[Fixed...] wpa_supplicant and netcfg stopped working since updates

Question

Hello, I am new to the forums and have run into a problem with wpa_supplicant and netcfg (though I believe the problem resides with wpa_supplicant).
A bit about me - This is my first "intermediate" linux distro (I tried fedora back when it was version 6 but didn't get terribly far with it). I have mostly been using Ubuntu (because it is out of the box and easy), but I ran out of use for an old laptop I had around and chose to install a minimalist distro on it (hence arch). The learning curve was a bit steep, but it is intersting and makes for a nice learning experience at the very least.
The problem:
I updated my system (which I do each time there is an available update on linux because it normally fixes things) on the 11th and everything was working great. However, my ip lease expired over the weekend (apparently) and as I am mostly a windows user (sorry, but it is true) I didn't notice it until today (when I went to check pacman for any updates and no longer had an internet connection).
It appears that the last round of updates I installed included updates for wpa_supplicant in them and changed the way things are supposed to be done in the /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file. It looked like so beforehand (and still does though I have attempted to rewrite with the new format - sadly that hasn't worked out and I am here as a result):
network={
ssid="zelda"
psk=<... long key here> # note - Like I said, this was working before, I removed the key on purpose.
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=wheel
And here is what I have attempted with my new wpa_supplicant.conf file:
network={
ssid="zelda"
psk=<... long key here>
scan_ssid=1
priority=1
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=wheel
Here are the steps I am taking to attempt and access the internet (manually):
sudo ifconfig wlan0 up
sudo wpa_supplicant -B -Dwext -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
<wait a bit>
sudo dhcpcd wlan0
dhcpcd[2281]: version 5.2.12 starting
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: rebinding lease of <IP>
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: carrier lost
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: carrier acquited
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: rebinding lease of <IP>
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: boradcasting for a lease
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: carrier lost
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: carrier acquired
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: rebinding lease of <IP>
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: broadcasting for a lease
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: carrier lost
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: carrier acquired
dhcpcd[2281]: wlan0: rebinding lease for <IP>
dhcpcd[2281]: timed out
And if I attempt to use netcfg (in code because it uses spaces):
sudo netcfg zelda
:: zelda up [BUSY]
> WPA Authentication/Association Failed
[FAIL]
Here is my /etc/network.d/zelda file (like I said, this used to work. I haven't modified this file though):
CONNECTION='wireless'
DESCRIPTION='Home network'
INTERFACE='wlan0'
SECURITY='wpa-config'
WPA_CONF='/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf'
IP='dhcp'
Any help would be appreciated.
<edit>
Well, this is what I like to see. Apparently it wasn't as difficult as I was making it out to be, and the second wpa_supplicant.conf file I posted (the new one) works. I just had to do a reboot for it to notice the changes (though this does lead me to wonder if a daemon caches the wpa_supplicant entries...). It is all working now.
</edit>
Last edited by BetaWar (2011-05-18 23:55:22)

Answer 1

trixrabbit wrote:
Then I use netcfg-menu to connect to the netowork.
My problem is I tried doing this again and I get  : Please install 'dialog' to use netcfg-menu
You are trying to use netcfg-menu.
The error message is telling you that you need to install the "dialog" package to use netcfg-menu.
Solution: install the "dialog" package (pacman -S dialog).
edit:  You can also use netcfg without the dialog package. For example, "netcfg -u <profile>", "netcfg -l". See "netcfg --help" for more options.
10PinkPanther wrote:Wiki says that dialog is needed in some cases.Do you see your network when you run wifi-menu?
Last edited by Xyne (2012-12-02 19:12:18)