Strange WiFi Behaviour Breaks Connection Repeatedly

I am posting this to seek information and possibly help others who may be experiencing similar issues.

I have recently upgraded to 11.4 and also had to renew an AP (HP ProCurve 10ag). This was several years old but replaced an identical model which had been working well until recently. I thought it would be appropriate to flash newer firmware as the device four releases behind the times.

The access point serves partner’s XP laptop and my openSUSE 11.4 laptop and after flashing the firmware both machines would make a connection and then break and remake, to the extent that the openSUSE machine became unusable. I thought it was an encryption problem and spent hours changing the AP and Client setups to no avail

After reading a thread here I checked out dmesg and this is what I found:-

78.639247] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
78.640804] wlan0: authenticated
78.642507] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
78.651195] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
78.651200] wlan0: associated
78.652222] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
78.652283] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: DE
78.674378] cfg80211: Regulatory domain changed to country: DE
78.674382] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
78.674386] (2400000 KHz - 2483500 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
78.674389] (5150000 KHz - 5350000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
78.674391] (5470000 KHz - 5725000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2698 mBm)
81.688787] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2)
81.689553] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
81.704004] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
81.704053] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
81.704064] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
81.704074] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
81.704084] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
81.704093] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
81.704102] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
85.278557] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
85.284055] wlan0: authenticated
85.284132] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
85.293598] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
85.293605] wlan0: associated
85.294406] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: DE
85.317803] cfg80211: Regulatory domain changed to country: DE
85.317807] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
85.317810] (2400000 KHz - 2483500 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
85.317814] (5150000 KHz - 5350000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
85.317816] (5470000 KHz - 5725000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2698 mBm)
89.088036] wlan0: no IPv6 routers present
109.363567] bootsplash: status on console 0 changed to on

This went on and on. As I am based in UK I couldn’t see immediately why the system was changing to Germany but the AP setup has a location setting with a drop down menu and was set for Europe as no UK setting was offered. I changed this to none, which elicited stern warnings about possible infringement of regulations but once this change had been made the problem was solved.

The fact that the HP firmware didn’t have a UK setting is to be deprecated but it is not clear what is going on. Can anybody explain please?

Posted the above too soon. The repeated cutting off has started again. Here is dmesg data from the last DE attempt to the “None” country setting:-
1694.455023] cfg80211: Regulatory domain changed to country: DE
1694.455028] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
1694.455031] (2400000 KHz - 2483500 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
1694.455034] (5150000 KHz - 5350000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
1694.455037] (5470000 KHz - 5725000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2698 mBm)
1911.861268] wlan0: disassociated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 8)
1911.861491] wlan0: deauthenticating from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 by local choice (reason=3)
1911.862246] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
1911.876070] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
1911.876080] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
1911.876091] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1911.876100] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1911.876110] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1911.876120] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1911.876129] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1923.934563] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1923.937260] wlan0: authenticated
1923.937337] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1923.946591] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
1923.946597] wlan0: associated
1923.947418] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
1926.986237] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2)
1926.987010] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
1927.003402] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
1927.003412] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
1927.003423] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1927.003433] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1927.003442] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1927.003451] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1927.003461] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1930.577827] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1930.580499] wlan0: authenticated
1930.580573] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1930.589497] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
1930.589503] wlan0: associated
1930.590306] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
1947.745738] wlan0: disassociated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 8)
1947.745965] wlan0: deauthenticating from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 by local choice (reason=3)
1947.746681] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
1947.761010] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
1947.761020] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
1947.761031] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1947.761041] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1947.761050] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1947.761060] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1947.761070] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1976.779829] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1976.782577] wlan0: authenticated
1976.782656] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1976.791622] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
1976.791628] wlan0: associated
1976.792474] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
1979.832755] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2)
1979.833525] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
1979.846458] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
1979.846468] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
1979.846479] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1979.846489] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1979.846498] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1979.846508] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1979.846518] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
1983.422480] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1983.425179] wlan0: authenticated
1983.425254] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
1983.434168] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
1983.434174] wlan0: associated
1983.434980] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
3146.762355] wlan0: disassociated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 8)
3146.762578] wlan0: deauthenticating from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 by local choice (reason=3)
3146.763316] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
3146.776738] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
3146.776748] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
3146.776759] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3146.776769] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3146.776778] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3146.776788] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3146.776798] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3150.360222] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3150.361625] wlan0: authenticated
3150.361667] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3150.371038] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
3150.371044] wlan0: associated
3150.372177] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
3153.409940] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2)
3153.410714] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
3153.423641] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
3153.423650] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
3153.423661] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3153.423671] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3153.423681] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3153.423691] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3153.423700] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3157.007032] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3157.012062] wlan0: authenticated
3157.012087] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3157.021054] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
3157.021060] wlan0: associated
3157.021856] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
3160.060322] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2)
3160.061095] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
3160.074673] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
3160.074683] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
3160.074694] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3160.074703] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3160.074713] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3160.074723] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3160.074732] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3163.650090] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3163.652960] wlan0: authenticated
3163.653444] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3163.662406] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
3163.662411] wlan0: associated
3163.663209] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
3867.681446] wlan0: disassociated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 8)
3867.681677] wlan0: deauthenticating from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 by local choice (reason=3)
3867.682527] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
3867.701500] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
3867.701509] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
3867.701520] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3867.701530] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3867.701539] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3867.701549] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3867.701559] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3871.270614] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3871.276067] wlan0: authenticated
3871.276091] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3871.285061] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
3871.285067] wlan0: associated
3871.286192] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
3874.319381] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2)
3874.320207] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
3874.332958] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
3874.332968] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
3874.332979] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3874.332988] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3874.332998] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3874.333007] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3874.333017] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3877.910731] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3877.913717] wlan0: authenticated
3877.914012] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3877.923621] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
3877.923627] wlan0: associated
3877.924544] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA
3880.961325] wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2)
3880.962118] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
3880.974949] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
3880.974958] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
3880.974969] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3880.974979] (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3880.974989] (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3880.974998] (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3880.975007] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
3884.554492] wlan0: authenticate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3884.555970] wlan0: authenticated
3884.556271] wlan0: associate with 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (try 1)
3884.565649] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
3884.565655] wlan0: associated
3884.566468] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: NA

I have also googled CRDA and now am a bit wiser but looks like unless I set my country code to DE I shall be stuck until HP change their firmware to comply with the standard set by CRDA.

Any solutions out there?

Budgie2

Can somebody help me with this please? Situation is bad and I am having to use Win XP to post this as openSUSE 11.4 will not keep it’s connection long enough to post.
I am not 100% sure the problem is due to country setting on AP. Seems more to do with Network Manager but I need help logging what is going on.
Budgie2

Can you try switching to “ifup” method in Yast?

That might help tell whether you have a NetworkManager problem or some other problem.

CRDA code should be “GB”…

Hi and thanks for the replies. The CRDA issue was my first suspect. Problem is the AP device is an HP ProCurve and the latest firmware does not offer GB but “Europe” which is interpreted by client as DE. I am raising this issue with HP as the regulatory regimes are different and if I used 802.11 a I could be outside UK license requirements.

Further experimentation now suggests that I have an interference problem. Trouble was too many changes at once, upgrade to 11.4, upgrade of AP firmware and installation of new wireless bridge which made isolating problem difficult. It now seems like the power of the bridge setup is causing problems with AP on channel 6 and bridge on channel 1. I have switched the AP to channel 13 and this seems to have improved matters as I have not had a drop out since.

Assume this is the cause unless I post again.
Regards,
Budgie2

Well I posted that too soon. Connection dropping out and reconnecting every few minutes now. Trouble is I cannot get ifup method to connect at all. If anybody has time I would appreciate some help here please.
Budgie2

Still trying, I changed to ifup method and this time the connection is working. I did not have to set up password so I assume this remains from previous network manager setup. If it had not been, where and how do I enter the password for WPA2-AES encryption?

I ran dmesg again with new connection and I am still seeing repeated breaking of connection. It is now always

wlan0: deauthenticated from 00:1d:b3:4b:ae:14 (Reason: 2) where the MAC address is that of the AP.

My conclusion is that the problem is not due to network manager, could still be interference and may be a fault with the AP latest firmware.
What should I try next? Any suggestions please?
Budgie2