How do you turn ON - WiFi NIC ?? - PC-BSD Forums

Ben Hacker Jr · #1 01-17-2009, 09:28 PM

Hello,

I have a laptop with internal wireless capability. It has functioned in the past in PC-BSD7. There is an external switch to disable the wireless WiFi and BlueTooth. I left the switch ON (to have bluetooth) and disabled the Wireless adapter via the Network Manager while I had Wired network access available.

For some reason, now I cannot get the wireless adapter to come back on. I believe this is simply a configuration issue because I can dual boot into WindowsXP and access the wireless WiFi just fine.

Wireless LAN: Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Network Connection (802.11a/b/g)3

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model- ... =VGNUX280P

Code:

user@pcbsd% uname -a
FreeBSD pcbsd 7.1-PRERELEASE FreeBSD 7.1-PRERELEASE #0: Mon Nov 24 20:22:16 EST 2008
     root@pcbsdx32-7:/usr/obj/pcbsd-build/cvs/7.0.2-src/sys/PCBSD  i386

user@pcbsd% dmesg | grep wpi
wpi0: <Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG> mem 0xd2000000-0xd2000fff irq 16 at device 0.0 on pci2
wpi0: Ethernet address: 00:18:de:10:33:29
wpi0: [ITHREAD]
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 1
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 3
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 4
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 1
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 3
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 4
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 1
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 3
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 4
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 1
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 3
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 4
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 1
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 3
wpi0: timeout resetting Tx ring 4


user@pcbsd% dmesg
Copyright (c) 1992-2008 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 7.1-PRERELEASE #0: Mon Nov 24 20:22:16 EST 2008
    root@pcbsdx32-7:/usr/obj/pcbsd-build/cvs/7.0.2-src/sys/PCBSD
module_register: module cpu/ichss already exists!
Module cpu/ichss failed to register: 17
module_register: module cpu/est already exists!
Module cpu/est failed to register: 17
module_register: module cpu/p4tcc already exists!
Module cpu/p4tcc failed to register: 17
module_register: module cpu/powernow already exists!
Module cpu/powernow failed to register: 17
module_register: module cpu/smist already exists!
Module cpu/smist failed to register: 17
Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
CPU: Genuine Intel(R) CPU           U1400  @ 1.20GHz (1197.01-MHz 686-class CPU)
  Origin = "GenuineIntel"  Id = 0x6e8  Stepping = 8
  Features=0xafe9fbff<FPU,VME,DE,PSE,TSC,MSR,PAE,MCE,CX8,APIC,SEP,MTRR,PGE,MCA,
CMOV,PAT,CLFLUSH,DTS,ACPI,MMX,FXSR,SSE,SSE2,SS,TM,PBE>
  Features2=0xc1a9<SSE3,MON,VMX,EST,TM2,xTPR,PDCM>
  AMD Features=0x100000<NX>
real memory  = 1063780352 (1014 MB)
avail memory = 1027252224 (979 MB)
ACPI APIC Table: <Sony N2>
ioapic0 <Version 2.0> irqs 0-23 on motherboard
kbd1 at kbdmux0
ath_hal: 0.10.5.6 (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5416, RF5111, RF5112, RF2413, 
RF5413, RF2133, RF2425, RF2417)
acpi0: <Sony> on motherboard
acpi0: [ITHREAD]
Timecounter "ACPI-safe" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 850
acpi_timer0: <24-bit timer at 3.579545MHz> port 0x1008-0x100b on acpi0
acpi_ec0: <Embedded Controller: GPE 0x17> port 0x62,0x66 on acpi0
acpi_button0: <Power Button> on acpi0
pcib0: <ACPI Host-PCI bridge> port 0xcf8-0xcff on acpi0
pci0: <ACPI PCI bus> on pcib0
vgapci0: <VGA-compatible display> port 0x1800-0x1807 mem 0xd4200000-0xd427ffff,
0xc0000000-0xcfffffff,0xd4300000-0xd433f
fff irq 16 at device 2.0 on pci0
agp0: <Intel 82945GM (945GM GMCH) SVGA controller> on vgapci0
agp0: detected 7932k stolen memory
agp0: aperture size is 256M
vgapci1: <VGA-compatible display> mem 0xd4280000-0xd42fffff at device 2.1 on pci0
pci0: <multimedia> at device 27.0 (no driver attached)
pcib1: <ACPI PCI-PCI bridge> irq 16 at device 28.0 on pci0
pci2: <ACPI PCI bus> on pcib1
wpi0: <Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG> mem 0xd2000000-0xd2000fff irq 16 at device 0.0 on pci2
wpi0: Ethernet address: 00:18:de:10:33:29
wpi0: [ITHREAD]
pcib2: <ACPI PCI-PCI bridge> irq 17 at device 28.1 on pci0
pci6: <ACPI PCI bus> on pcib2
mskc0: <Marvell Yukon 88E8036 Gigabit Ethernet> port 0x3000-0x30ff mem 0xd4000000-0xd4003fff 
irq 17 at device 0.0 on pci6
msk0: <Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Yukon FE Id 0xb7 Rev 0x01> on mskc0
msk0: Ethernet address: 00:13:a9:41:0d:b7
miibus0: <MII bus> on msk0
e1000phy0: <Marvell 88E3082 10/100 Fast Ethernet PHY> PHY 0 on miibus0
e1000phy0:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto
mskc0: [FILTER]
 - - - - - - -  additional listing deleted.

below is the ending of my /etc/rc.conf:

Code:

user@pcbsd% cat /etc/rc.conf
 . . .
# Enable the firewall
pf_rules="/etc/pf.conf"
pf_enable="YES"
pf_flags=""

# Enable ipfw and open it by default since we have PF
firewall_enable="YES"
firewall_type="open"

hostname="pcbsd"
ifconfig_msk0="DHCP"
ifconfig_wpi0="WPA DHCP"
oss_enable="NO"
snddetect_enable="YES"
mixer_enable="YES"

Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Ben

Ben Hacker Jr · #2 01-19-2009, 05:54 PM

Some additional info from Sysctl:

Code:

user@pcbsd% ifconfig wpi0 
wpi0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
        ether 00:18:de:10:33:29
        media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect (autoselect)
        status: no carrier
        ssid "" channel 1 (2412 Mhz 11b)
        authmode WPA1+WPA2/802.11i privacy ON deftxkey UNDEF txpower 50
        bmiss 7 scanvalid 60 roaming MANUAL bintval 0


user@pcbsd% sysctl -a | grep wpi
net.wlan.0.%parent: wpi0
debug.wpi: 0
dev.wpi.0.%desc: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
dev.wpi.0.%driver: wpi
dev.wpi.0.%location: slot=0 function=0 handle=\_SB_.PCI0.RP01.WLAN
dev.wpi.0.%pnpinfo: vendor=0x8086 device=0x4222 subvendor=0x8086 
subdevice=0x1050 class=0x028000
dev.wpi.0.%parent: pci2
dev.wpi.0.wake: 0

Any help will be greatly appreciated...

TerryP · #3 01-19-2009, 06:30 PM

The only thing I have ever had to do to "turn on" a laptops internal wifi card, is hit Fn+wifi power.

On my laptop, FreeBSD / X ignores the multimedia keys but the control stuff for the Fn key works (Wireless power, monitor brightness, etc).

Ben Hacker Jr · #4 01-21-2009, 05:03 PM

Thanks so much for your reply...

This Laptop has only the one WiFi switch on "bottom left". It is turned on.

[MSWIN]
If I boot into Windows the WLAN led comes on before the Log IN screen appears and the device connects to my Wireless router. When I Shutdown Windows, as soon at the shutdown screen goes away the Wireless LED on the PC goes out. Reboot starts and the LED stays out.

[PCBSD]
If I boot into PC-BSD the WLAN led does NOT come on. The Wireless network indicator in the "KDE Panel system tray" shows the Wireless Network as Not Connected.

This behavior seems to have begun when I "disabled" the wireless NIC while in PCBSD OS's "Wireless Configuration" utility. (I got there by right clicking on the "Wireless NIC" indicator in the System Tray)

Each time I revisit this utility, the check box at the bottom for "Disable this wireless device" is Unchecked. Even when I check it and apply and OK.. If I go back into this utility.. the box is Unchecked again so..

HOW do I ENABLE the wireless device??

Code:

user@pcbsd% ifconfig -v wpi0 
wpi0: flags=8802<BROADCAST,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
        ether 00:18:de:10:33:29
        media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect (autoselect)
        status: no carrier
        ssid "" channel 1 (2412 Mhz 11b) bssid 00:00:00:00:00:00
        authmode WPA1+WPA2/802.11i privacy ON deftxkey UNDEF
        powersavemode OFF powersavesleep 100 txpower 50 txpowmax 50.0
        rtsthreshold 2346 fragthreshold 2346 bmiss 7 scanvalid 60 -bgscan
        bgscanintvl 300 bgscanidle 250 roam:rssi11a 7 roam:rate11a 12
        roam:rssi11b 7 roam:rate11b 1 roam:rssi11g 7 roam:rate11g 5 -pureg
        protmode CTS -ht -htcompat -ampdu ampdulimit 8k ampdudensity - -amsdu
        -shortgi htprotmode RTSCTS -puren -wme -burst -ff -dturbo
        roaming MANUAL bintval 0

gwood · #5 01-22-2009, 01:12 AM

I think you have to turn it on... or rather, UP: :wink:

ifconfig ath0

Code:

ath0: flags=8802<BROADCAST,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
        ether 00:11:95:69:0e:21
        media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect (autoselect)
        status: no carrier
        ssid "" channel 1 (2412 Mhz 11b)
        ....

$ sudo ifconfig ath0 up  # <---- turn it on

$ ifconfig ath0
ath0: flags=8803<UP,BROADCAST,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
        ether 00:11:95:69:0e:21
        media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect (autoselect)
        status: no carrier
        ssid "" channel 1 (2412 Mhz 11b)
        ....

I noticed your ifconfig didn't say 'UP':

Code:

wpi0: flags=8802<BROADCAST,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
        ether 00:18:de:10:33:29
        media: IEEE 802.11 
        ....

I'm not sure what you have to do to make that change persistent.

Ben Hacker Jr · #6 01-22-2009, 02:00 PM

Thanks so much for your reply.

Actually.. if you look at the post from Jan 19th, I had the wpi0 device UP but still no wireless ability. The WiFi NIC itself remains off...

I still think it is whatever PCBSD did when it "disabled" the NIC. I don't know what it did so I can reverse it.

I have also tried: /etc/rc.d/netif restart a few times but that doesn't work either so.. I believe some configuration for this NIC was changed or.. need to know what command will turn ON (via software) the NIC.

Thanks!
-Ben

TerryP · #7 01-24-2009, 07:02 AM

Unless it's time to chuck the developers into a paddad cell, that utility should only adjust the systems network settings to disable it's use, not disable the actual device.

All I have ever had to do to set up my wireless adaptors (Note, I use DHCP/WPA) on bootup has been editing two files:

/etc/rc.conf (consider using /etc/rc.conf.local on PC-BSD)

Code:

hostname="my.machines.hostname"
defaultrouter="my.routers.ip.address"
# my wifi card is 'ath0', hence ifconfig_ath0
ifconfig_ath0="ssid MyAPsSSID WPA DHCP"

/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

Code:

network={
        ssid="MyAPsSSID"
        scan_ssid=1
        psk="My WPA PSK"
}

Having to load any neccessary modules in /boot/loader.conf aside that is ;-)

N.B. that wpi is both an experimental driver and requires setting up intel firmware; see the drivers manual page.

Ben Hacker Jr · #8 01-25-2009, 02:18 PM

Thanks SO MUCH for your reply.. It is working now...

Originally Posted by TerryP

Unless it's time to chuck the developers into a padded cell, that utility should only adjust the systems network settings to disable it's use, not disable the actual device.

Don't chuck the developers just yet...

To get this working I had to do a bit more than I was expecting.. and I made tooo many assumptions about what that GUI utility did or did not do. [I did add a line to /boot/loader.conf (wpifw_load="YES") but I don't think that was the cause.]

/etc/wpa_supplicant was also emptied and I had to manually enter one entry. (so I lost all my collected networks)

Here are the results of some simple tests that I performed once it was working again:

[wpi0] Up and connected my "Wireless access point" (WAP)

Code:

user@pcbsd% ifconfig -v wpi0
wpi0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
        ether 00:18:de:10:33:29
        inet 192.168.1.203 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.1.255
        media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect (OFDM/36Mbps)
        status: associated
        ssid MyWAP channel 6 (2437 Mhz 11g) bssid 00:18:xx:xx:xx:xx
        authmode WPA privacy ON deftxkey UNDEF
        TKIP 2:128-bit powersavemode OFF powersavesleep 100 txpower 50
        txpowmax 50.0 rtsthreshold 2346 fragthreshold 2346 bmiss 7
        scanvalid 60 -bgscan bgscanintvl 300 bgscanidle 250 roam:rssi11a 7
        roam:rate11a 12 roam:rssi11b 7 roam:rate11b 1 roam:rssi11g 7
        roam:rate11g 5 -pureg protmode CTS -ht -htcompat -ampdu ampdulimit 8k
        ampdudensity - -amsdu -shortgi htprotmode RTSCTS -puren -wme -burst
        -ff -dturbo roaming MANUAL bintval 100

Testing disabling and restarting wpi0

[Disabling via CLI]
1) user@pcbsd% su root -c "ifconfig wpi0 down"
--wireless disconnected
2) user@pcbsd% su root -c "/etc/rc.d/netif restart"

RESULT: wpi0 comes back up and connects to WAP with no problem

[Disabling via "Wireless Configuration" GUI]
1) Entered the Wireless Config GUI and "checked" the "Disable this wireless device" box then applied the changes.
--wireless disconnected
2) user@pcbsd% su root -c "/etc/rc.d/netif restart"

RESULT: wpi0 does NOT come back up
entry in /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf still exists. "Wireless network profile" (WNP) is NOT indicated in GUI.

To get the wireless NIC working again I had to reconfigure the WPN in the GUI. In the process If /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf was emptied... I had to manually add one entry so that it would start and allow the WiFi device to scan at all. This would allow reconfigure of the wireless NIC.

Also, from my limited experience with this: "/etc/rc.d/netif restart" is all that occurs when you right click on a network icon in the "system tray" and choose "Restart the Network"

Thanks again for your assistance! (now... to get the bluetooth working)
-Ben