ISL3890, master mode, prism54 -> p54pci regression

ISL3890, master mode, prism54 -> p54pci regression

[Jan Martinek]

Hello,

I have been using prism54 driver and my PCI wireless card was working in 
Master mode. After upgrade to kernel-2.6.32 there is no prism54 driver 
so I switched to p54pci. The problem is that I cannot set the Master 
mode anymore, I get this error:

# iwconfig wlan0 mode master
Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) :
     SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument.

This is my wireless card:

03:05.0 Network controller: Intersil Corporation ISL3890 [Prism GT/Prism 
Duette]/ISL3886 [Prism Javelin/Prism Xbow] (rev 01)

this is my kernel version: kernel-2.6.32.9-70.fc12.x86_64
And here is what I found in dmesg:

cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
	(start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
	(2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
	(2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
	(2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
	(5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
	(5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
p54pci 0000:03:05.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 20
p54pci 0000:03:05.0: firmware: requesting isl3886pci
phy0: p54 detected a LM86 firmware
p54: rx_mtu reduced from 3240 to 2376
phy0: FW rev 2.13.12.0 - Softmac protocol 5.9
phy0: cryptographic accelerator WEP:YES, TKIP:YES, CCMP:YES
phy0: hwaddr 00:60:b3:1c:41:e5, MAC:isl3890 RF:Frisbee
phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel'
Registered led device: p54-phy0::assoc
Registered led device: p54-phy0::tx
Registered led device: p54-phy0::rx
Registered led device: p54-phy0::radio
p54pci 0000:03:05.0: is registered as 'phy0'
cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: CZ
cfg80211: Regulatory domain changed to country: CZ
	(start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
	(2400000 KHz - 2483500 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
	(5150000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2301 mBm)
	(5250000 KHz - 5350000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2301 mBm)
	(5470000 KHz - 5725000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 3000 mBm)

Is there any possibility to set the master mode?

Thank you,
Jan Martinek

Re: ISL3890, master mode, prism54 -> p54pci regression

[Luis R. Rodriguez]

2010/3/12 Jan Martinek <honza@dp.fce.vutbr.cz>:
> Hello,
>
> I have been using prism54 driver and my PCI wireless card was working in
> Master mode. After upgrade to kernel-2.6.32 there is no prism54 driver so I
> switched to p54pci. The problem is that I cannot set the Master mode
> anymore, I get this error:
>
> # iwconfig wlan0 mode master
> Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) :
>    SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument.
>
> This is my wireless card:
>
> 03:05.0 Network controller: Intersil Corporation ISL3890 [Prism GT/Prism
> Duette]/ISL3886 [Prism Javelin/Prism Xbow] (rev 01)
>
> this is my kernel version: kernel-2.6.32.9-70.fc12.x86_64
> And here is what I found in dmesg:
>
> cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>        (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
>        (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>        (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>        (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>        (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>        (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> p54pci 0000:03:05.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 20
> p54pci 0000:03:05.0: firmware: requesting isl3886pci
> phy0: p54 detected a LM86 firmware
> p54: rx_mtu reduced from 3240 to 2376
> phy0: FW rev 2.13.12.0 - Softmac protocol 5.9
> phy0: cryptographic accelerator WEP:YES, TKIP:YES, CCMP:YES
> phy0: hwaddr 00:60:b3:1c:41:e5, MAC:isl3890 RF:Frisbee
> phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel'
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::assoc
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::tx
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::rx
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::radio
> p54pci 0000:03:05.0: is registered as 'phy0'
> cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: CZ
> cfg80211: Regulatory domain changed to country: CZ
>        (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
>        (2400000 KHz - 2483500 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
>        (5150000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2301 mBm)
>        (5250000 KHz - 5350000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2301 mBm)
>        (5470000 KHz - 5725000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 3000 mBm)
>
> Is there any possibility to set the master mode?

p54pci uses mac80211 and for all mac80211 drivers you need to use the
hostapd nl80211 driver. You cannot use wext on mac80211 drivers for AP
mode. Read this:

http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/hostapd

  Luis

Re: ISL3890, master mode, prism54 -> p54pci regression

[Christian Lamparter]

On Saturday 13 March 2010 08:50:08 Jan Martinek wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I have been using prism54 driver and my PCI wireless card was working in 
> Master mode. After upgrade to kernel-2.6.32 there is no prism54 driver 
> so I switched to p54pci. The problem is that I cannot set the Master 
> mode anymore, I get this error:
> 
> # iwconfig wlan0 mode master
> Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) :
>      SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument.
> 
> This is my wireless card:
> 
> 03:05.0 Network controller: Intersil Corporation ISL3890 [Prism GT/Prism 
> Duette]/ISL3886 [Prism Javelin/Prism Xbow] (rev 01)
> 
> this is my kernel version: kernel-2.6.32.9-70.fc12.x86_64
> And here is what I found in dmesg:
> 
> cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
> 	(start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
> 	(2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 	(2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 	(2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 	(5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> 	(5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> p54pci 0000:03:05.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 20
> p54pci 0000:03:05.0: firmware: requesting isl3886pci
> phy0: p54 detected a LM86 firmware
> p54: rx_mtu reduced from 3240 to 2376
> phy0: FW rev 2.13.12.0 - Softmac protocol 5.9
> phy0: cryptographic accelerator WEP:YES, TKIP:YES, CCMP:YES
> phy0: hwaddr 00:60:b3:1c:41:e5, MAC:isl3890 RF:Frisbee
> phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel'
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::assoc
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::tx
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::rx
> Registered led device: p54-phy0::radio
> p54pci 0000:03:05.0: is registered as 'phy0'
> cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: CZ
> cfg80211: Regulatory domain changed to country: CZ
> 	(start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
> 	(2400000 KHz - 2483500 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2000 mBm)
> 	(5150000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2301 mBm)
> 	(5250000 KHz - 5350000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 2301 mBm)
> 	(5470000 KHz - 5725000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A, 3000 mBm)
> 
> Is there any possibility to set the master mode?

The mac80211 stack _outsourced_ most of the 802.11 management code,
so it can't operate in master mode all by itself.

Therefore you'll need hostapd.

We have an up-to-date wiki entry (+ some WPA(2) examples):
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/hostapd


BTW: There are also back-ports of the mac80211-stack (+ drivers)
(aka compat-wireless). So, if you run into weird AP problems,
you know where to look for updates.

http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download

Regards,
	Chr

PS: What card do you have? Is it a Z-Com XG-600?

Re: ISL3890, master mode, prism54 -> p54pci regression

[Jan Martinek]

Hello,

thank you very much to both of you for your answer. The reference to 
hostapd really helped me and now everything works fine. I set WPA2 with 
CCMP.

Well, there is one surprise. My computer, which serves as an Access 
Point used to be very stable. But since yesterday evening, when I got 
hostapd working the uptime is only several minutes, then it freezes.

It strongly depends on client's activity. Heavy internet traffic through 
WiFi makes my computer freeze. For example, if client (windows machine) 
connects to my WiFi network and watches some online video, it is a sure 
way to freeze the Access Point in several seconds.

I did not find anything suspicious in dmesg nor /var/log/messages.

This is my card:

03:06.0 Network controller: Intersil Corporation ISL3890 [Prism GT/Prism 
Duette]/ISL3886 [Prism Javelin/Prism Xbow] (rev 01)

It is Z-Com XG-901 (Full-MAC, I think).

Does anyone else encountered freezing problems under heavy internet load?

Thank you,
Jan Martinek

Re: ISL3890, master mode, prism54 -> p54pci regression

[Christian Lamparter]

On Monday 15 March 2010 09:08:25 Jan Martinek wrote:
> Hello,

Hi,

> thank you very much to both of you for your answer. The reference to 
> hostapd really helped me and now everything works fine. I set WPA2 with 
> CCMP.
> 
> Well, there is one surprise. My computer, which serves as an Access 
> Point used to be very stable. But since yesterday evening, when I got 
> hostapd working the uptime is only several minutes, then it freezes.
> 
> It strongly depends on client's activity. Heavy internet traffic through 
> WiFi makes my computer freeze. For example, if client (windows machine) 
> connects to my WiFi network and watches some online video, it is a sure 
> way to freeze the Access Point in several seconds.
> 
> I did not find anything suspicious in dmesg nor /var/log/messages.
> 
> This is my card:
> 
> 03:06.0 Network controller: Intersil Corporation ISL3890 [Prism GT/Prism 
> Duette]/ISL3886 [Prism Javelin/Prism Xbow] (rev 01)
> 
> It is Z-Com XG-901 (Full-MAC, I think).

_9_01. Interesting

> Does anyone else encountered freezing problems under heavy internet load?
Probably related to: http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=11386

You can either patch the kernel yourself, Or switch to compat-wireless
(which does also include fixes for mac80211-stack.) 

Regards,
	Chr