Wireless on SG-2440

dennypage

My current config if it helps:

<opt2><if>ath0</if>
<wireless><standard>11na</standard>
<mode>hostap</mode>
<protmode>off</protmode>
<ssid>Test</ssid>
<channel>36</channel>
<authmode><txpower><distance><regdomain>fcc</regdomain>
<regcountry>US</regcountry>
<reglocation>indoor</reglocation>
<auth_server_addr><auth_server_port><auth_server_shared_secret><auth_server_addr2><auth_server_port2><auth_server_shared_secret2><wme><enable></enable></wme>
<txantenna>0</txantenna>
<rxantenna>0</rxantenna>
<wpa><macaddr_acl><auth_algs>1</auth_algs>
<wpa_mode>2</wpa_mode>
<wpa_key_mgmt>WPA-PSK</wpa_key_mgmt>
<wpa_pairwise>CCMP</wpa_pairwise>
<wpa_group_rekey>60</wpa_group_rekey>
<wpa_gmk_rekey>3600</wpa_gmk_rekey>
<passphrase><ext_wpa_sw></ext_wpa_sw></passphrase></macaddr_acl></wpa>
<puren><enable></enable></puren></auth_server_shared_secret2></auth_server_port2></auth_server_addr2></auth_server_shared_secret></auth_server_port></auth_server_addr></distance></txpower></authmode></wireless>
<enable><spoofmac><ipaddr>192.168.228.1</ipaddr>
<subnet>24</subnet></spoofmac></enable></opt2>

Guest

The SG-2440 is rarely pretty new on the market and not so many peoples get their hands on
but often if more then 2 or 3 miniPCIe slot where soldered on the board on is only for setting
up an mSATA in it, because this ports is assigned to an SATA interface, could this be perhaps?

So if so you might be only changing the miniPCIe WiFi card to another miniPCIe slot and all
is fine then. ;)

cmb

@dennypage:

At a minimum, it would appear that pfSense isn't invoking ifconfig correctly:

It's set correctly, but there is a bug in the FreeBSD wireless bits with specifying mode. Related to: https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/4517

In 2.2.2, there is an option "auto" for standard, which leaves it unspecified. That will work around the issue you're showing there. We have a FreeBSD bug report opened on that. Though I've never seen that affect hostap mode.

The only difference I see in your config and what I've been testing with is setting the regdomain, country and location, where I left mine to defaults. I'll try that exact config you have there.

dennypage

With this config I get a continual reboot/crash/reboot/crash cycle.

<opt2><if>ath0</if>
<wireless><standard>11na</standard>
<mode>hostap</mode>
<protmode>off</protmode>
<ssid>Test</ssid>
<channel>36</channel>
<authmode><txpower><distance><regdomain><regcountry><reglocation><auth_server_addr><auth_server_port><auth_server_shared_secret><auth_server_addr2><auth_server_port2><auth_server_shared_secret2><wme><enable></enable></wme>
<wpa><macaddr_acl><auth_algs>1</auth_algs>
<wpa_mode>2</wpa_mode>
<wpa_key_mgmt>WPA-PSK</wpa_key_mgmt>
<wpa_pairwise>CCMP</wpa_pairwise>
<wpa_group_rekey>60</wpa_group_rekey>
<wpa_gmk_rekey>3600</wpa_gmk_rekey>
<passphrase><ext_wpa_sw></ext_wpa_sw></passphrase></macaddr_acl></wpa>
<puren><enable></enable></puren></auth_server_shared_secret2></auth_server_port2></auth_server_addr2></auth_server_shared_secret></auth_server_port></auth_server_addr></reglocation></regcountry></regdomain></distance></txpower></authmode></wireless>
<enable><spoofmac><ipaddr>192.168.228.1</ipaddr>
<subnet>24</subnet></spoofmac></enable></opt2>

If I change the two lines:

Then the unit will successfully boot.

I still have the crash report if you would like.

cmb

I worked with Denny via support to check this out on his system. Of the few configs that crash his system, and the other few that don't crash but don't work at all either, all of them work just fine for me here on the same hardware with no crashes. So seems this is a hardware issue of some sort with his system and we're facilitating a return. I'll take a look at the box when we get it back to further investigate the specific root cause. I'm guessing it's a bad wifi card but we'll see.

dennypage

Once again, thanks for taking the time Chris.

dennypage

Just to close this off, the problem was indeed a hardware problem. The pfSense folk sent out a replacement unit (overnight) and it works great.

I would like to extend my thanks to the folk at pfSense for taking good care of me.

luckman212

Interesting thread. Was this a flaw with just your specific unit or a general errata with an earlier PCB revision that has since been corrected?

dennypage

My personal thought is that the hardware problem was actually the WLE200NX (mini-PCIe WiFi card). I believe Chris was going to have a look at the defective unit, perhaps he will comment.

@luckman212:

Was this a flaw with just your specific unit or a general errata with an earlier PCB revision that has since been corrected?

cmb

It ended up being a problem with the wireless card.