SOLVED - No net connection

[Maurice]

After working perfectly for 3 years suddenly I can't get a connection.

I went through the setup in PCC a number of times but with no joy. There is a clue in the iwconfig in that the

 ACCESS POINT is shown as - not associated

My wife's computer with the same wireless setup and using the same router has a connection otherwise I couldn't be writing this (She has kindly allowed me to use her machine whilst she watches 'Dancing with the Stars'  

Any help much appreciated

[AS]

Hello Maurice,

some more info please. It may be interesting to know what is watching your wife, but it's not relevant to solve your issue. 
what wireless card are you using ? what kernel ? what driver ?
How stopped to work your connection ? after synaptic updates ?

AS

[aguila]

Hi Maurice,

please make sure that there's no hardware issue - like new wireless phone, your neighbour's new router, etc.

Had that here and it took me a while to find out. But then it was two boxes with problems, so it couldn't be the install.

[muungwana]

Is the wireless network protected with a password?
Are you sure you are typing a correct password?

When it fails to connect, what error message if any is given?

1. Open the terminal and log in as root.
2. Run this command to make sure system log service is running: "service syslog restart"
3. Try to connect to the wireless network
4. Go back to the terminal and type the following command and give its output: "tail -n 40 /var/log/syslog"

[Maurice]

Hello Maurice,

some more info please. It may be interesting to know what is watching your wife, but it's not relevant to solve your issue. 
what wireless card are you using ? what kernel ? what driver ?
How stopped to work your connection ? after synaptic updates ?

I have two desktops and two laptops. As my desktop and the two laptops lack a connection I don't think the above info would be to the point but thanks anyway.

[Maurice]

Hi Maurice,

please make sure that there's no hardware issue - like new wireless phone, your neighbour's new router, etc.

Had that here and it took me a while to find out. But then it was two boxes with problems, so it couldn't be the install.

Thanks for that aquila but no problems there.

[Maurice]

Is the wireless network protected with a password?
Are you sure you are typing a correct password?

When it fails to connect, what error message if any is given?

1. Open the terminal and log in as root.
2. Run this command to make sure system log service is running: "service syslog restart"
3. Try to connect to the wireless network
4. Go back to the terminal and type the following command and give its output: "tail -n 40 /var/log/syslog"

Thanks muungwana
 
service syslog restart -- rm: Cannot remove. Permission denied.

tail -n 40 /var/log/syslog -- Cannot open. Permission denied.

Look as though there's something amiss here?

[muungwana]

The first instruction said to open the terminal and then to log in as root. Those commands need to be run with root's privileges.

You can log in to root from the terminal by typing "su" and then pressing enter and then entering root's password when asked.

[Maurice]

The first instruction said to open the terminal and then to log in as root. Those commands need to be run with root's privileges.

You can log in to root from the terminal by typing "su" and then pressing enter and then entering root's password when asked.

As I said - something amiss. Sorry about that.

[maurice@localhost ~]$ service syslog restart
Shutting down kernel logger: /etc/init.d/functions: line 228: /var/run/klogd.pid: Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/run/klogd.pid': Permission denied                                      [FAILED]

Shutting down system logger: /etc/init.d/functions: line 228: /var/run/syslogd.pid: Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/run/syslogd.pid': Permission denied                                    [FAILED]

rm: cannot remove `/var/lock/subsys/syslog': Permission denied
[maurice@localhost ~]$ tail -n 40 /var/log/syslog
tail: cannot open `/var/log/syslog' for reading: Permission denied
[maurice@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost maurice]# service syslog restart
Shutting down kernel logger:                                                                   [  OK  ]
Shutting down system logger:                                                                   [  OK  ]
Starting system logger:                                                                        [  OK  ]
Starting kernel logger:                                                                        [  OK  ]       
[root@localhost maurice]# tail -n 40 /var/log/syslog
May 23 09:21:28 localhost drakconnect[4388]: running: /sbin/ifdown wlan1 daemon                               
May 23 09:21:28 localhost ifplugd(wlan1)[4182]: Exiting.                                                       
May 23 09:21:28 localhost drakconnect[4388]: running: /sbin/ifup wlan1 daemon                                 
May 23 09:21:28 localhost klogd: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan1: link is not ready                                 
May 23 09:21:28 localhost klogd: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan1: link is not ready
May 23 09:21:28 localhost ifplugd(wlan1)[4575]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.                                     
May 23 09:21:28 localhost ifplugd(wlan1)[4575]: Using interface wlan1/00:25:9C:A8:72:DE with driver <rt61pci> (version: 2.6.33.5-pclos1.bfs)
May 23 09:21:28 localhost ifplugd(wlan1)[4575]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
May 23 09:21:28 localhost ifplugd(wlan1)[4575]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.               
May 23 09:21:28 localhost drakconnect[4388]: running: /etc/rc.d/init.d/network-up start
May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: direct probe to AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 1)                           
May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: direct probe responded                                                 
May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 1)
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 2)                         
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 3)
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authentication with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 timed out
May 23 09:21:43 localhost drakconnect[4388]: modified file /etc/modprobe.conf                                 
May 23 09:21:43 localhost drakconnect[4388]: to put in /etc/modprobe.preload
May 23 09:21:43 localhost drakconnect[4388]: modified file /etc/modprobe.preload
May 23 09:21:43 localhost drakconnect[4388]: ### Program is exiting ###
May 23 09:21:47 localhost drakconf.real[4256]: modified file /etc/mcc.conf
May 23 09:22:24 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found: 0.africa.pool.ntp.org
May 23 09:22:24 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found: 1.africa.pool.ntp.org
May 23 09:22:24 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found:
May 23 09:30:26 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found:
May 23 09:30:26 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found:
May 23 09:30:26 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found:
May 23 09:46:29 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found:
May 23 09:46:29 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found:
May 23 09:46:29 localhost ntpd_initres[2950]: host name not found:
May 23 10:01:01 localhost CROND[6179]: (root) CMD (nice -n 19 run-
May 23 10:01:01 localhost anacron[6185]: Anacron started on 2011-0
May 23 10:01:01 localhost anacron[6185]: Will run job `cron.daily'
May 23 10:01:01 localhost anacron[6185]: Will run job `cron.monthl
May 23 10:01:01 localhost anacron[6185]: Jobs will be executed seq
May 23 10:01:17 localhost klogd: Kernel logging (proc) stopped.
May 23 10:01:17 localhost klogd: Kernel log daemon terminating.
May 23 10:01:18 localhost exiting on signal 15
May 23 10:01:19 localhost syslogd 1.5.0: restart.
May 23 10:01:19 localhost klogd: klogd 1.5.0, log source = /proc/k
[root@localhost maurice]# ^C

[muungwana]

May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: direct probe to AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 1)                           
May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: direct probe responded                                                 
May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 1)
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 2)                         
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 3)
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authentication with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 timed out

There is your problem, authentication is timing out.

How far are you from  the access point? Try to get closer and see if it will work.

Try to restart your access point/wireless router and try to connect again and see if it will work.

When things do not work, open "/var/log/syslog" and look around, most clues to problems are found in there. You have to have root's privileges to open the text file.

[Maurice]

May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: direct probe to AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 1)                           
May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: direct probe responded                                                 
May 23 09:21:29 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 1)
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 2)                         
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authenticate with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 (try 3)
May 23 09:21:30 localhost klogd: wlan1: authentication with AP 00:1d:5a:8c:81:a1 timed out

There is your problem, authentication is timing out.

How far are you from  the access point? Try to get closer and see if it will work.

Try to restart your access point/wireless router and try to connect again and see if it will work.

When things do not work, open "/var/log/syslog" and look around, most clues to problems are found in there. You have to have root's privileges to open the text file.

I have restarted my machine and restarted and reset the router a number of times but with no joy. I have checked and reseated the wireless card.

I have two desktops and two laptops, all only 20' or so from the router. Of these only one desktop has a connection.

If three machines have no connection then that points to an outside problem or a faulty router. But one desktop does have a connection so there can be no outside or router problem. And if authentication in my desktop is the problem then why do the laptops have no connection?

I can't figure it out.

[muungwana]

If the laptop uses linux, then go through the same steps and see why it is also failing to connect.

Possible problem could be wireless interference, set the wireless network on a different channel and see if it will help.

Its hard to know why one computer works as expected and the rest dont. Maybe it situated in just the right spot or maybe its wireless card is a bit strong and work through the network issue the rest are struggling with.

You can install a program called kismet and then start it up as root and see how many wireless networks are around you and what channel they are using and use the one that is used the least.

kismet is a command line program and you can start it by typing "kismet" on the terminal.

[Maurice]

Installed and ran kismet but got --

Could not find your-user-here for dropping privileges plus some other stuff I didn't understand and so can't do anything about.

Will try changing channels next but don't hold out much hope that this will help.

[Maurice]

Here is my iwconfig. Are there any clues here?

[root@localhost maurice]# iwconfig

lo        no wireless extensions.
eth0      no wireless extensions.
wlan1     IEEE 802.11bg  ESSID:"2WIRE132"
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=21 dBm
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:8005-5099-71
          Power Management:off
vboxnet0  no wireless extensions.

[root@localhost maurice]#

How do I change channels?

Thanks

[muungwana]

The access point part will read "not associated" when you are not connected to any access point.

You change the channel on the wireless access point. Go your wireless router configuration area and there should be an option to change wireless network channel. Your computer will automatically switch to be access point channel when you connect to it so no change is necessary on any of your computers.

Most frequently used channels are 6 and 12(i think), just pick any other and see if it will make a difference.