ndiswrapper + wpa_supplicant

[George N. White III]

On Dec 5, 2007 11:17 AM, Dan Williams <dcbw at redhat.com> wrote:

> On Wed, 2007-12-05 at 11:09 -0400, George N. White III wrote:
> > On Dec 5, 2007 10:25 AM, Sukku <m.sukumar at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > From last two weeks, I am working on this problem. I am working on FC8 with
> > > kernel version 2.6.23.1-42.
> > >
> > > I am using Linksys wireless adapter (WUSB54G). I didn't found any linux
> > > drivers for this device. so by using ndiswrappers I installed windows native
> > > drives in linux box. finally adapter got detected.
> > >
> > > after words  I try to use this  wpa_supplicant on this adapter.  Hear I am
> > > facing problem
> > >
> > > In debugging mode  I am getting so many IOCTL errors. I am not getting,
> > > there errors are from ndiswrapper or wpa_supplicant.
> >
> > I saw those errors, and failed to connect, also using FC8 with a ndiswrapper
> > but a different  USB dongle (TEW).    However, NetworkManager is more or
> > less working (too frequent disconnects from my AP, connects to random
> > open AP's).   Check that there isn't a 2nd copy of wpa_supplicant running.
>
> NM itself will only ever connect to an AP that you've chosen from the
> menu.
>
> If you've never chosen that AP from the menu, it's important to remember
> that the driver and/or firmware also control roaming, and that
> often-times the driver/firmware will decide to associate to an access
> point without being told to so (ipw* does this a lot).  Some drivers
> have module options to disable that functionality, and the only real
> arguments I've heard for this behavior are that people alone in the
> woods then don't need to issue manual iwconfig commands when they start
> their computer up.  I'm not sure what the security implications of the
> card connecting to a random open AP are, but it can't be much good.

All true.  There are several issues here:

1.  ndiswrapper doesn't have module options to disable association with
open access points.  Module writers should ensure that the default is to
disable this.

2.  Iwlist wlan0 scan often shows multiple "dlink" AP's, but only
one "dlink" appears in the NetworkManager list.  Even if I give my AP a name,
an evil perp could use the same name and NM might well use that AP.
NM needs a way to present multiple AP's with the same name.

3.  it is easy, e.g., in NetworkManager, to accidentally select the wrong AP
(poor hand-eye coordination, jerky mouse on a busy system, screen updates
just as you click).

This says there is a need for a mechanism to remove an AP from NM's list,
and probably also a way to list AP's that should never be used.


-- 
George N. White III <aa056 at chebucto.ns.ca>
Head of St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia