Can't associate wlan card with WPA enabled access-point.

Hi all,

recently I've setup the following classic 802.1x infrastructure:
laptop ---> WPA Accesspoint ---> FreeRadius linux server

I have a dual-boot laptop both with Windows XP and Linux Debian Sid.
On windows XP, everything works perfect and the authentication
happens, but on Linux I have some problems. I'll give a short
overview of my hardware/software:
- Acer 803 Lmi laptop with Intel Wireless 2100 802.11b WLAN
- Debian Sid Unstable distro
- Drivers:
- the ipw2100-1.1.2 driver
- the ieee80211-1.0.3 driver
- the ipw2100-fw-1.3 hotplug-firmware
- Kernel 2.6.12 with all encryption libraries compiled in.

I have 2 problems (without finding any solution on google):
- I don't manage to associate the wlan-card with this configuration with
the access-point (WPA encryption). Normally, the association has to take
place before authentication if I understand everything and the led from
the wlan-iface keeps flikkering.
What I do is:
- iwconfig eth2 essid USR5450
but when i type iwconfig eth2 i always see the following:

laptop:/usr/src# iwconfig eth2
eth2 unassociated ESSID:"USR5450" Nickname:"ipw2100"
Mode:Managed Channel=0 Access Point: 00:00:00:00:00:00
Bit Rate=0 kb/s Tx-Powerff
Retry min limit:7 RTS thrff Fragment thrff
Encryption keyff
Power Managementff
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

It's still unassociated, and I don't get it associated. (not even after
unloading and reloading the drivers). Without WPA enabled in the
access-point, it works like a charm.

- I someone has a solution for this problem, which tools do I have to use
to authenticate with the freeradius server via the access-point? Only
x-supplicant, only wpa-supplicant or both?

Any help is very appreciated!

regards,
davy.

davy NO dewinter SPAM @ intec PLEASE ugent THANKS be

Davy De Winter wrote:

> - Acer 803 Lmi laptop with Intel Wireless 2100 802.11b WLAN
> - Debian Sid Unstable distro
> - Drivers:
> - the ipw2100-1.1.2 driver
> - the ieee80211-1.0.3 driver
> - the ipw2100-fw-1.3 hotplug-firmware
> - Kernel 2.6.12 with all encryption libraries compiled in.

I've got a Dell Inspiron 8600 running FC3 with the same wifi card, and
it's working. Check the "rc4" crypt module is available.
Also you might have a look at the doc of the driver, there is an option
for "auto association" ( which I do not use )
..

> - I don't manage to associate the wlan-card with this configuration with
> the access-point (WPA encryption). Normally, the association has to take
> place before authentication

... Yes but WEP encryption is not authentication I think.

>if I understand everything and the led from
> the wlan-iface keeps flikkering.
> What I do is:
> - iwconfig eth2 essid USR5450
> but when i type iwconfig eth2 i always see the following:

As I understand things, you have to do the whole config at once. so do also:
iwconfig eth2 key < your wep key >
( and take care of the mess of hexa / decimal encoding etc. Put 0x<your
hexa wep key >)

if your AP broadcasts the ssid you might do:
iwlist eth2 scan
to verify you typed exactly the correct ssid.

>
> It's still unassociated, and I don't get it associated. (not even after
> unloading and reloading the drivers). Without WPA enabled in the
> access-point, it works like a charm.

configuring the wep key will certainly help

>
> - I someone has a solution for this problem, which tools do I have to use
> to authenticate with the freeradius server via the access-point? Only
> x-supplicant, only wpa-supplicant or both?
>

Sorry I have no help for this

Olivier