[Solved] Cannot set up stand alone access point

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hi Folks,

I have been through these forums for the better part of a day and I have not been able to get my installation working. I only have access to the uci interface and no matter what I do to configure my laptop to act as an access point I keep getting the following ...
"radio0(mac80211) Interface type not supported"

I used the latest (Sun Jun 30 20:02:03 2019) combined-ext4.img image and I cannot see any sign that iw, any file with "80211" in it or wpa_supplicant exist on the busybox image. The netifd folder has a netifd-wireless.sh (which I had to chmod to get working), but it does not seem to do anything. "wifi config" produces a blank file. I'm in need of help.

All I need to do is set up a beacon.

2

You will have to install the required wireless drivers necessary for your notebook's WLAN card (contrary to 'normal' routers/ APs, OpenWrt can't really guess for x86/ x86_64, as you may connect 'anything'); keep in mind that not all drivers support AP mode.

2 Likes
3

Thanks, let me figure out how to do that (it's an HP EliteBook) and it don't look like they make it easy.

4

Thanks slh, now that Ive gotten a bit farther (got a wired connection going, found opkg, installed iwlwifi and a whole bunch of other utils that were driving me crazy not having). The problem I have now is that wlan0 will not appear in ifconfig, despite checking to see the kmod took and such. Apparently eudev is not mapping the physical device?

5

Got past wlan0 not appearing, now I just cant get the AP started (I can, if I set it up, receive though, so we know the card is working). (Card has AP and AP/VLAN capability.)

6

OK, for posterity, here's what I did to turn an HP EliteBook (Centrino Advanced-N 6235) into an access point (beacon, no network, used for interior wifi location).

  1. Loaded releases/18.06.4/targets/x86/64/combined-ext4.img.gz package on laptop.

  2. Setup static IP, gateway, DNS and such on lan0 since this connection is there by default. Connect to a network (wired) that has access to the internet.

  3. Update installed packages, then install all the following packages (using opkg, already configured) ...

  • addrwatch - 0.8-3
  • base-files - 194.2-r7808-ef686b7292
  • busybox - 1.28.4-3
  • chat - 2.4.7-12
  • comgt - 0.32-30
  • dnsmasq - 2.80-1.4
  • dropbear - 2017.75-7.1
  • e2fsprogs - 1.44.1-1
  • firewall - 2018-08-13-1c4d5bcd-1
  • fstools - 2019-03-28-ff1ded63-5
  • fwtool - 1
  • hostapd - 2018-05-21-62566bc2-8
  • hostapd-common - 2018-05-21-62566bc2-8
  • hostapd-utils - 2018-05-21-62566bc2-8
  • ip6tables - 1.6.2-1
  • iptables - 1.6.2-1
  • iw-full - 4.14-1
  • iwcap - 1
  • iwinfo - 2018-07-31-65b8333f-1
  • iwlwifi-firmware-iwl6000g2b - 2017-09-06-a61ac5cf-1
  • jshn - 2018-07-25-c83a84af-2
  • jsonfilter - 2018-02-04-c7e938d6-1
  • kernel - 4.14.131-1-7f44b66739e15d9ee98957787ab1e200
  • kmod-button-hotplug - 4.14.131-3
  • kmod-cfg80211 - 4.14.131+2017-11-01-10
  • kmod-e1000 - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-e1000e - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-hwmon-core - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-i2c-algo-bit - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-i2c-core - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-igb - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-input-core - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-ip6tables - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-ipt-conntrack - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-ipt-core - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-ipt-nat - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-ipt-offload - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-iwlwifi - 4.14.131+2017-11-01-10
  • kmod-lib-crc-ccitt - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-mac80211 - 4.14.131+2017-11-01-10
  • kmod-mii - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-conntrack - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-conntrack6 - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-flow - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-ipt - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-ipt6 - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-nat - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-reject - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-nf-reject6 - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-ppp - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-pppoe - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-pppox - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-pps - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-ptp - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-r8169 - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-slhc - 4.14.131-1
  • kmod-trelay - 4.14.131+0.1-1
  • libblkid - 2.32-2
  • libblobmsg-json - 2018-07-25-c83a84af-2
  • libc - 1.1.19-1
  • libcap - 2.25-2
  • libcomerr - 1.44.1-1
  • libevent2 - 2.0.22-1
  • libext2fs - 1.44.1-1
  • libf2fs - 1.10.0-1
  • libgcc - 7.3.0-1
  • libip4tc - 1.6.2-1
  • libip6tc - 1.6.2-1
  • libiwinfo - 2018-07-31-65b8333f-1
  • libiwinfo-lua - 2018-07-31-65b8333f-1
  • libjson-c - 0.12.1-2
  • libjson-script - 2018-07-25-c83a84af-2
  • liblua - 5.1.5-1
  • liblucihttp - 2019-07-05-a34a17d5-1
  • liblucihttp-lua - 2019-07-05-a34a17d5-1
  • libnl-tiny - 0.1-5
  • libpcap - 1.9.1-1
  • libpthread - 1.1.19-1
  • librt - 1.1.19-1
  • libsmartcols - 2.32-2
  • libss - 1.44.1-1
  • libubox - 2018-07-25-c83a84af-2
  • libubus - 2018-10-06-221ce7e7-1
  • libubus-lua - 2018-10-06-221ce7e7-1
  • libuci - 2019-05-17-f199b961-1
  • libuclient - 2018-11-24-3ba74ebc-1
  • libuuid - 2.32-2
  • libxtables - 1.6.2-1
  • logd - 2018-02-14-128bc35f-2
  • lua - 5.1.5-1
  • luasocket - 3.0-rc1-20130909-4
  • luci - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-app-firewall - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-base - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-lib-ip - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-lib-jsonc - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-lib-nixio - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-mod-admin-full - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-proto-3g - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-proto-ipv6 - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-proto-ppp - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-proto-relay - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • luci-theme-bootstrap - git-19.293.20084-ceb1f80-1
  • mkf2fs - 1.10.0-1
  • mtd - 23
  • netifd - 2019-01-31-a2aba5c7-2.1
  • odhcp6c - 2018-07-14-67ae6a71-15
  • odhcpd-ipv6only - 1.15-3
  • openwrt-keyring - 2018-05-18-103a32e9-1
  • opkg - 2019-06-14-dcbc142e-1
  • partx-utils - 2.32-2
  • ppp - 2.4.7-12
  • ppp-mod-pppoe - 2.4.7-12
  • procd - 2018-03-28-dfb68f85-1
  • prometheus-node-exporter-lua - 2019.08.14-1
  • prometheus-node-exporter-lua-wifi - 2019.08.14-1
  • prometheus-node-exporter-lua-wifi_stations - 2019.08.14-1
  • r8169-firmware - 2017-09-06-a61ac5cf-1
  • relayd - 2016-02-07-ad0b25ad-2
  • rpcd - 2018-11-28-3aa81d0d-2
  • rpcd-mod-rrdns - 20170710
  • ubox - 2018-02-14-128bc35f-2
  • ubus - 2018-10-06-221ce7e7-1
  • ubusd - 2018-10-06-221ce7e7-1
  • uci - 2019-05-17-f199b961-1
  • uclient-fetch - 2018-11-24-3ba74ebc-1
  • uhttpd - 2018-11-28-cdfc902a-3
  • usign - 2019-08-06-5a52b379-1
  • wireless-regdb - 2017-10-20-4343d359
  • wireless-tools - 29-5
  • wpa-cli - 2018-05-21-62566bc2-8
  • wpa-supplicant - 2018-05-21-62566bc2-8

(for anyone that want's to leave out the modules that make life easy, refer to this ....)
root@OpenWrt:~# lsmod
button_hotplug 12288 0
cfg80211 221184 4 iwlmvm,iwldvm,mac80211,iwlwifi
compat 12288 5 iwlmvm,iwldvm,mac80211,iwlwifi,cfg80211
crc_ccitt 12288 1 ppp_async
e1000 90112 0
e1000e 147456 0
i2c_algo_bit 12288 1 igb
i2c_dev 12288 0
igb 131072 0
ip_tables 16384 4 iptable_nat,iptable_mangle,iptable_filter
ip6_tables 16384 24 ip6table_mangle,ip6table_filter
ip6t_REJECT 12288 2
ip6table_filter 12288 1
ip6table_mangle 12288 0
ipt_MASQUERADE 12288 1
ipt_REJECT 12288 2
iptable_filter 12288 1
iptable_mangle 12288 0
iptable_nat 12288 1
iwldvm 114688 0
iwlmvm 196608 0
iwlwifi 147456 2 iwlmvm,iwldvm
mac80211 393216 2 iwlmvm,iwldvm
mii 12288 1 r8169
nf_conntrack 65536 13 nf_conntrack_ipv6,ipt_MASQUERADE,xt_state,xt_nat,xt_conntrack,xt_REDIRECT,xt_CT,nf_nat_masquerade_ipv4,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_nat_ipv4,nf_nat,nf_flow_table,nf_conntrack_rtcache
nf_conntrack_ipv4 12288 10
nf_conntrack_ipv6 12288 4
nf_conntrack_rtcache 12288 0
nf_defrag_ipv4 12288 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_defrag_ipv6 12288 1 nf_conntrack_ipv6
nf_flow_table 20480 2 xt_FLOWOFFLOAD,nf_flow_table_hw
nf_flow_table_hw 12288 1
nf_log_common 12288 2 nf_log_ipv4,nf_log_ipv6
nf_log_ipv4 12288 0
nf_log_ipv6 12288 0
nf_nat 20480 4 xt_nat,nf_nat_redirect,nf_nat_masquerade_ipv4,nf_nat_ipv4
nf_nat_ipv4 12288 1 iptable_nat
nf_nat_masquerade_ipv4 12288 1 ipt_MASQUERADE
nf_nat_redirect 12288 1 xt_REDIRECT
nf_reject_ipv4 12288 1 ipt_REJECT
nf_reject_ipv6 12288 1 ip6t_REJECT
ppp_async 16384 0
ppp_generic 28672 3 pppoe,ppp_async,pppox
pppoe 16384 0
pppox 12288 1 pppoe
pps_core 12288 1 ptp
ptp 16384 2 e1000e,igb
r8169 65536 0
slhc 12288 1 ppp_generic
trelay 12288 0
x_tables 20480 24 ipt_REJECT,ipt_MASQUERADE,xt_time,xt_tcpudp,xt_state,xt_nat,xt_multiport,xt_mark,xt_mac,xt_limit,xt_conntrack,xt_comment,xt_TCPMSS,xt_REDIRECT,xt_LOG,xt_FLOWOFFLOAD,xt_CT,iptable_mangle,iptable_filter,ip_tables,ip6t_REJECT,ip6table_mangle,ip6table_filter,ip6_tables
xt_CT 12288 0
xt_FLOWOFFLOAD 12288 0
xt_LOG 12288 0
xt_REDIRECT 12288 0
xt_TCPMSS 12288 0
xt_comment 8192105
xt_conntrack 12288 12
xt_limit 12288 20
xt_mac 8192 0
xt_mark 8192 0
xt_multiport 8192 0
xt_nat 12288 0
xt_state 12288 0
xt_tcpudp 8192 8
xt_time 12288 0

  1. Run "wifi configure".

  2. If you set things up correctly, you should be able to ssh in, and connect to Luci with your web browser.

  3. You should have "Radio0" set up for you if you followed the instructions. You must now set up the interface using the following settings, in whatever manner (vi /etc/config/wireless, or uci set commands, or via the Luci GUI) you are most comfortable with!

wireless.radio0=wifi-device
wireless.radio0.type='mac80211'
wireless.radio0.path='pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.3/0000:03:00.0'
wireless.radio0.disabled='0'
wireless.radio0.legacy_rates='1'
wireless.radio0.txpower='15'
wireless.radio0.country='US'
wireless.radio0.htmode='HT20'
wireless.radio0.hwmode='11g'
wireless.radio0.channel='11'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0]=wifi-iface
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].device='radio0'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].ssid='xxx-beacon'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].encryption='none'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].key='none'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].disabled='0'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].disassoc_low_ack='0'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].mode='ap'
wireless.@wifi-iface[0].wmm='0'

(Ed Note: I wanted to use channel 6, but OpenWrt will default to 11 on power up. If you install 'znc-mod-stickychan' package, it will remember the channel you've set as your master.)

(IMPORTANT NOTE: This one is hard to find on the web, but the (Centrino Advanced-N 6235) can only transmit on 2.4 GHz band!!! I wasted a day trying to use 5 GHz band. Please make certain anyone using a Centrino knows this as it will save you time and headaches.) You must also assign a master channel or nothing will work.

Congratulation, you now have a dumb beacon setup so you can do indoor location. Carry on.

7

If your problem is solved, please consider marking this topic as [Solved]. See How to mark a topic as [Solved] for a short how-to.

8

Uh, tmomas, you might want to check your instructions. I HAVE no pencil (edit) icon following the title, so How can I edit the title?

Screenshot%20at%202019-10-25%2014-10-36
Screenshot at 2019-10-25 14-10-36.png1492×791 124 KB

9

This topic was automatically closed 10 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.