WPA works but not WEP

[Grumpy Mike]

I have a wi-fi USB dongle, I have installed all the packages and got it working successfully in one location using WPA. However when I move to another location using WEP it does not work.
I have tried lots of combinations from here:- http://www.lsi.upc.edu/lclsi/Manuales/w ... icant.conf but nothing seems to work.
I have been modifying the wpa.conf file as I eventually want to use the two locations without having to edit files. I am running debian6-19-04-2012
Searching through this forum there have been many "answers" given, some conflicting, but nothing seems to work. Has anyone got a config file that works with WEP?

[grumpyoldgit]

I didn't think anyone used WEP any more.

[Grumpy Mike]

I am running some old machines that can't run WPA so I am stuck with WEP.

[grumpyoldgit]

If you have an old wireless domestic router hanging around it can be used as an additional access point. I had a blind spot on my home network where my bedside internet radio always got poor connection. I did, however, have a box of old routers, that grew every time I changed ISP. I did some simple reconfiguration as per the instructions below and then whacked it on the network. So now I have two APs to chose from and it didn't cost me a penny.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/ar ... hp/3826776

[pXc]

If you want to be mobile with you pi you can download an useful GUI package that works under debian for your Rpi :
(apt-get install network-config )

It lets you scan the networks available ( So you can see what's in range and know the ssid name) and you can connect to unsecured + WPA + WEP networks , it does all the job ( reinitialize the dongle an sets the adapted parameters in wpa_supplicant.conf and connects to the network )
I discovered this a week ago and it's very useful since the wifi in my university is not secured , however it takes a significant amount of ram when you connect to a network ( and it's not so fast )
I'm using it under the lastest version of debian squeeze with a wifi dongle [RTL8188CUS] [Edimax EW-7811UN]

If you want to do it manually it also displays the commands used so you can directly paste them in the terminal. You can also only modify directly the key_mgmt of wpa_supplicant to WEP40 or WEP104 depending on the encryption of your password.

Hope that helps

[dhardingham]

Really like using network-config. This is a fantastic tool.

I can now use my Raspberry Pi with an Iogear GWU625 USB adapter and my old Belkin router. Even WEP security works (don't ask).

Along the way, I discovered that my cheap keyboard and mouse use too much current. Both are made by Logik. My HP bluetooth keyboard and mouse work perfectly.

All I need now is a Wireless-N router, to speed things up a little.

[Grumpy Mike]

Even WEP security works (don't ask).

But that is what I am asking!

Being very new to Linux I wonder if it is this yet another case of Linux being some what crap?
Sorry "not finished yet" I believe is the politically correct expression.

[dhardingham]

The network-config tool allowed me to enter my WEP, so that I can connect to my Belkin router. Everything is working, but WEP security is only marginally better than no security at all. One day, I'll change to WPA and lock everyone out,

[Grumpy Mike]

Sorry but this is typical of what I find to be the big problem with Linux.

Something doesn't work so you ask how to fix it and you are given a totally different application to try. With it's own set of dependance and missing configurations that take hours to install.

This package that according to pXc is:-

it takes a significant amount of ram when you connect to a network ( and it's not so fast )

Oddly enough I don't want to use up lots of RAM and be slow.

According to the information on http://www.lsi.upc.edu/lclsi/Manuales/w ... icant.conf
It should work, but it doesn't. Seemingly no one wants to or can tell me what is wrong.

but WEP security is only marginally better than no security at all.

Rubbish, that is the sort of overly geek attitude that is part of the problem with the Linux community.

[grumpyoldgit]

Well. WPA was introduced in 2003 due to the lack in security of WEP. This is not a Linux thing. I was laughed at 6 or 7 years ago when I mentioned to colleagues that my home (Windows) network was still protected by WEP. There are many tools available that will get through WEP security in a few minutes.

I've just done a quick google and there are even youtube videos that show you how to do it!

I did give you a cheap (free) solution, which was to attach another AP to your WEP network. Like most people you will probably have an old wireless router or two lying around in a box in the roof or garage. These instructions will enable you to recycle that old wireless router as a WPA AP in a few minutes.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/ar ... hp/3826776

[Nr90]

I might misunderstand what you are doing, but it seems to me like you are trying to connect to a wep network with a wpa tool.
This will not work.

To test if your pi will connect to a wep network you can run
# iwconfig wlan0 essid "MyNetwork" key "s:password"
Then run dhcpcd wlan0 and it should work

I agree with the poster above me that getting a tool that will automate this is better and easier.

I would personally recommend wicd. It does not take hours to configure and is very easy to install. Does not seem to slow my pi down one bit.

[paulie]

I too am using wicd.
However, I am unable to connect to a network using wpa2.
I always get "bad password" - even when connecting to an "open" network.
I have heard of conflicts with network manager (which is not installed), but am stumped.
I have tried editing
Wpa_supplicant.conf by hand but still no good.
Wicd is a great front-end but something I am doing must be stopping it successfully kicking my Asus N10usb dongle into shape.
It's not a power problem: ran N10 direct from pi, and now from a variable psu 5v @20 amps

[Nr90]

Did you choose the correct encryption method?

[Rubber131186]

I am in the situation too, i found this site here

http://jeffskinnerbox.wordpress.com/201 ... pberry-pi/

I will try this tomorrow see if it helps.

[Mobius]

Here's an example of a /etc/network/interfaces file setup for WEP:

Code: Select all

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
address 192.168.1.67
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.1.1
wireless-essid myssid
wireless-key mykey

You could just do DHCP and eliminate the address, network, and gateway lines.

[Phugoid Floyd]

I trust the OP (the feared and famous Grumpy Mike, no less) has solved his WEP-related connection problems by now, seeing that a year and half has passed. But surprisingly he did not receive a simple workable solution here, it seems. So for anyone else with similar problems and possibly perusing this thread in search for help, I would like to offer a config file that at least has worked for me. I, in turn, got the relevant parts from a blog by Jeff Skinner here: http://jeffskinnerbox.wordpress.com/201 ... mment-1959.

Code: Select all

# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback


# The primary (wired) network interface
iface eth0 inet dhcp


# The wifi (wireless) network interface
auto wlan0
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
	wireless-essid MyNetworkname
	wireless-key MyPassword

[Grumpy Mike]

(the feared and famous Grumpy Mike, no less)

I don't bite you know
Thanks for the update.

To complete the tale one of the RPI updates ( I call them the RIP updates for what they do to your system) rendered my OS totally not working and I could not face loosing a day to the long drawn out rigmarole of installing all the things required to make my Wi-Fi dogle work, so I took the easy way out. I connected the Ethernet port direct to my Mac and enabled sharing on it, that could cope no problems with the two types of encryption between my two locations.

Cheers

[sbhere]

So has no one found a way to get wpa_supplicant or another configuration file to look for a multitude of networks that includes WEP networks? I'm rather frustrated with this thing right now, and can't figure out whether the edimax I have is bad, or if the settings I have are bad...

[ukscone]

you tried basing your wpa_supplicant.conf on the info in here? http://hostap.epitest.fi/gitweb/gitweb. ... icant.conf

you should be able to just have multiple entries and weight their usage using priority=

somewhere i have a wpa_supplicant.conf that has several entries that incl. my home ap which is wpa, then some public ap that are wpa2 then a couple of wep ap then falls through if they aren't found to open ap

[sbhere]

I wrote a more detailed post here: http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 28&t=64922

I have several entries in my wpa_supplicant.conf file, and still none of them seem to work.

[ricsxn]

I spent a lot of time attempting to link my old router authenticating with WEP using wpa_supplicant.
The following configuration at the end was successful:

# cat /etc/network/interfaces
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

allow-hotplug wlan0
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet manual
wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
iface default inet dhcp


# cat /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1

network={
ssid="<myssid>"
key_mgmt=NONE
wep_key0=aabbccdd00
wep_tx_keyidx=0
priority=1
}

network={
ssid="<other wpa ssid>"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
psk="<wpa pass>"
priority=5
}

network={
key_mgmt=NONE
}

I had the problem that configuring manually the wlan0 interface with:
# iwconfig wlan0 essid '<wep ssid>' key '<mykey>' # 10 digits hex key
# dhclient wlan0
everithing was fine
while using wpa_supplicant not!
At the end I recognized that iwconfig was reporting a different output in:
Encryption key:
In the case of the manual configuration I could read the clear WEP password; in the case of wpa_supplicant it was something encrypted.
At the end I recognized that providing the value:
wep_key0=aabbccdd00
instead of
wep_key0="aabbccdd00"
solved the problem
I really hope to help someone else getting the same problem!

[martilyo]

Thank you ricsxn! I have spent countless hours trying to figure out what was wrong with my wireless settings. I am working on a garage door opener using a Pi 1 Model B. I really needed to configure the wireless with a static IP and WEP authentication. Why in the world did the system make the wpa_supplicant.conf file with quotes around the wep_key setting is beyond me. After I removed them, the wireless started working automagically. Thanks again your time figuring this out.

Regards,

Martilyo

[link12000]

this will with the WEP and other but this is a bunch of commands.

link: http://www.algissalys.com/how-to/how-to ... mmand-line

[Josepin]

Hey!!
Thanks!!
I waste my time all day! You help me very much!! Now, I have a Wi-fi Ok again

I spent a lot of time attempting to link my old router authenticating with WEP using wpa_supplicant.
The following configuration at the end was successful:

# cat /etc/network/interfaces
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

allow-hotplug wlan0
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet manual
wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
iface default inet dhcp


# cat /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1

network={
ssid="<myssid>"
key_mgmt=NONE
wep_key0=aabbccdd00
wep_tx_keyidx=0
priority=1
}

network={
ssid="<other wpa ssid>"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
psk="<wpa pass>"
priority=5
}

network={
key_mgmt=NONE
}

I had the problem that configuring manually the wlan0 interface with:
# iwconfig wlan0 essid '<wep ssid>' key '<mykey>' # 10 digits hex key
# dhclient wlan0
everithing was fine
while using wpa_supplicant not!
At the end I recognized that iwconfig was reporting a different output in:
Encryption key:
In the case of the manual configuration I could read the clear WEP password; in the case of wpa_supplicant it was something encrypted.
At the end I recognized that providing the value:
wep_key0=aabbccdd00
instead of
wep_key0="aabbccdd00"
solved the problem
I really hope to help someone else getting the same problem!

[bucho]

@ricsxn Thank you very much, you really saved my day.