Connect to a wireless network via Linux command line

lehe · 08-09-2009, 09:35 AM

Hi,
Here is what I did

Code:

ifconfig wlan0 up
iwlist wlan0 scan
iwconfig wlan0 essid NETWORK_ID key WIRELESS_KEY

1. After iwconfig, I got this error

Quote:

Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.1.1
Copyright 2004-2008 Internet Systems Consortium.
All rights reserved.
For info, please visit http://www.isc.org/sw/dhcp/

wmaster0: unknown hardware address type 801
wmaster0: unknown hardware address type 801
Listening on LPF/wlan0/00:0e:9b:cd:4e:18
Sending on LPF/wlan0/00:0e:9b:cd:4e:18
Sending on Socket/fallback
DHCPREQUEST of 192.168.1.3 on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67
DHCPREQUEST of 192.168.1.3 on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 3
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 5
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 7
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 8
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 11
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 8
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 11
DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 8
No DHCPOFFERS received.
Trying recorded lease 192.168.1.3
PING 192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1) 56(84) bytes of data.

--- 192.168.1.1 ping statistics ---
1 packets transmitted, 0 received, +1 errors, 100% packet loss, time 0ms

No working leases in persistent database - sleeping.

2. I also try to see if it is to use an ascii key, so I added the “s:” prefix to my key as

Code:

iwconfig wlan0 essid NETWORK_ID key s:WIRELESS_KEY

But it will give error

Quote:

Error for wireless request "Set Encode" (8B2A) :
SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument.

3. Do I have to specify the type of the wireless network: WEP WAP etc? I am able to access several wireless networks: WEP, WAP and open without password.
4. When I connect to the open wireless network, "iwconfig wlan0" gives "Access Point: Not-Associated".

Quote:

wlan0 IEEE 802.11bg ESSID:"bell"
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:9 Mb/s Tx-Power=27 dBm
Retry min limit:7 RTS thr

ff Fragment thr=2352 B
Encryption key:2D13-1B69-557F-3574-61CF-E091-51F9-4B70-0F9E-597B-2438-7B57-3468-0C35-D704-0D3E [2] Security mode

pen
Power Management

ff
Link Quality=48/100 Signal level:-67 dBm Noise level=-69 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

Does this mean the connection to the wireless network fail? But I still can surf on the internet.

Thanks and regards!

carrotcake1029 · 08-09-2009, 11:05 AM

I am running linux and have just successfully connected my card by doing the following:

This will give u the essid and Access Point and channel.

Code:

iwlist scan

For the key and essid arguments, keep the apostrophes. When entering your channel number, replace integer with, of course, the channel number supplied to you by iwlist.

Code:

iwconfig wlan0 key 'mykey' mode managed essid 'mychannel' channel integer ap 00:00:00:00:00:00

Also you may or may not need to manually supply the access point. I had to because it wasn't being assigned correctly.

Also be sure to take your device down before you start and start the device back up when you are done:

Code:

ifconfig wlan0 up/down

Hopefully this helps.

Edit: Just read your post in more detail and saw this line:

Code:

Access Point: Not-Associated

So like I described, be sure to manually input your access point. It is the 6 hex numbers separated by colons given to you in iwlist.

valthyx · 08-09-2009, 11:26 AM

First of all, if you are connecting to WPA, you cannot use iwconfig wlan0 essid NETWORK_ID key WIRELESS_KEY command. You will have to use wireless-tools or wpa_supplicant. I am using wpa_supplicant and it is kinda straight forward. Got to do some settings in wpa_supplicant.conf file, and nothing else.

If you are using WEP, then try this.
modprobe -r <your wireless module here>
modprobe <your wireless module>
iwconfig wlan0 up
iwconfig wlan0 essid <network name> key <password>

carrotcake1029 · 08-09-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valthyx

First of all, if you are connecting to WPA, you cannot use iwconfig wlan0 essid NETWORK_ID key WIRELESS_KEY command. You will have to use wireless-tools or wpa_supplicant.

iwconfig is part of wireless-tools

But yes, you are right, you do need to be running wpa_supplicant

valthyx · 08-10-2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

iwconfig is part of wireless-tools

owh really? I do not know that as i never got to use it.

Anyway, how is your problem now, lehe?

08-09-2009, 11:05 AM	#2
carrotcake1029 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 299	I am running linux and have just successfully connected my card by doing the following: This will give u the essid and Access Point and channel. Code: iwlist scan For the key and essid arguments, keep the apostrophes. When entering your channel number, replace integer with, of course, the channel number supplied to you by iwlist. Code: iwconfig wlan0 key 'mykey' mode managed essid 'mychannel' channel integer ap 00:00:00:00:00:00 Also you may or may not need to manually supply the access point. I had to because it wasn't being assigned correctly. Also be sure to take your device down before you start and start the device back up when you are done: Code: ifconfig wlan0 up/down Hopefully this helps. Edit: Just read your post in more detail and saw this line: Code: Access Point: Not-Associated So like I described, be sure to manually input your access point. It is the 6 hex numbers separated by colons given to you in iwlist. Last edited by carrotcake1029; 08-09-2009 at 11:07 AM.
carrotcake1029 is offline

08-09-2009, 11:26 AM	#3
valthyx Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 76	First of all, if you are connecting to WPA, you cannot use iwconfig wlan0 essid NETWORK_ID key WIRELESS_KEY command. You will have to use wireless-tools or wpa_supplicant. I am using wpa_supplicant and it is kinda straight forward. Got to do some settings in wpa_supplicant.conf file, and nothing else. If you are using WEP, then try this. modprobe -r <your wireless module here> modprobe <your wireless module> iwconfig wlan0 up iwconfig wlan0 essid <network name> key <password>
valthyx is offline

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