ath hostap problems

Sat Jan 16 20:26:54 UTC 2010

Nenhum_de_Nos wrote:
> On Tue, January 5, 2010 00:09, Nenhum_de_Nos wrote:
>> hail,
>>
>> I have a Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz as a wifi ap:
>>
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: cpu_reset: Stopping other CPUs
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: Copyright (c) 1992-2010 The FreeBSD Project.
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988,
>> 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: The Regents of the University of California.
>> All rights reserved.
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: FreeBSD is a registered trademark of The
>> FreeBSD Foundation.
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: FreeBSD 8.0-STABLE #0: Sun Jan  3 00:25:30 BRT
>> 2010
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: root at xxx.xxx:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/xxx amd64
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz
>> quality 0
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E6750  @
>> 2.66GHz (2669.34-MHz K8-class CPU)
>> Jan  4 22:31:08 xxx kernel: Origin = "GenuineIntel"  Id = 0x6fb  Stepping
>> = 11
>>
>> xxx# uname -a
>> FreeBSD xxx.xxx 8.0-STABLE FreeBSD 8.0-STABLE #0: Sun Jan  3 00:25:30 BRT
>> 2010     root at xxx.xxx:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/xxx  amd64
>>
>> cat /etc/hostapd.conf
>> interface=wlan0
>> #bridge=bridge0
>> driver=bsd
>> logger_syslog=-1
>> logger_syslog_level=2
>> logger_stdout=-1
>> logger_stdout_level=2
>> debug=0
>> dump_file=/tmp/hostapd.dump
>> ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd
>> ctrl_interface_group=0
>> ssid=apartnet2
>> #macaddr_acl=1
>> #accept_mac_file=/etc/hostapd/accept
>> auth_algs=3
>> eapol_key_index_workaround=0
>> #eap_server=0
>> wpa=3
>> wpa_psk_file=/etc/hostapd/wpa_psk
>> wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
>> wpa_pairwise=CCMP
>> #stakey=0
>> ieee8021x=0
>> hw_mode=g
>>
>> and just get these messages in logs:
>>
>> Jan  4 22:49:46 xxx kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
>> Jan  4 22:49:48 xxx last message repeated 4 times
>> Jan  4 22:49:48 xxx postfix/local[1293]: fatal: open database
>> /etc/aliases.db: No such file or directory
>> Jan  4 22:49:48 xxx kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
>> Jan  4 22:50:03 xxx last message repeated 46 times
>> Jan  4 22:50:03 xxx kernel:
>> Jan  4 22:50:03 xxx kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
>> Jan  4 22:50:19 xxx last message repeated 51 times
>> Jan  4 22:50:20 xxx kernel:
>> Jan  4 22:50:20 xxx kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
>> Jan  4 22:50:33 xxx last message repeated 41 times
>> Jan  4 22:50:33 xxx kernel:
>> Jan  4 22:50:33 xxx kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
>> Jan  4 22:50:49 xxx last message repeated 50 times
>> Jan  4 22:50:49 xxx postfix/local[1296]: fatal: open database
>> /etc/aliases.db: No such file or directory
>> Jan  4 22:50:49 xxx kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
>> Jan  4 22:51:20 xxx last message repeated 98 times
>> Jan  4 22:51:50 xxx last message repeated 100 times
>> Jan  4 22:51:50 xxx postfix/local[1297]: fatal: open database
>> /etc/aliases.db: No such file or directory
>> Jan  4 22:51:50 xxx kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
>>
>> I can't even see the network in other computers.
>>
>> Some time ago I reported this problem in here, but using slower hardware.
>> and Sam said that was it. That machine was running Linux before and is now
>> being converted to FreeBSD 8. when in linux, I had some performance
>> penalties but it works great for internet access.
>>
>> is there anything I can do to solve this ?
>>
>> the card is this:
>>
>> ath0 at pci0:5:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x3a131186 chip=0x0013168c rev=0x01
>> hdr=0x00
>>     vendor     = 'Atheros Communications Inc.'
>>     device     = '802.11a/b/g Wireless Adapter (AR5212)'
>>     class      = network
>>     subclass   = ethernet
>>
>> the card doesn't support 802.11a though.
>>
>> I'm about to buy a rum based usb wlan, may be Hawking HWUG1 or TP-LINK
>> TL-WN321G, to make another freebsd based ap for light internet access. is
>> this supposed to happen as well ?
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> matheus
> 
> Using similar configuration file for hostapd, I did test another atheros
> based wlan card in same role:
> 
> ath0 at pci0:1:0:0:        class=0x020000 card=0x3065168c chip=0x001c168c
> rev=0x01 hdr=0x00
>     vendor     = 'Atheros Communications Inc.'
>     device     =
> 'HDAUDIOFUNC_01&VEN_1095&DEV_1392&SUBSYS_10280242&REV_1000
> (USBVID_147E&PID_20165&B71A446&0&1)'
>     class      = network
>     subclass   = ethernet
> 
> this is a pcie part, AFAIK, running on Asus F3T turion based notebook.
> Runs FreeBSD 8 as well:
> 
> [matheus at xxx/usr/home/matheus]$ uname -a
> FreeBSD xxx.xxx 8.0-STABLE FreeBSD 8.0-STABLE #5: Sun Jan  3 16:20:25 BRT
> 2010     root at xxx.xxx:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/xxx  amd64
> 
> but this time I have no message as tha other box, and the AP works fine.
> 
> matheus

Are both machines SMP?  Stuck beacons typically arise for two reasons: 
the channel is busy and the ap can't get on the air to send the frame, 
or the host/bus is overloaded and cannot meet the realtime requirements 
of posting the beacon frame in time to hit the beacon transmit schedule. 
   I can't tell from the above info whether either might be possible.

	Sam