Current wireless extensions API does not give sufficient information for NM to know how to configure wpa_supplicant to support association with wireless networks that do not broadcast their SSID in beacon frames. A simple patch has been merged upstream which extends the API to provide the necessary clue. This bug is intended to cover backporting of that patch on top of the wireless patches already pending for 5.2.
Created attachment 290846 [details] jwltest-wext-scan-cap.patch
This request was evaluated by Red Hat Product Management for inclusion in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux maintenance release. Product Management has requested further review of this request by Red Hat Engineering, for potential inclusion in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux Update release for currently deployed products. This request is not yet committed for inclusion in an Update release.
Have implemented this in upstream NetworkManager upstream trunk and stable branches, can easily backport this to RHEL5.
Testing NetworkManager packages available here with the scan capability functionality: http://people.redhat.com/dcbw/NetworkManager/RHEL-5/
Please attach the output of "cat /var/log/messages", especially the first 10 lines or so containing the word "NetworkManager". You should see some text like: NetworkManager: <information> eth1: driver does not support SSID scans (scan_capa 0x00) if the driver does not support SSID scans or if the kernel does not have the patch from this issue. You should see something like: NetworkManager: <information> eth1: driver supports SSID scans (scan_capa 0x01) if the driver _does_ support SSID scans and the kernel has the correct support enabled.
This is the kernel bug -- get your own! :-)
I retested the hidden ap case with NetworkManager test package on kernel jwltest.50.i686 from Linville. NetworkManager works fine on connecting hidden AP. In /var/log/messages, I can see the information that "driver supports SSID scans". Jan 17 13:55:55 jane-sr NetworkManager: <information> starting... Jan 17 13:55:55 jane-sr NetworkManager: <information> wlan0: Device is fully-supported using driver 'iwl4965'. Jan 17 13:55:55 jane-sr NetworkManager: <information> wlan0: driver supports SSID scans (scan_capa 0x01). More log from /var/log/messages will be attached, in case you still need it. :)
Created attachment 292111 [details] /var/log/messages
in 2.6.18-72.el5 You can download this test kernel from http://people.redhat.com/dzickus/el5
Tested the kernel 2.6.18-72.el5, testing NM package works fine on connecting hidden AP.
On RHEL5.2-sp4, NetworkManager works well w/ connecting hidden AP. Verify this bug.
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on the solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2008-0314.html