Pickup wifi signal from local Window 7 PC but cannot connect

[Alan_uk]

Hi. I'm trying to connect my PCLinuxOS laptop to a Windows 7 PC. I have been able to connect to public wifi hotspots so this indicates the wireless device is working. It's an Edimax Wireless nLite USB Adapter EW-7711UAn. I found it worked without having to install any drivers which was a relief as there was not a Windows like install wizard though there is a Linux folder on the CD with Make file.

On the Windows 7 PC I went to Manage Wireless Networks and Created an Ad Hoc Network. I gave it a name "Friend" and chose WPA2-Personal and set a key. I then clicked connect and it says "Waiting for users".

On the PCLinuxOS PC I went to the Network Center GUI and expanded the Wireless Wi-Fi Ralink 802.11 n WLAN and the "Friend" network was at the top with the strongest signal - surprise, surprise

I clicked on Configure. I forget what the default mode was. I've tried different modes but the mode always reverts to Ad-hoc. The security is set as WPA/WPA2 Pre-Shared Key and the key is set the same as the Windows PC.   

I clicked Connect and get Connecting..... After about 20 seconds I get "Connection Failed" (no other text)

I've also tried WPA Enterprise on the Linux PC and even set both PCs security to none but neither would connect.

To be sure the Firewall was not inhibiting things I set the Firewall to allow Domain Name Server, SSH Server, NFS Server, and Windows File Sharing (SMB).

Any suggestion welcome. Thank you.

[YouCanToo]

Hi. I'm trying to connect my PCLinuxOS laptop to a Windows 7 PC. I have been able to connect to public wifi hotspots so this indicates the wireless device is working. It's an Edimax Wireless nLite USB Adapter EW-7711UAn. I found it worked without having to install any drivers which was a relief as there was not a Windows like install wizard though there is a Linux folder on the CD with Make file.

On the Windows 7 PC I went to Manage Wireless Networks and Created an Ad Hoc Network. I gave it a name "Friend" and chose WPA2-Personal and set a key. I then clicked connect and it says "Waiting for users".

On the PCLinuxOS PC I went to the Network Center GUI and expanded the Wireless Wi-Fi Ralink 802.11 n WLAN and the "Friend" network was at the top with the strongest signal - surprise, surprise

I clicked on Configure. I forget what the default mode was. I've tried different modes but the mode always reverts to Ad-hoc. The security is set as WPA/WPA2 Pre-Shared Key and the key is set the same as the Windows PC.   

I clicked Connect and get Connecting..... After about 20 seconds I get "Connection Failed" (no other text)

I've also tried WPA Enterprise on the Linux PC and even set both PCs security to none but neither would connect.

To be sure the Firewall was not inhibiting things I set the Firewall to allow Domain Name Server, SSH Server, NFS Server, and Windows File Sharing (SMB).

Any suggestion welcome. Thank you.

First get a connection with all the extra stuff like encryption/firewall turned off.  They just adds layers of stuff that can cloud a problem. Get a connection with out it all turned on. Once you can get a basic connection than turn on the firewall and see if you still get a connection, if not the firewall is the issue. If you get a connection than add the encryption. Repeat and test. If it fails than the encryption is to blame and you know where to check.  Break you issue down to small parts, make the wireless problem a whole lot easier to fix.

[Alan_uk]

Thanks for a quick reply

First get a connection with all the extra stuff like encryption/firewall turned off.

I did that and after clicking Connect and get Connecting..... then after about 20 seconds I still get "Connection Failed" (no other text)

What next?

I did a google but nothing I could relate to but I got the impression there may be problems around IP addresses

I noticed in the firewall I now have 2 wifi connections: wlan0 and wlan1 but there is only 1 wifi card

[muungwana]

1. open the terminal and log in to root account.
2. run this command: service syslog restart
3. run this command: echo "" > /var/log/syslog
4. try to connect
5. when you get that connection error msg, run this command and paste your output: cat /var/log/syslog

[Alan_uk]

I've done that and the results are below.  I've actually installed the USB wifi adapter on a WIndows XP machine and successfully connected to the Windows 7 machine and accessed folders though I only made the connection using WEP. I was unable to get an internet connection from the Win 7 via the Win XP machine.

I've come back to this laptop and tried WEP here but problem remains.

Code:

[root@localhost ~]# service syslog restart
Shutting down kernel logger:                                   [  OK  ]
Shutting down system logger:                                   [  OK  ]
Starting system logger:                                        [  OK  ]
Starting kernel logger:                                        [  OK  ]
[root@localhost ~]# echo "" > /var/log/syslog
[root@localhost ~]# cat /var/log/syslog

Jul 29 23:30:43 localhost klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 23(23) BSS returned, data->length = 3016
Jul 29 23:30:47 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: ### Program is starting ###
Jul 29 23:30:48 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Jul 29 23:30:52 localhost klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 22(22) BSS returned, data->length = 2876
Jul 29 23:30:57 localhost klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 22(22) BSS returned, data->length = 2876
Jul 29 23:31:03 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Jul 29 23:31:05 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: default cancel_clicked
Jul 29 23:31:07 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0
Jul 29 23:31:07 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0
Jul 29 23:31:07 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0 to 700
Jul 29 23:31:07 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: written wlan0 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0
Jul 29 23:31:07 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: running: /sbin/ifdown wlan0 daemon
Jul 29 23:31:08 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[23739]: Exiting.
Jul 29 23:31:08 localhost klogd: ---> RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
Jul 29 23:31:08 localhost klogd: <--- RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
Jul 29 23:31:08 localhost draknetcenter[26186]: running: /sbin/ifup wlan0 daemon
Jul 29 23:31:11 localhost klogd: <-- RTMPAllocTxRxRingMemory, Status=0
Jul 29 23:31:11 localhost klogd: -->RTUSBVenderReset
Jul 29 23:31:11 localhost klogd: <--RTUSBVenderReset
Jul 29 23:31:13 localhost klogd: 1. Phy Mode = 0
Jul 29 23:31:13 localhost klogd: 2. Phy Mode = 0
Jul 29 23:31:13 localhost klogd: NVM is Efuse and its size =2d[2d0-2fc]
Jul 29 23:31:14 localhost klogd: 3. Phy Mode = 0
Jul 29 23:31:14 localhost klogd: MCS Set = 00 00 00 00 00
Jul 29 23:31:14 localhost klogd: <==== rt28xx_init, Status=0
Jul 29 23:31:14 localhost klogd: 0x1300 = 00073200
Jul 29 23:31:14 localhost klogd: BIRIdx(0): RXDMALen not multiple of 4.[28538], BulkInBufLen = 188)
Jul 29 23:31:14 localhost klogd: ---> RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
Jul 29 23:31:14 localhost klogd: <--- RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
Jul 29 23:31:16 localhost klogd: <-- RTMPAllocTxRxRingMemory, Status=0
Jul 29 23:31:16 localhost klogd: -->RTUSBVenderReset
Jul 29 23:31:16 localhost klogd: <--RTUSBVenderReset
Jul 29 23:31:19 localhost klogd: 1. Phy Mode = 0
Jul 29 23:31:19 localhost klogd: 2. Phy Mode = 0
Jul 29 23:31:19 localhost klogd: NVM is Efuse and its size =2d[2d0-2fc]
Jul 29 23:31:19 localhost klogd: 3. Phy Mode = 0
Jul 29 23:31:19 localhost klogd: MCS Set = 00 00 00 00 00
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost klogd: <==== rt28xx_init, Status=0
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost klogd: 0x1300 = 00073200
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[26432]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[26432]: Using interface wlan0/00:1F:1F:E0:2D:DA with driver <usb> (version: )
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[26432]: Using detection mode: wireless extension
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost ifplugd(wlan0)[26432]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Jul 29 23:31:20 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Jul 29 23:31:23 localhost klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 21(21) BSS returned, data->length = 2736
Jul 29 23:31:26 localhost klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 22(22) BSS returned, data->length = 2917
Jul 29 23:31:31 localhost klogd: wlan0: no IPv6 routers present
Jul 29 23:31:33 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Jul 29 23:31:48 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
Jul 29 23:31:49 localhost klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 25(25) BSS returned, data->length = 3328
Jul 29 23:32:02 localhost klogd: ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 25(25) BSS returned, data->length = 3328
Jul 29 23:32:03 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947
[root@localhost ~]#

 

My main aim is to get the PCLinoxOS and the Win 7 to share files; getting internet access from the Win 7 via the PCLinuxOS wifi would be nice (i.e. wifi from Win 7 to PCLinuxOS laptop and then the same wifi device to go from the PCLinuxOS to a public hot spot.)

Thanks again. It's midnight here in the UK so may pick up any response in the morning

[muungwana]

what does this command give you?

iw list

Jul 29 23:32:03 localhost klogd: IOCTL::unknown IOCTL's cmd = 0x00008947

somebody else is having problem with wireless access and has the same error msg. i wonder if the problems are related.

Go through to "pcc-> network and internet -> set up a new network interface" and go through the motion and somewhere towards the end, you will be presented with a bunch of options and one of them will be "allow access point roaming", tick to select it and finish up and check if you still cant connect.

[kjpetrie]

What makes you think Windows 7 generates a standard wi-fi LAN to which any computer can connect, rather than a proprietary Windows-only 'null-modem'-style protocol?

From http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/homegroup-from-start-to-finish

Computers must be running Windows 7 to participate in a homegroup. HomeGroup is available in all editions of Windows 7.

You need to set the Linux computer up as the gateway and connect the Win computer to it as to an 'office' network. Even easier, buy a small wireless router.