Cannot start hostapd with usb wifi on ubuntu server 16.04.3

[Dexter Filmore]

Hi all,

installed minimal ubuntu server 16.04.3 LTS, started off with some Realtek 
8192 device which I then learned was not too good anyway, so today switched
it for a 
D-Link DWA-127 v2 , USB ID 2001:3d04

with module:

# lsmod | grep 802
mac80211              782336  1 mt7601u
cfg80211              602112  2 mac80211,mt7601u

and hostapd 2.4 from the ubuntu repos.

I modified a sample conf following howtos to this:

==hostapd.conf===============================
interface=wlxc8d3a304236d
driver=nl80211
ssid=glotzklotz
channel=1
ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
country_code=DE
ieee80211d=1
hw_mode=g
ieee80211n=1
ht_capab=[HT40+][SHORT-GI-40][DSSS_CCK-40]
beacon_int=100
dtim_period=2
macaddr_acl=0
max_num_sta=20
rts_threshold=2347
fragm_threshold=2346
logger_syslog=-1
logger_syslog_level=0
logger_stdout=-1
logger_stdout_level=0
dump_file=/tmp/hostapd.dump
ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd
ctrl_interface_group=0
auth_algs=3
wmm_enabled=1
wpa=2
rsn_preauth=1
rsn_preauth_interfaces=wlan0
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
wpa_group_rekey=600
wpa_ptk_rekey=600
wpa_gmk_rekey=86400
wpa_passphrase= [...]
==/hostapd.conf===============================

and called ifup for this /etc/network/interfaces :

#dlink dwa-127 v2
iface wlxc8d3a304236d inet static
address 192.168.1.1
netmask 255.255.255.0

(no wpasupplicant installed, I was told that's only needed when acting as a 
client. correct?)

When I call hostapd, I get:

# hostapd -dd /etc/hostapd.conf 
random: Trying to read entropy from /dev/random
Configuration file: /etc/hostapd.conf
Line 50: DEPRECATED: 'dump_file' configuration variable is not used anymore
ctrl_interface_group=0
rfkill: initial event: idx=0 type=1 op=0 soft=0 hard=0
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:1
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:5
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:2
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:4
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:10
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:8
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:9
nl80211: Using driver-based off-channel TX
nl80211: interface wlxc8d3a304236d in phy phy0
nl80211: Set mode ifindex 3 iftype 3 (AP)
nl80211: Failed to set interface 3 to mode 3: -95 (Operation not supported)
nl80211: Try mode change after setting interface down
nl80211: Set mode ifindex 3 iftype 3 (AP)
nl80211: Failed to set interface 3 to mode 3: -95 (Operation not supported)
nl80211: Interface mode change to 3 from 0 failed
nl80211: Could not configure driver mode
nl80211: deinit ifname=wlxc8d3a304236d disabled_11b_rates=0
nl80211: Remove monitor interface: refcount=0
netlink: Operstate: ifindex=3 linkmode=0 (kernel-control), operstate=6 
(IF_OPER_UP)
nl80211: Set mode ifindex 3 iftype 2 (STATION)
nl80211 driver initialization failed.
hostapd_interface_deinit_free(0x564406a01710)
hostapd_interface_deinit_free: num_bss=1 conf->num_bss=1
hostapd_interface_deinit(0x564406a01710)
wlxc8d3a304236d: interface state UNINITIALIZED->DISABLED
hostapd_bss_deinit: deinit bss wlxc8d3a304236d
wlxc8d3a304236d: AP-DISABLED 
hostapd_cleanup(hapd=0x564406a02900 (wlxc8d3a304236d))
hostapd_free_hapd_data: Interface wlxc8d3a304236d wasn't started
hostapd_interface_deinit_free: driver=(nil) drv_priv=(nil) -> hapd_deinit
hostapd_interface_free(0x564406a01710)
hostapd_interface_free: free hapd 0x564406a02900
hostapd_cleanup_iface(0x564406a01710)
hostapd_cleanup_iface_partial(0x564406a01710)
hostapd_cleanup_iface: free iface=0x564406a01710

AP/routing is not a field I roam a lot so expect me to have made newbie 
mistakes. 
Pointers appreciated.



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