANT-LOCKED]
atkbd0: [ITHREAD]
pmtimer0 on isa0
orm0: <isa option="" rom=""> at iomem 0xc0000-0xcbfff pnpid ORM0000 on isa0
sc0: <system console=""> at flags 0x100 on isa0
sc0: VGA <16 virtual consoles, flags=0x300>
vga0: <generic isa="" vga=""> at port 0x3c0-0x3df iomem 0xa0000-0xbffff on isa0
fdc0: No FDOUT register!
ppc0: parallel port not found.
p4tcc0: <cpu frequency="" thermal="" control=""> on cpu0
Timecounter "TSC" frequency 2000153320 Hz quality 800
Timecounters tick every 1.000 msec
IPsec: Initialized Security Association Processing.
usbus0: 12Mbps Full Speed USB v1.0
usbus1: 12Mbps Full Speed USB v1.0
usbus2: 480Mbps High Speed USB v2.0
acd0: CDROM <asus cd-s520="" a="" 2.0l=""> at ata0-master UDMA33 
ugen0.1: <sis> at usbus0
uhub0: <sis 1="" 9="" ohci="" root="" hub,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 1.00="" 1.00,="" addr=""> on usbus0
ugen1.1: <sis> at usbus1
uhub1: <sis 1="" 9="" ohci="" root="" hub,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 1.00="" 1.00,="" addr=""> on usbus1
ugen2.1: <sis> at usbus2
uhub2: <sis 1="" 9="" ehci="" root="" hub,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 1.00,="" addr=""> on usbus2
ad1: 38166MB <wdc wd400bb-00dea0="" 05.03e05=""> at ata0-slave UDMA100 
Root mount waiting for: usbus2 usbus1 usbus0
uhub0: 3 ports with 3 removable, self powered
uhub1: 3 ports with 3 removable, self powered
Root mount waiting for: usbus2
Root mount waiting for: usbus2
uhub2: 6 ports with 6 removable, self powered
Root mount waiting for: usbus2
ugen2.2: <ralink> at usbus2
run0: <.0> on usbus2
run0: MAC/BBP RT3070 (rev 0x0201), RF RT3020 (MIMO 1T1R), address 00:a1:b0:c0:2b:12
run0: firmware RT2870 loaded
Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/ad1s1a
pflog0: promiscuous mode enabled</ralink></wdc></sis></sis></sis></sis></sis></sis></asus></cpu></generic></system></isa></at></keyboard></at></marvell></mii></marvell></d-link></generic></mii></sis></ehci></ehci></sis></sis></sis></sis></multimedia,></ata></ata></sis></isa></pci-isa></vga-compatible></acpi></acpi></sis></acpi></acpi></power></acpi></asus></software></version></asus></cnxt-id,xtpr></fpu,vme,de,pse,tsc,msr,pae,mce,cx8,apic,sep,mtrr,pge,mca,cmov,pat,pse36,clflush,dts,acpi,mmx,fxsr,sse,sse2,ss,htt,tm,pbe>


$ ifconfig run0_wlan0
run0_wlan0: flags=8943 <up,broadcast,running,promisc,simplex,multicast>metric 0 mtu 1500
	ether 00:a1:b0:c0:2b:12
	inet6 fe80::2a1:b0ff:fec0:2b12%run0_wlan0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x8 
	inet 192.168.5.1 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.5.255
	nd6 options=3 <performnud,accept_rtadv>media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect mode 11g <hostap>status: running
	ssid rawrfles_wireless channel 1 (2412 MHz 11g) bssid 00:a1:b0:c0:2b:12
	country US authmode WPA privacy MIXED deftxkey 2 TKIP 2:128-bit
	TKIP 3:128-bit txpower 0 scanvalid 60 protmode OFF -apbridge
	dtimperiod 1 -dfs</hostap></performnud,accept_rtadv></up,broadcast,running,promisc,simplex,multicast>

I have a very basic understanding of networking, mostly on the level of an average consumer setting up home routers. Just to make sure, if I want routing capabilities for a small home network of around 3 machines, I should set up my wireless interface as an access point? Also, is a bridge between the WLAN and LAN necessary? I seemed to have picked that up somewhere, don't know if it is relevant to me. Thank you for your help!

wallabybob · Jan 10, 2011, 5:08 AM

@lucky13th:

I believe I have set everything up correctly but the SSID is not showing up on my laptops.

Try using a fixed channel, preferably one not already in use in your neighbourhood.

@lucky13th:

If I want routing capabilities for a small home network of around 3 machines, I should set up my wireless interface as an access point?

Yes.

@lucky13th:

Also, is a bridge between the WLAN and LAN necessary?

No. I have file servers and networked printer on my LAN. I want to allow my wireless clients to access them. I chose to bridge LAN and WLAN but I could have had LAN and WLAN as separate subnet and added firewall rules to WLAN to allow access to LAN (or only some hosts on LAN).

lucky13th · Jan 10, 2011, 5:35 AM

I believe I was using a fixed channel. I changed it to one not used but no luck. Unless you mean the mode. I don't know why it says autoselect even though I have selected 802.11g as my mode.

wallabybob · Jan 10, 2011, 5:54 AM

Sorry I missed the channel in the ifconfig output.

My Tenda W311U (also a run device) has a LED that seems to flash with transmission. Does your NIC?

Your laptops have detected other wireless networks? (What test are you using?) Have they seen that SSID before? The laptops have a "G capable" wireless NIC?

lucky13th · Jan 10, 2011, 6:07 AM

My NIC has a link and power LED. The link is flashing, which I believes also indicates transmission.

My laptops can detect my home router as well as many other surrounding wireless networks.

The test was no more than looking up wireless networks using the wireless connection software on the laptops.

They have never seen the SSID that I set up the WLAN with unless I set it to adhoc. The laptops do have a "G capable" wireless NIC.

wallabybob · Jan 10, 2011, 12:18 PM

Have you tried she run to "no encryption"? Or encrypted by WPA2/AES (which works for me)?

Since WPA is now considered "insecure" because its relatively easy to crack and because the run driver is new to FreeBSD its possible WPA didn't get much testing.

As best I can recall, I've only ever used WPA2/AES on my run. Some time ago I used WPA2/TKIP encryption but when I upgraded Ubuntu to 10.04 on my netbook I couldn't get WPA2/TKIP to work so I changed to WPA2/AES.

Have you tried your NIC with another box (e.g. to converse with your home router) to verify that it at least works in part?

lucky13th · Jan 10, 2011, 8:56 PM

I'm finally able to see and establish a connection to the AP using "no encryption" but under any other encryption WPA and WEP with any combination of authentications it does not work. The NIC supports WEP, WPA, and WPA2. It does work using WPA when connecting to my home router. Could it be a driver issue? Or am I setting up something wrong.

brcisna · Jan 15, 2011, 5:17 PM

lucky 13th,

I have seen many wifi adapters not work correctly with various encryption mechanisms. You would think by this time all wifi adapters would be matured enough to decypher any encryption algorithms. Will your laptop wifi adapter connect to your own home router with any encryption enabled on it,for example?

I do not really think it is any problem with the pfSense box itself. Instead I would bet it is the actual laptops " hang on" wifi adapter software that the laptop's manufacture adds to it. I work in a school setting so I have seen about every conceivable laptop manufacturer's add on software for their specific wifi/laptop model. Download an opensource freeware software called inssider,,if you are using winders. It can be used with both 2.4 as well as 5.8 wifi Ap's to find them. See if you get any different results with it using your wifi adapter with encryption enabled on the pfSense machine.

barry

lucky13th · Jan 17, 2011, 12:10 AM

My home router uses WPA-TPIK for its encryption. Thanks for the suggestion. I will try using inSSIDer once I get my primary laptop back running; it's not booting. School issued laptops are cruddy and hard to self-service since they lock everything.