[SOLVED] WiFi Issue with Non-Broadcasting SSID

[jeffreybruton]

Hello All:

As an added (albeit very basic) form of security, we have our wireless access point (AP) set to not broadcast its SSID. In the case of our Belkin AP, this is done by unchecking the box "Accept Any SSID" in it configuration app.

The WLAN config for some OSes allows a user to connect to "unknown" networks if they simply know and enter the SSID and WEP/WPA info. In others this doesn't work so we just set the AP to broadcast the SSID, now it can be seen and connected to in the WLAN config, and then we reset to the AP to non-broadcast again. Even though its now set to non-broadcast 99% of OSes retain the WEP/WPA info and connect to the AP just fine from then on out. This was was also the case with Mandriva, which worked fine this way.

Today on a fresh install of Mageia 1 off the DVD on a Dell D630 laptop, I did get the BCM4311 working with NDISwrapper using the Dell driver. Problem is now the laptop can not connect to the AP unless it is broadcasting its SSID. Very repeatable. Broadcast, connects and works fine. Non-broadcast, and it doesn't connect (but does see other broadcasting APs in the area). Other computers with MS and other L flavors work fine still when the AP is not broadcasting so it appear not to be the AP.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much
Jeffrey Bruton

[djennings]

Mageia 1 is not much different to Mandriva so I would expect it to behave the same.
Have you checked 'access point roaming' is disabled and 'start connection at boot' is enabled for that SSID?

[jeffreybruton]

DJennings:
Thanks for the reply and the info.
I must have checked Access Point Roaming by mistake when setting up the connection for this SSID.
Now that is it unchecked I can connect (as always) to our non-broadcasting network.
Thanks very much
Jeffrey Bruton