[SOLVED] Difficulty connecting to a public wi-fi

[harkelyn]

In a public space which I visit regularly for informal meetings, I have trouble getting my Dell laptop to connect from Mageia to a public wi-fi router. My iPhone connects easily to this exact public wi-fi system, as does a Windows 10 laptop I sometimes bring along. This laptop running Mageia 8 (which I keep up-to-date) quickly and reliably connects with my home wi-fi router, however to connect with this public space wi-fi system usually requires multiple attempts and if it eventually does connect, that connection then often goes out again within anywhere from three to 30 minutes. The iPhone and Windows 10 on the other hand, connect reliably to this public space wi-fi system and seem able to indefinitely maintain that connection. Signal strength from this public wi-fi router typically ranges from 78% to 84%. My unpredictable, unreliable Mageia-only, public space wi-fi issue has been going on for months, I'm only now getting around to inquiring if there might be a way to resolve it.

Output from lspcidrake -v:

Code: Select all

Intel Corporation|7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 3 [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:8086 device:1e14) (rev: c4)
xhci_pci        : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI Host Controller [SERIAL_USB] (vendor:8086 device:1e31 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
Card:Intel 810 and later: Intel Corporation|3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [DISPLAY_VGA] (vendor:8086 device:0166 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 09)
snd_hda_intel   : NVIDIA Corporation|GF108 High Definition Audio Controller [MULTIMEDIA_AUDIO_DEV] (vendor:10de device:0bea) (rev: ff)
ehci_pci        : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C216 Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 [SERIAL_USB] (vendor:8086 device:1e26 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
ehci_pci        : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C216 Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 [SERIAL_USB] (vendor:8086 device:1e2d subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
unknown         : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:8086 device:1e12) (rev: c4)
unknown         : Intel Corporation|3rd Gen Core processor DRAM Controller [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:8086 device:0154 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 09)
i2c_i801        : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SMBus Controller [SERIAL_SMBUS] (vendor:8086 device:1e22 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
e1000e          : Intel Corporation|82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville) [NETWORK_ETHERNET] (vendor:8086 device:1502 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
unknown         : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C216 Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:8086 device:1e16) (rev: c4)
snd_hda_intel   : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C216 Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller [MULTIMEDIA_AUDIO_DEV] (vendor:8086 device:1e20 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
Card:NVIDIA GeForce 420 to GeForce 630: NVIDIA Corporation|GF108GLM [NVS 5200M] [DISPLAY_VGA] (vendor:10de device:0dfc subv:1028 subd:1534) (rev: a1)
mei_me          : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C216 Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 [COMMUNICATION_OTHER] (vendor:8086 device:1e3a subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
unknown         : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:8086 device:1e1a) (rev: c4)
unknown         : Intel Corporation|Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor PCI Express Root Port [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:8086 device:0151) (rev: 09)
lpc_ich         : Intel Corporation|QM77 Express Chipset LPC Controller [BRIDGE_ISA] (vendor:8086 device:1e55 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
unknown         : Intel Corporation|7 Series/C216 Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:8086 device:1e10) (rev: c4)
unknown         : Intel Corporation|82801 Mobile SATA Controller [RAID mode] [STORAGE_RAID] (vendor:8086 device:282a subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 04)
sdhci_pci       : O2 Micro, Inc.|OZ600FJ0/OZ900FJ0/OZ600FJS SD/MMC Card Reader Controller (vendor:1217 device:8221 subv:1028 subd:0534) (rev: 05)
iwlwifi         : Intel Corporation|Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] [NETWORK_OTHER] (vendor:8086 device:0082 subv:8086 subd:1321) (rev: 34)
hub             : Linux 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8 ehci_hcd|EHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:1d6b device:0002)
hub             : Intel Corp.|Integrated Rate Matching Hub [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:8087 device:0024)
usbhid          : PixArt|USB Optical Mouse [Human Interface Device|Boot Interface Subclass|Mouse] (vendor:093a device:2510)
hub             : Linux 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8 ehci_hcd|EHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:1d6b device:0002)
hub             : Intel Corp.|Integrated Rate Matching Hub [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:8087 device:0024)
hub             : Linux 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8 xhci-hcd|xHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:1d6b device:0002)
hub             : Linux 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8 xhci-hcd|xHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:1d6b device:0003)
Module:i8k      : Dell .*|Latitude.*
Pkg:i8kutils    : Dell .*|Latitude.*

...and journalctl -af:

Code: Select all

-- Logs begin at Thu 2021-04-29 15:20:55 EDT. --
May 01 20:17:23 DESKTOP-V60M834 su[7039]: pam_unix(su-l:session): session opened for user root by (uid=1000)
May 01 20:17:23 DESKTOP-V60M834 dbus-daemon[816]: [system] Activating via systemd: service name='org.freedesktop.hostname1' unit='dbus-org.freedesktop.hostname1.service' requested by ':1.242' (uid=0 pid=7058 comm="/usr/bin/hostnamectl --transient")
May 01 20:17:23 DESKTOP-V60M834 systemd[1]: Starting Hostname Service...
May 01 20:17:23 DESKTOP-V60M834 dbus-daemon[816]: [system] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.hostname1'
May 01 20:17:23 DESKTOP-V60M834 systemd[1]: Started Hostname Service.
May 01 20:17:53 DESKTOP-V60M834 systemd[1]: systemd-hostnamed.service: Succeeded.
May 01 20:18:05 DESKTOP-V60M834 gnome-shell[2095]: libinput error: client bug: timer event17 debounce: scheduled expiry is in the past (-15ms), your system is too slow
May 01 20:18:05 DESKTOP-V60M834 gnome-shell[2095]: libinput error: client bug: timer event17 debounce short: scheduled expiry is in the past (-28ms), your system is too slow
May 01 20:18:17 DESKTOP-V60M834 gnome-shell[2095]: libinput error: event17 - PixArt USB Optical Mouse: client bug: event processing lagging behind by 19ms, your system is too slow
May 01 20:18:18 DESKTOP-V60M834 gnome-shell[2095]: libinput error: event17 - PixArt USB Optical Mouse: client bug: event processing lagging behind by 31ms, your system is too slow
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: written wlp3s0 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifdown wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[6959]: Exiting.
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifup wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:18:48 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 net_applet.desktop[2321]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7268]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7268]: Using interface wlp3s0/A4:4E:31:80:33:70 with driver <iwlwifi> (version: 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8)
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7268]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
May 01 20:18:49 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7268]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
May 01 20:18:50 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter.desktop[2323]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:19:26 DESKTOP-V60M834 gnome-shell[2095]: libinput error: event17 - PixArt USB Optical Mouse: client bug: event processing lagging behind by 23ms, your system is too slow
May 01 20:19:27 DESKTOP-V60M834 gnome-shell[2095]: libinput error: event17 - PixArt USB Optical Mouse: client bug: event processing lagging behind by 33ms, your system is too slow
May 01 20:19:27 DESKTOP-V60M834 gnome-shell[2095]: libinput error: event17 - PixArt USB Optical Mouse: WARNING: log rate limit exceeded (5 msgs per 60min). Discarding future messages.
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: written wlp3s0 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifdown wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7268]: Exiting.
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifup wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:19:36 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7439]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7439]: Using interface wlp3s0/A4:4E:31:80:33:70 with driver <iwlwifi> (version: 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8)
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7439]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7439]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticate with 94:bf:c4:77:ed:38
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:77:ed:38 (try 1/3)
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 net_applet.desktop[2321]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticated
May 01 20:19:37 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: waiting for beacon from 94:bf:c4:77:ed:38
May 01 20:19:38 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter.desktop[2323]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: written wlp3s0 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifdown wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7439]: Exiting.
May 01 20:20:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifup wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticate with 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 1/3)
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 net_applet.desktop[2321]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7603]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7603]: Using interface wlp3s0/A4:4E:31:80:33:70 with driver <iwlwifi> (version: 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8)
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7603]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
May 01 20:20:11 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7603]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
May 01 20:20:12 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 2/3)
May 01 20:20:12 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticated
May 01 20:20:12 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: waiting for beacon from 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:20:12 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter.desktop[2323]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: written wlp3s0 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifdown wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7603]: Exiting.
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifup wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:20:40 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:41 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:41 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticate with 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:20:41 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 1/3)
May 01 20:20:41 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: aborting authentication with 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 by local choice (Reason: 3=DEAUTH_LEAVING)
May 01 20:20:41 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 net_applet.desktop[2321]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7757]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7757]: Using interface wlp3s0/A4:4E:31:80:33:70 with driver <iwlwifi> (version: 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8)
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7757]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7757]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticate with 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 1/3)
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 2/3)
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticated
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: waiting for beacon from 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:20:42 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter.desktop[2323]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:21:08 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:21:08 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: modified file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:21:08 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:21:08 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: changed mode of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0 to 755
May 01 20:21:08 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: written wlp3s0 interface configuration in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlp3s0
May 01 20:21:08 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifdown wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:21:08 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7757]: Exiting.
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter[2323]: running: /usr/sbin/ifup wlp3s0 daemon
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticate with 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 1/3)
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: aborting authentication with 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 by local choice (Reason: 3=DEAUTH_LEAVING)
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:21:09 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Radio type=0x1-0x2-0x0
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticate with 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 1/3)
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 net_applet.desktop[2321]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7905]: ifplugd 0.28 initializing.
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7905]: Using interface wlp3s0/A4:4E:31:80:33:70 with driver <iwlwifi> (version: 5.15.35-desktop-2.mga8)
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7905]: Using detection mode: SIOCETHTOOL
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 ifplugd(wlp3s0)[7905]: Initialization complete, link beat not detected.
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: send auth to 94:bf:c4:78:03:88 (try 2/3)
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: authenticated
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 kernel: wlp3s0: waiting for beacon from 94:bf:c4:78:03:88
May 01 20:21:10 DESKTOP-V60M834 draknetcenter.desktop[2323]: got connection status event: interface_down wlp3s0


[JoesCat]

Hi harkelyn,
If you turn-on your network monitor, you'll probably notice that Linux tends to be fairly frugal with network traffic.
At home, you have a dedicated wi-fi with plenty of slots available, so your computer gets a slot lease that is available for hours, so your wifi is working fine.

A public wi-fi, on the other hand, may similarly have the same number of slots available, but you then have many users all competing for a limited number of slots. Those that are active, continue to be connected, while those that appear gone, are dropped after some point in time....from your experience, anywhere between 3 to 30 minutes. From the point of view of a public wi-fi, if you haven't done any traffic for a few minutes, it may release your slot and make it available for another user.

What you may need to do is to create a "keep-alive" signal, to simply create network traffic noise to let the wi-fi access point know you are still "here" and still using your slot, please don't drop me yet.
You can create some network noise by opening-up a webpage or two that have activity happening on it, like video streams, or something scrolling... or maybe something as simple as opening up a command line and pinging google.com, sort of like this suggestion: https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-keep-a-W ... n-a-laptop

The main things to keep in mind, is, linux is frugal on it's network traffic, therefore, with public wi-fi, you may need to create some artificial noise to let the public access know "I'm still here" - https://www.google.com/search?q=keep+alive+signal+wifi

[harkelyn]

Hi JoesCat, thank you for the suggestions. I'm still hoping somebody might explain how to "clean up" or just normalize the process of establishing that wi-fi connection. For example Windows provides a way to Flush DNS Cache, and I'm looking for anything similar in Magiea.

Whenever I do manage to get a wi-fi connection in that public space with my Mageia laptop, out of necessity I then use it quite actively during those brief intervals when it operates. And, even supposing a public wi-fi connection were to be dropped due to inactivity, should not the process of reconnecting be typically fast, smooth and reliable, rather than tedious and chronically uncertain? The other devices (iOS, Windows) which I and others in my group bring into the same location, connect easily and seamlessly to that wi-fi system, and don't appear to lose the connection privilege even after prolonged inactivity. This is really specific to Linux/Mageia.

[morgano]

Which connection manager do you use?

Some people switch from net_applet to networkmanager and find it works better.

https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Switching_to_networkmanager
viewtopic.php?t=14513

[bluepanther69]

Have you tried disabling the firewall from the Mageia Control Center to check if that improves the connection stability while on the public wifi?

[harkelyn]

Thank you morgano for the information. I took the steps for switching from net_applet to networkmanager and am seeing different connection behaviors, but so far, not much better results. Although I'm not yet giving up on networkmanager, I am curious, what is the process to reverse the change, meaning, how wcould I switch back from networkmanager to net_applet? I might end up wanting to do that, and don't see the command options for re-activating net_applet in the mageia wiki, nor elsewhere in this forum.

bluepanther69: I looked in my MCC and no firewall settings show as active. Thank you for the suggestion.

[sturmvogel]

Have you tried disabling the firewall from the Mageia Control Center to check if that improves the connection stability while on the public wifi?

Please don't recommend such stuff without any technically backed reasons!

[doktor5000]

For the connectiong, there are two parts. The first is the connection/authentication to the wifi network, the second one is obtaining an IP adress and such usually via DHCP.

According to your logs, it seems that you disconnect during the authentication with the wifi network, as soon as you are authenticated after ~30 seconds you seem to disconnect it via draknetcenter.
How long do you wait usually, and did you disconnect it manually, if so how often (for the log excerpt you posted)?

Apart from that, I'd also suggest switching to networkmanager, as mentioned already.

[harkelyn]

Hi doktor, I was not disconnecting manually when using net_applet, the connection process was entirely automatic. Good news is that I have figured out networkmanager since my earlier post at 10:22 ,and the wi-fi is now connecting very smoothly & maintaining. Problem is solved. Thanks again to all who rendered assistance.