Re: [gentoo-user] Atheros kernel driver and my wireless access point setup

[Jason Carson]

> Jason Carson schrieb:
>>> Jason Carson schrieb:
>>>
>>>> Alright, I have done everything you have suggested but when hostapd
>>>> tries
>>>> to start I am getting this error...
>>>>
>>>> penguin ~ # /etc/init.d/hostapd start
>>>> * Starting hostapd...
>>>> Configuration file: /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
>>>> Failed to set interface wlan0 to master mode.
>>>> nl80211 driver initialization failed.
>>>> ELOOP: remaining socket: sock=5 eloop_data=0x80f1a38 user_data=(nil)
>>>> handler=0x8091790
>>>> * start-stop-daemon: failed to start `/usr/sbin/hostapd'
>>>>                                [ !! ]
>>>> * ERROR: hostapd failed to start
>>>>
>>>> Do you have any idea why this is happening?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Not quite...
>>> What kernelsettings do you activate for you wlan?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> I used the kernel settings mentioned here...
>> http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/ath5k#Enabling_ath5k
>> ...but I built everything directly into the kernel, NOT as modules.
>>
>> I have attached my .config to this email so you can see if I am missing
>> anything.
> I also activated
>
> CONFIG_HOSTAP=y
> CONFIG_HOSTAP_FIRMWARE=y
> CONFIG_HOSTAP_FIRMWARE_NVRAM=y
>
> but i think i found the real reason.
> I checked the 2.6.29.x ath5k base.c and found, that the AP code is still
> dormant.
> You need to apply this patch:
>
> --- linux-2.6.29/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c      2009-02-10
> 06:11:43.186470883 +0100
> +++ linux-2.6.29/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c.old
> 2008-11-14 09:36:40.000000000 +0100
> @@ -522,6 +501,7 @@
>        hw->wiphy->interface_modes =
>                BIT(NL80211_IFTYPE_STATION) |
>                BIT(NL80211_IFTYPE_ADHOC) |
> +               BIT(NL80211_IFTYPE_AP) |
>                BIT(NL80211_IFTYPE_MESH_POINT);
>
>        hw->extra_tx_headroom = 2;
>
> Open the file
> /usr/src/linux-<yourversion>/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c, search for
>
> hw->wiphy->interface_modes
>
> and the apply the line
>
> BIT(NL80211_IFTYPE_AP) |
>
> between these lines.
> Rebuild and install the kernel.
>
> Background: The AP code is there, but it is not activated yet. This line
> activates it.
> I thought newer 2.6.29er kernels do not have this restriction, so i did
> not think of this, but apparently they do.
>
>
That did the trick. I applied that line, rebuilt & installed the kernel,
rebooted and hostapd loaded without any errors.

Thanks you very much for your help :-)