Re: [gentoo-user] Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN - random de-authentication

[Mick]

Thank you for taking the time to respond Tom,

On Wednesday 07 May 2014 19:05:25 Tom Wijsman wrote:
> On Wed, 7 May 2014 16:58:05 +0100
>
> Mick <michaelkintzios@×××××.com> wrote:
> > I have compiled on a 3.12.13-gentoo kernel:
> Try the latest release candidate kernel (3.15-rc4) to make sure you
> have most of the the latest iwlwifi changes by upstream; if you want
> them all, and are not afraid of working with git, you can try to obtain
> even later changes from here:
>
> http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/iwlwifi/iwlwifi-next.git

I will have some time the week after and I'll give this a go.


> > CONFIG_IWLWIFI=m
> > CONFIG_IWLDVM=m
> > CONFIG_IWLWIFI_OPMODE_MODULAR=y
>
> Set CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG=y to see if debug information tells more.
>
> An option to try out too is CONFIG_IWLWIFI_DEBUG_EXPERIMENTAL_UCODE=y.
>
> > My /etc/conf.d/net section says:
> >
> > [...]
> > wpa_supplicant_wlp4s0="-Dwext"
> > [...]
>
> Use nl80211 instead, you'll want to enable this in your kernel as well.

I recall trying this, but I think it would not connect at all.  I may remember 
incorrectly though, so I will try again.


> >         proto=RSN
> >         key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
> >         pairwise=CCMP
> >         group=CCMP
>
> Try WPA2 AES if you can configure that and the rest of devices
> connecting to the router support that, anything else can have a negative
> effect on obtaining the higher N speeds; talking about router, which
> kind of router is this and which firmware (eg. DD-WRT, ...) does it run?

I thought that CCMP *is* using AES with CBC-MAC ... or are you saying that I 
should set up IEEE 802.1X EAP Authentication instead?

A point of clarification:  although the 5100 AGN NIC can do 108.11n, my AP 
will only do 108.11 a,b & g.  Therefore I only want to achieve a stable 'g' 
connection at this moment.


> > [  514.377859] iwlwifi 0000:04:00.0 wlp4s0: disabling HT as WMM/QoS is
> > not supported by the AP
> > [  514.377869] iwlwifi 0000:04:00.0 wlp4s0: disabling VHT as WMM/QoS
> > is not supported by the AP
>
> Look if your AP allows you enable WMM, to gain more throughput.

Will look into it, thanks.


> > # modprobe -v iwlwifi power_save=0 power_level=3 11n_disable=1
> > insmod
> > /lib/modules/3.12.13-gentoo/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwlwifi.
> > ko power_save=0 power_level=3 11n_disable=1
>
> You shouldn't need all that, please try back with a plain modprobe.

There is definitely a difference with the power_level= and 11n_disable= 
parameters.  I tried this repeatedly to be quite certain about it.  With the 
11n_disable=1 the connection will de/re-authenticate every 7 minutes.  With 
11n_disable=0 it will de-authenticate and just sit there.  However, it may 
perform differently with a newer kernel.  I will check again and report back.


> On a side note, I'm an owner of the same wireless card; currently I am
> experiencing the following bug, which has to do with iwlwifi being
> stuck in higher rates for one or another reason.
>
> https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=56581

I don't think that this is the same problem like mine, since I don't have 11n 
on the router. 

> There's something going on with the rate control algorithm these days...

I seem to recall having CONFIG_MAC80211_RC_MINSTREL=y in the kernel.  Is there 
some other setup to try?

I will also try a different access point in the next few days to see if it 
makes a difference.

-- 
Regards,
Mick