[SOLVED] Odroid X2 Running Arch Linux Cannot Start hostapd

[bontorhumala]

Hello, I am trying to make Odroid X2 as home webserver running Arch Linux. To create the wireless access point, I am planning to use hostapd. After following instruction in https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Software_Access_Point, I failed to start hostapd. I get error:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'Jul 05 05:45:08 alarm hostapd[326]: nl80211: 'nl80211' generic netlink not found
Jul 05 05:45:08 alarm hostapd[326]: Failed to initialize driver 'nl80211'
')

Changing the conf file, from driver=nl80211 to driver=r8712u (I am using Realtek RTL8191SU from Hardkernel store) according to dmesg output, I got another error:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'Jul 05 05:57:48 alarm hostapd[351]: Configuration file: /etc/hostapd/hostapd.con
Jul 05 05:57:48 alarm hostapd[351]: Line 8: invalid/unknown driver 'r8712u'
Jul 05 05:57:48 alarm hostapd[351]: 1 errors found in configuration file '/etc/h
')

Do I use the correct driver? Or the hostapd from Arch Linux package application cannot use the driver? Please, any suggestion is very appreciated. Thanks!

[pepedog]

The driver is nl80211, and your dongle has to be capable. I don't think that one is

[bontorhumala]

Hello, thanks for the reply. I run iwlist, and it returns:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'Usage: iwlist [interface] scanning [essid NNN] [last]
[interface] frequency
[interface] channel
[interface] bitrate
[interface] rate
[interface] encryption
[interface] keys
[interface] power
[interface] txpower
[interface] retry
[interface] ap
[interface] accesspoints
[interface] peers
[interface] event
[interface] auth
[interface] wpakeys
[interface] genie
[interface] modulation')

ap and accesspoints, does not these attributes suggest the device can start hostapd, becoming wifi coordinator?

[pepedog]

That's just a usage prompt, what does iwlist wlan0 ap say?

[bontorhumala]

Ah, sorry. Here is some dialogue:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '[root@alarm ~]# iwlist wlan0 ap
wlan0 Interface doesn't have a list of Peers/Access-Points

[root@alarm ~]# iwlist wlan0 accesspoints
wlan0 Interface doesn't have a list of Peers/Access-Points

[root@alarm ~]# iwlist wlan0 scanning
wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Network is down
')

I google about iwlist, and it turns out iwlist wlan0 ap, list all access points in range. Furthermore, I tried
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '[root@alarm ~]# iwconfig wlan0 mode master').

I tried download iw tools from arch package repo, but failed:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '[root@alarm ~]# pacman -S iw
resolving dependencies...
looking for inter-conflicts...

Packages (1): iw-3.10-2

Total Download Size: 0.04 MiB
Total Installed Size: 0.13 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] Y
:: Retrieving packages ...
error: failed retrieving file 'iw-3.10-2-armv7h.pkg.tar.xz' from mirror.archlinuxarm.org : Could not resolve host: mirror.archlinuxarm.org
warning: failed to retrieve some files
error: failed to commit transaction (download library error)
Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded.
')

[pepedog]

pacman-Sy iw
Better still, update you system first with pacman -Syu

[bontorhumala]

done, submitting iw list returns nl80211 not found.
I tried locating nl80211
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '[root@alarm mjpg-streamer]# locate nl8
/usr/include/linux/nl80211.h
/usr/lib/systemd/system/wpa_supplicant-nl80211@.service
[root@alarm mjpg-streamer]#
')

[pepedog]

I got one of the cheaper sticks and was surprised
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '[14395.975000] usb 1-3.3.1: USB disconnect, device number 11
[14403.845000] usb 1-3.3.2.2: new high-speed USB device number 12 using s5p-ehci
[14403.935000] usb 1-3.3.2.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=8176
[14403.935000] usb 1-3.3.2.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[14403.935000] usb 1-3.3.2.2: Product: 802.11n WLAN Adapter
[14403.935000] usb 1-3.3.2.2: Manufacturer: Realtek
[14403.935000] usb 1-3.3.2.2: SerialNumber: 00e04c000001
[14404.100000] rtl8192cu: Chip version 0x10
[14404.175000] rtl8192cu: MAC address: 00:87:12:12:13:7b
[14404.175000] rtl8192cu: Board Type 0
[14404.175000] rtlwifi: rx_max_size 15360, rx_urb_num 8, in_ep 1
[14404.175000] rtl8192cu: Loading firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
[14404.175000] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu
[14404.195000] ieee80211 phy1: Selected rate control algorithm 'rtl_rc'
[14404.195000] rtlwifi: wireless switch is on
# systemctl start hostapd
# iw wlan0 info
Interface wlan0
ifindex 5
wdev 0x100000001
addr 00:87:12:12:13:7b
ssid odroid
type AP
wiphy 1
channel 3 (2422 MHz), width: 20 MHz, center1: 2422 MHz')

[bontorhumala]

Wow. Which Arch Linux image did you use? Also, do you use Odroid X2? Mine always returns "nl80211 is not found"

[pepedog]

I have a U2, but it's not that, your stick cannot do AP mode