WiFi Hangs

[vanhooglesnort]

I am out of my normal location and am trying to make due with a little time here and there at a local WiFi hotspot. This is a totally open access point, and when I boot to WinXP I can connect with no problem. When I try to connect to the wireless network in kubuntu, I get the statur bar saying 28% and the machine hangs...no more mouse, screen movement, no clock, can't even open a terminal window or another session. I know this setup worked on my network at home. Any ideas?

[toad]

Re: WiFi Hangs

Knetworkmanager has, unfortunately, not been improved

You may want to try wicd, instructions here: http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3099106.0

[vanhooglesnort]

Re: WiFi Hangs

I'm not sure how that helps me as I cannot connect to the network . I've looked, but I can't find a .deb version...is there one out there somewhere? I'm not sure I could make the .gz install work manually.

[tinker]

Re: WiFi Hangs

I'm not sure how that helps me as I cannot connect to the network . I've looked, but I can't find a .deb version...is there one out there somewhere? I'm not sure I could make the .gz install work manually.

Well, my first guess would be that network mangler is trying to connect to the AP at your normal location. I'm not confident I have any idea why that would cause your system to totally lockup though. Perhaps a bit more information from you might be helpful. Show us what is in your /etc/network/interfaces file and the output from the command sudo ifconfig.

[toad]

Re: WiFi Hangs

Could you please post the output of

cat /etc/network/interfaces

[vanhooglesnort]

Re: WiFi Hangs

Thanks for your continued assistance! Sorry about the huge delay...I have limited network access and I'm currently in asia. Here are the outputs:

ifconfig:

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
address 127.0.0.1
netmask 255.0.0.0

interfaces:

eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:0d:9d:85:26:57
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
Interrupt:10 Base address:0x4000

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)

wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:30:bd:9c:25:c0
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
Interrupt:11 Memory:44000000-44002000


Thanks again!

[toad]

Re: WiFi Hangs

Okay, it seems as though your problem is very solvable...

Simply delete the last two lines of your /etc/network/interfaces so that it looks as follows:

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

Try reconnecting... I am not sure whether you have to logout, simply restart networking or even reboot before it can connect, but try it straight after you changed the file first.

[vanhooglesnort]

Re: WiFi Hangs

I edited the interfaces file and saved it. Right after that, knetwork manager didn't 'see' the wireless network. About 2 minutes later it appeared. On a hunch, I checked the interfaces file again, and the same two lines had been re-written onto the end of the file. Again, no connection and a hard stop of the whole system. I know I edited the file properly and saved it properly...what is writing to that file, and if that is my problem, WHY is it writing it to the file? Thanks again!

[tinker]

Re: WiFi Hangs

Did you do as toad suggested and restart networking after you made the changes suggested?

There's nothing wrong about those two lines for lo (that's your local loopback) they won't interfere and they are normal. From the output of ifconfig, it's clear that neither your wired nor your wireless ethernet interface is receiving an IP address from the DHCP server (presumably from the local hotspot). Do you have either a cable plugged in or an indication (led on or something) that your wireless radio is turned on?

By "hard stop" do you mean the whole system locked up, nothing worked?

I know toad uses knetwork manager successfully, if he can't help you further with this he is also known to suggest another app for connection. But, first, follow through trying all his advice before moving on.

[vanhooglesnort]

Re: WiFi Hangs

I followed the instructions exactly and still, no luck. Yes I restarted networking after editing the file. The wireless card in my machine shows power applied but no data in or out. No ethernet was connected at that time because I only had the public WiFi access per my first post. When I mean the machine stops, as per my first post, I mean it STOPS. No response to any input from mouse, keyboard, another session, nothing at all. Also no detectable output because the monitor stays exactly as it was and the clock doesn't advance. At this point it no longer matters to me; I've been moved again and now have an ethernet connection so all is well. I think I will follow the first advice and try wicd to combat any future problems. Thanks again for your help.