[SOLVED] Problems with ralink wifi card

[iemcd]

I'm having difficulty connecting to my wifi with my new wifi card. At first it looks like this topic, but after taking the steps described in that thread (remove network-manager, delete the config files), the problem persists.

I switched the wifi to no encryption, to no avail.

I should clarify the problem(s):
1. When I refresh the list of networks in the GUI, my network does not always appear, but when it does it is at full strength.
2. When I select it and attempt to connect, I get an error: "Connection failed."
3. (Solved) Encryption would keep switching back to WEP from WPA

However, I can connect to the network successfully from a newer computer also running Mageia.

lspci gives:

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...
04:05.0 Network controller: Ralink corp. RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI


ifup-wlan0 still gives the "Check cable?" error, as in the other thread.

[doktor5000]

Which media did you use to install Mageia, and which desktop environment are you using?
And please provide the output of the following commands:

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lspcidrake -v | grep -i net
ps -ef | grep -v grep | grep -ie net -e wpa


and, as root:

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journalctl -b -u network --no-pager -a
systemctl status network.service -a
journalctl -b | grep -i firmware

[iemcd]

I'm unsure what the original media was, but the computer has been running Mageia since 1.0 (I may have done an upgrade from Mandriva, but I don't remember if that was ever possible). I use a KDE desktop. For context, the problem happened when I moved and no longer had convenient wired ethernet, so I bought a wireless card.

Here is the output of the commands you gave me. Strahd is the name of my computer, and I believe the integrated network is the Realtek card that appears. At some time in the past, there may have been a third network card involved, but I have no idea what it would have been.

lspcidrake -v | grep -i net

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rt61pci         : Ralink corp.|RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI [NETWORK_OTHER] (vendor:1814 device:0301 subv:1814 subd:2561)
r8169           : Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.|RTL8111/8168 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller [NETWORK_ETHERNET] (vendor:10ec device:8168 subv:1849 subd:8168) (rev: 03)


ps -ef | grep -v grep | grep -ie net -e wpa

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root        26     2  0 19:45 ?        00:00:00 [netns]
ian       3543  2248  0 19:49 ?        00:00:01 /usr/bin/perl /usr/bin/net_applet


journalctl -b -u network --no-pager -a

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-- Logs begin at Sun, 2013-05-26 16:38:50 EDT, end at Sun, 2013-12-08 19:54:49 EST. --
Dec 08 19:46:22 strahd.localdomain network[1539]: Bringing up loopback interface:  [  OK  ]
Dec 08 19:46:22 strahd.localdomain network[1539]: Configuring wireless regulatory domain  [  OK  ]
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain network[1539]: Bringing up interface eth0:  ERROR    : [/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifup-eth] Device eth0 does not seem to be present, delaying initialization.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain network[1539]: [FAILED]
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(eth1)[1779]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain network[1539]: Bringing up interface eth1:  [  OK  ]
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(eth1)[1779]: Using interface eth1/00:25:22:60:D5:C2 with driver <r8169> (version: 2.3LK-NAPI)
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(eth1)[1779]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(eth1)[1779]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: Using interface wlan0/78:44:76:BE:36:3B with driver <rt61pci> (version: 3.8.13.4-desktop-1.mga3)
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain network[1539]: Bringing up interface wlan0:  [  OK  ]


systemctl status network.service -a

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network.service - LSB: Bring up/down networking
     Loaded: loaded (/etc/rc.d/init.d/network)
     Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Sun, 2013-12-08 19:46:23 EST; 9min ago
    Process: 1539 ExecStart=/etc/rc.d/init.d/network start (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
     CGroup: name=systemd:/system/network.service
        ├ 1779 /sbin/ifplugd -I -b -i eth1
        └ 1833 /sbin/ifplugd -I -b -i wlan0

Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(eth1)[1779]: Using interface eth1/00:25:22:60:D5:C2 with driver <r8169> (version: 2.3LK-NAPI)
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(eth1)[1779]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(eth1)[1779]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: Using interface wlan0/78:44:76:BE:36:3B with driver <rt61pci> (version: 3.8.13.4-desktop-1.mga3)
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain ifplugd(wlan0)[1833]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain network[1539]: Bringing up interface wlan0:  [  OK  ]
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain systemd[1]: Failed to start LSB: Bring up/down networking.
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain systemd[1]: Unit network.service entered failed state


journalctl -b | grep -i firmware

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Dec 08 19:46:06 strahd.localdomain kernel: cx25840 5-0044: unable to open firmware v4l-cx23885-avcore-01.fw
Dec 08 19:46:23 strahd.localdomain kernel: r8169 0000:01:00.0 eth1: unable to load firmware patch rtl_nic/rtl8168d-1.fw (-2)


Let me know if I can get you any other information.

Thanks.

[doktor5000]

Okay, and just for clarification, you haven't been able to connect to a wireless network with this new wireless card on this computer at all (under Mageia)?
Please show the output of

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rpm -qa | grep -e firmware -e wpa

[iemcd]

That's correct, I have not been able to connect to the wifi at all.

rpm -qa | grep -e firmware -e wpa:

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kernel-firmware-20130307-2.mga3
rtlwifi-firmware-20130307-1.mga3.nonfree
ralink-firmware-20130307-1.mga3.nonfree


(I installed the ralink-firmware package earlier, from a usb stick that I'd copied it to.)

[mark9117]

Not sure if it's okay to resurrect an old thread but here goes.

I'm having this troube as well with a usb dongle.

Here's my output: rpm -qa | grep -e firmware -e wpa

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rtlwifi-firmware-20121030-1.mga2.nonfree
carl9170-firmware-1.9.4-1.mga2
kernel-firmware-nonfree-20121030-1.mga2.nonfree
wpa_supplicant-0.7.3-6.mga2
ralink-firmware-20121030-1.mga2.nonfree
bluez-firmware-1.2-6.mga1
kernel-firmware-20120219-1.mga2


It's a Mageia 2 system and I'm willing to upgrade it if that's a solution. Otherwise, upgrading is not such an attractive option right now.

The usb adaptor in question is: Bus 002 Device 003: ID 148f:5370 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT5370 Wireless Adapter

I've been pulling my hair out trying to get it to work with ndiswrapper, etc. Nothing is succeeding.

And in all my effort, I've probably installed a lot of junk that needs to be taken away:

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# lsmod |grep rt
xt_addrtype            12564  4
xt_multiport           12695  4
x_tables               22030  49 xt_physdev,xt_pkttype,xt_DSCP,xt_dccp,xt_dscp,xt_iprange,xt_mark,xt_time,xt_helper,xt_length,xt_comment,ipt_ULOG,xt_policy,xt_recent,ip_tables,xt_tcpmss,xt_tcpudp,ipt_MASQUERADE,ipt_ah,ipt_REDIRECT,xt_AUDIT,xt_NFQUEUE,xt_NFLOG,xt_limit,xt_owner,xt_realm,xt_state,xt_connlimit,xt_conntrack,xt_LOG,xt_mac,xt_set,ipt_IFWLOG,ipt_CLUSTERIP,xt_hashlimit,xt_multiport,iptable_filter,ipt_NETMAP,xt_CLASSIFY,xt_TPROXY,xt_connmark,ipt_REJECT,iptable_mangle,ipt_ECN,ipt_psd,ip6_tables,xt_addrtype,iptable_nat,iptable_raw
rt2800usb              22279  0
rt2x00usb              19980  1 rt2800usb
rt2800lib              56913  1 rt2800usb
rt2x00lib              48557  3 rt2x00usb,rt2800lib,rt2800usb
mac80211              393213  3 rt2x00lib,rt2x00usb,rt2800lib
cfg80211              165295  2 mac80211,rt2x00lib
crc_ccitt              12628  1 rt2800lib
iTCO_vendor_support    13503  1 iTCO_wdt
rts5139               269484  1
usbcore               177556  6 uvcvideo,rts5139,rt2x00usb,rt2800usb,ehci_hcd
scsi_transport_sas     34873  1 mpt2sas
scsi_mod              185946  7 scsi_transport_sas,rts5139,mpt2sas,libata,sd_mod,sr_mod,raid_class


Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Mark

[doktor5000]

It's not an old thread!

I'm not sure how similar the USB dongle will be, but there are some steps I've already taken:

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-uninstall Network manager
-remove /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0
/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/*
/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

and regenerate them.
(these appear to solve the problem where the encryption insists on reverting to WEP each time you connect).

What are the symptoms you share? Can you always see your network in the GUI? What is the output of ifup-wlan0 (or equivalent)?

I'm not sure that grepping for "rt" will return everything that's relevant, because (at least in my case) "rt" is for realtek, not ralink.

[mark9117]

It's not an old thread!

Well maybe it's just me then.

Please be aware that I upgrated (fresh install) to MGA3. I posted about it here: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=6492

Still not out of the woods. The hardware is recognized and it is now loading a driver. Still not detecting any network. The wifi radio in the dongle seems to be powered off. It's been a long time since I've had to troubleshoot wifi issues.

I'm not sure how similar the USB dongle will be, but there are some steps I've already taken:
-uninstall Network manager
-remove /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0
/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless.d/*
/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
and regenerate them.
(these appear to solve the problem where the encryption insists on reverting to WEP each time you connect).

I tried all that just now. edited the "any" entry under wireless.d (couldn't use net_applet to configure the interface otherwise) and it seems to be okay in terms of the encryption.

What are the symptoms you share? Can you always see your network in the GUI? What is the output of ifup-wlan0 (or equivalent)?

I can not see the network (SSID) in the GUI. I am attmpting to connect to "any" SSID and failing.

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# ifup wlan1
RTNETLINK aswers: Operation not possible due to RF-kill
wireless device wlan1 is configured with a roaming daemon but isn't associated

Determining IP information for wlan1...SIOCSIFFLAGS: Operation not possible due to RF-kill
SIOCSIFFLAGS: Operatoin not possible due to RF-kill
  failed.


Seems like RF-kill may have something to do with it. So, I Googled that.

I had to run "rfkill unblock wifi" and that improved things. After that, I could see SSID's in the gui but I still couldn't connect to my router/AP.

I rebooted the router, rebooted the laptop and still no joy. Also, everything is coming up blocked again by rfkill when I reboot.

I'm going to have to hit the rack and get some sleep, but I'll be back on this through Thursday. It's my daughter's machine and I need to get her off Windows by Friday. Let me know if this helps at all.

I'm not sure that grepping for "rt" will return everything that's relevant, because (at least in my case) "rt" is for realtek, not ralink.

You're probably right. I was kind of burned out by the time I got to that stage.


Mark

[mark9117]

This update:

I can get the laptop to connect with a static ip but not a dynamic dhcp address. Not sure what that means. The other laptop, an iPhone and an Android phone are connecting just fine.

Still working on it Also trying to figure out why RFKILL is not persisting after reboot.

Edit: I can get the machine to connect to the network with a static ip, but it can't get out through the router. That is to say it shows a connection and will ping the router/AP and localhost, but I can't ping anything else - either inside or outside the LAN.

I've power cycled the router/AP several times. It has made no difference.

Help.

[doktor5000]

@mark9117: Please don't cross-post. Issues may look similar, but when you mix them up in one thread that will be a total mess for supporters to follow up. I would merge your posts in your thread, and leave a notice pointing to your thread, OK?

[mark9117]

Per your suggestion, go here:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=6492

[iemcd]

I seem to have fixed the problem, and I think it was an issue with the access point: I daisy-chained a different access point off of it and it works fine.

I'll mark this as "solved".

For reference, it was an Actiontec router from Verizon, the firmware version was GT784WN-VZ-1.1.6.

[mark9117]

Glad to hear it. I had to blow town and my issue will likely go unresolved. I'm looking for another small usb nic that is based on a broadcom or other linux-friendly driver.

Again, congratulations.

Mark