Hi,
Sorry for sending this twice but I got an email rejection notice as
the original email had snippets of html. I am resending this as pure
plain text. Original email continues below.
I apologize for cold emailing you but I have been encountering some
issues running a Netgear A6210 USB WiFi dongle with Ubuntu 18.04.05
with kernel v5.4.
Recently, due to network issues, I tried to use this USB adapter to
attempt to be both client to a WiFi and also act as an access point to
a bunch of devices.
Running lsusb -t shows the following.
/: Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/7p, 5000M
|__ Port 3: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=mt76x2u, 5000M
|__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=uvcvideo, 5000M
|__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 3, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 5000M
|__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=uvcvideo, 5000M
|__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 5000M
/: Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/8p, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 4, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device,
Driver=usbhid, 12M
|__ Port 1: Dev 4, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device,
Driver=usbhid, 12M
|__ Port 3: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device,
Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
|__ Port 3: Dev 5, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device,
Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
|__ Port 4: Dev 6, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
|__ Port 4: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
|__ Port 4: Dev 6, If 3, Class=Human Interface Device,
Driver=usbhid, 12M
|__ Port 4: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
|__ Port 2: Dev 2, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
|__ Port 2: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
|__ Port 2: Dev 2, If 3, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
|__ Port 2: Dev 2, If 1, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
The iw list of the Netgear A6210 USB adapter shows the following.
Wiphy phy0
max # scan SSIDs: 4
max scan IEs length: 2243 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
max # match sets: 0
max # scan plans: 1
max scan plan interval: -1
max scan plan iterations: 0
Retry short limit: 7
Retry long limit: 4
Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
Device supports RSN-IBSS.
Supported Ciphers:
* WEP40 (00-0f-ac:1)
* WEP104 (00-0f-ac:5)
* TKIP (00-0f-ac:2)
* CCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:4)
* CCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:10)
* GCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:8)
* GCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:9)
* CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
* CMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:13)
* GMAC-128 (00-0f-ac:11)
* GMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:12)
Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Supported interface modes:
* IBSS
* managed
* AP
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
* mesh point
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x1ff
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX Greenfield
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
TX STBC
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
No DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 1.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
* 2.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
* 5.5 Mbps (short preamble supported)
* 11.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 2412 MHz [1] (18.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (18.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (18.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (18.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (18.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (18.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (18.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (18.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (18.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (18.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (18.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 2472 MHz [13] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 2484 MHz [14] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
Band 2:
Capabilities: 0x1ff
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX Greenfield
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
TX STBC
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
No DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
VHT Capabilities (0x318001b0):
Max MPDU length: 3895
Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
RX LDPC
short GI (80 MHz)
TX STBC
RX antenna pattern consistency
TX antenna pattern consistency
VHT RX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: MCS 0-9
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
VHT TX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: MCS 0-9
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 5180 MHz [36] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5200 MHz [40] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5220 MHz [44] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5240 MHz [48] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5260 MHz [52] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5280 MHz [56] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5300 MHz [60] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5320 MHz [64] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5500 MHz [100] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5520 MHz [104] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5540 MHz [108] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5560 MHz [112] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5580 MHz [116] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5600 MHz [120] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5620 MHz [124] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5640 MHz [128] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5660 MHz [132] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5680 MHz [136] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5700 MHz [140] (18.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5745 MHz [149] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5765 MHz [153] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5785 MHz [157] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5805 MHz [161] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5825 MHz [165] (18.0 dBm) (no IR)
Supported commands:
* new_interface
* set_interface
* new_key
* start_ap
* new_station
* new_mpath
* set_mesh_config
* set_bss
* authenticate
* associate
* deauthenticate
* disassociate
* join_ibss
* join_mesh
* set_tx_bitrate_mask
* frame
* frame_wait_cancel
* set_wiphy_netns
* set_channel
* set_wds_peer
* probe_client
* set_noack_map
* register_beacons
* start_p2p_device
* set_mcast_rate
* connect
* disconnect
* set_qos_map
* set_multicast_to_unicast
Supported TX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90
0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90
0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0
0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90
0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* mesh point: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80
0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-client: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80
0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90
0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-device: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80
0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
Supported RX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x40 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* managed: 0x40 0xd0
* AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-device: 0x40 0xd0
software interface modes (can always be added):
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
valid interface combinations:
* #{ IBSS } <= 1, #{ managed, AP, mesh point } <= 2,
total <= 2, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match
HT Capability overrides:
* MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
* maximum A-MSDU length
* supported channel width
* short GI for 40 MHz
* max A-MPDU length exponent
* min MPDU start spacing
Device supports TX status socket option.
Device supports HT-IBSS.
Device supports SAE with AUTHENTICATE command
Device supports low priority scan.
Device supports scan flush.
Device supports AP scan.
Device supports per-vif TX power setting
Driver supports full state transitions for AP/GO clients
Driver supports a userspace MPM
Device supports active monitor (which will ACK incoming frames)
Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
Device supports VHT-IBSS.
Looking at the lines
valid interface combinations:
* #{ IBSS } <= 1, #{ managed, AP, mesh point } <= 2,
total <= 2, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match
I assumed it should be able to do what I wanted, since I was able to
do this on my laptop with a builtin Intel WiFi adapter before.
Creating the 2 interfaces for the Netgear A6210 was not a problem.
I simply did this.
iw phy phy0 interface add sta0 type managed
iw phy phy0 interface add ap0 type __ap
wpa_supplicant.conf is very generic.
# Giving configuration update rights to wpa_cli
ctrl_interface=/run/wpa_supplicant
ctrl_interface_group=wifi
update_config=1
# AP scanning
ap_scan=1
# ISO/IEC alpha2 country code in which the device is operating
country=GB
# network section generated by wpa_passphrase
network={
ssid="Test"
psk="testtest"
}
So with the above configurations, I then attempt to connect with the 2 commands.
wpa_supplicant -i sta0 -c ./test.conf
create_ap ap0 sta0 internal password
Everything looks like it is fine. The connection to the Test WiFi
network is fine and I can connect to the internet. The create_ap
command works fine, it shows that the AP is created and enabled.
wpa_supplicant output
# wpa_supplicant -i sta0 -c ./example.conf
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
sta0: SME: Trying to authenticate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
(SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: Trying to associate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de (SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: Associated with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
sta0: CTRL-EVENT-SUBNET-STATUS-UPDATE status=0
sta0: WPA: Key negotiation completed with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
[PTK=CCMP GTK=CCMP]
sta0: CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
completed [id=0 id_str=]
create_ap output
# create_ap ap0 sta0 internal password Config dir:
/tmp/create_ap.ap0.conf.EmWaK62U
PID: 5027
command failed: Operation not supported (-95)
Creating a virtual WiFi interface... ap1 created.
Sharing Internet using method: nat
hostapd command-line interface: hostapd_cli -p
/tmp/create_ap.ap0.conf.EmWaK62U/hostapd_ctrl
Configuration file: /tmp/create_ap.ap0.conf.EmWaK62U/hostapd.conf
Using interface ap1 with hwaddr 78:d2:94:4a:e0:4c and ssid "internal"
ap1: interface state UNINITIALIZED->ENABLED
ap1: AP-ENABLED
So I then try to connect my devices onto "internal" and none of my
devices can connect.
If I did the reverse, which is to create_ap first, then connect to the
wpa_supplicant, the following happens.
create_ap
# create_ap ap0 sta0 internal password Config dir:
/tmp/create_ap.ap0.conf.BWI2H1Dx
PID: 8258
command failed: Operation not supported (-95)
Creating a virtual WiFi interface... ap1 created.
Sharing Internet using method: nat
hostapd command-line interface: hostapd_cli -p
/tmp/create_ap.ap0.conf.BWI2H1Dx/hostapd_ctrl
Configuration file: /tmp/create_ap.ap0.conf.BWI2H1Dx/hostapd.conf
Using interface ap1 with hwaddr 78:d2:94:4a:e0:4c and ssid "internal"
ap1: interface state UNINITIALIZED->ENABLED
ap1: AP-ENABLED
ap1: STA 98:01:a7:48:0f:d8 IEEE 802.11: authenticated
ap1: STA 98:01:a7:48:0f:d8 IEEE 802.11: associated (aid 1)
ap1: AP-STA-CONNECTED 98:01:a7:48:0f:d8
ap1: STA 98:01:a7:48:0f:d8 RADIUS: starting accounting session
57A210FFA9AEB7DF
ap1: STA 98:01:a7:48:0f:d8 WPA: pairwise key handshake completed (RSN)
As you can see, create_ap not only is created, but I manage to connect
a tablet onto the access point.
If I now try to run wpa_supplicant, this now happens.
# wpa_supplicant -i sta0 -c ./example.conf
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
sta0: SME: Trying to authenticate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
(SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: SME: Trying to authenticate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
(SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: SME: Trying to authenticate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
(SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: SME: Trying to authenticate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
(SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: CTRL-EVENT-SSID-TEMP-DISABLED id=0 ssid="Test"
auth_failures=1 duration=10 reason=CONN_FAILED
sta0: CTRL-EVENT-SSID-REENABLED id=0 ssid="Test"
sta0: SME: Trying to authenticate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
(SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: CTRL-EVENT-SSID-TEMP-DISABLED id=0 ssid="Test"
auth_failures=2 duration=23 reason=CONN_FAILED
sta0: CTRL-EVENT-SSID-REENABLED id=0 ssid="Test"
sta0: SME: Trying to authenticate with fc:ec:da:8a:84:de
(SSID='Test' freq=2412 MHz)
sta0: CTRL-EVENT-SSID-TEMP-DISABLED id=0 ssid="Test"
auth_failures=3 duration=46 reason=CONN_FAILED
This will go on forever never being able to authenticate.
Furthermore, there is a case where I can crash the driver.
To do that, what I do is I run wpa_supplicant first. Immediately after
I see it has initialized wpa_supplicant and is trying to authenticate,
I immediately run create_ap on another terminal window. Create_ap will
finish first usually and be able to start the ap. But the wireless
network will not be running. Checking dmesg will show this.
[ 1692.699658] wpa_supplicant D 0 2613 2612 0x00004000
[ 1692.699664] Call Trace:
[ 1692.699673] __schedule+0x292/0x710
[ 1692.699681] ? work_busy+0x90/0x90
[ 1692.699686] schedule+0x33/0xa0
[ 1692.699693] schedule_timeout+0x1d3/0x320
[ 1692.699700] ? ttwu_do_activate+0x5a/0x70
[ 1692.699707] ? work_busy+0x90/0x90
[ 1692.699713] wait_for_completion+0xba/0x140
[ 1692.699718] ? wake_up_q+0x80/0x80
[ 1692.699726] __flush_work+0x18a/0x1c0
[ 1692.699734] ? worker_detach_from_pool+0xb0/0xb0
[ 1692.699740] __cancel_work_timer+0x136/0x1b0
[ 1692.699746] ? schedule_preempt_disabled+0xe/0x10
[ 1692.699754] ? hrtimer_try_to_cancel+0x2a/0x110
[ 1692.699760] cancel_work_sync+0x10/0x20
[ 1692.699769] mt76x02u_stop_pre_tbtt_timer+0x2a/0x40 [mt76x02_usb]
[ 1692.699777] mt76x02u_pre_tbtt_enable+0x23/0x40 [mt76x02_usb]
[ 1692.699791] mt76x02_mac_set_beacon_enable+0x33/0x2c0 [mt76x02_lib]
[ 1692.699804] mt76x02_bss_info_changed+0x107/0x110 [mt76x02_lib]
[ 1692.699872] ieee80211_bss_info_change_notify+0xab/0x190 [mac80211]
[ 1692.699936] ieee80211_offchannel_stop_vifs+0x175/0x1b0 [mac80211]
[ 1692.699998] __ieee80211_start_scan+0x346/0x750 [mac80211]
[ 1692.700061] ieee80211_request_scan+0x30/0x50 [mac80211]
[ 1692.700129] ieee80211_scan+0x69/0x90 [mac80211]
[ 1692.700204] nl80211_trigger_scan+0x5cd/0x740 [cfg80211]
[ 1692.700215] genl_family_rcv_msg+0x21c/0x490
[ 1692.700224] ? free_one_page+0xbc/0x480
[ 1692.700233] genl_rcv_msg+0x4c/0x90
[ 1692.700239] ? genl_family_rcv_msg+0x490/0x490
[ 1692.700247] netlink_rcv_skb+0x51/0x120
[ 1692.700254] genl_rcv+0x28/0x40
[ 1692.700260] netlink_unicast+0x1a4/0x250
[ 1692.700268] netlink_sendmsg+0x2eb/0x3f0
[ 1692.700277] sock_sendmsg+0x63/0x70
[ 1692.700283] ____sys_sendmsg+0x200/0x280
[ 1692.700291] ___sys_sendmsg+0x88/0xd0
[ 1692.700297] ? sock_do_ioctl+0x4d/0x150
[ 1692.700304] ? __check_object_size+0x4d/0x1b0
[ 1692.700310] ? sock_ioctl+0x34f/0x3c0
[ 1692.700317] ? __sys_recvfrom+0xe9/0x160
[ 1692.700325] __sys_sendmsg+0x63/0xa0
[ 1692.700330] ? __sys_sendmsg+0x63/0xa0
[ 1692.700339] __x64_sys_sendmsg+0x1f/0x30
[ 1692.700347] do_syscall_64+0x57/0x190
[ 1692.700355] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xa9
[ 1692.700362] RIP: 0033:0x7f7020b67b94
[ 1692.700377] Code: Bad RIP value.
[ 1692.700382] RSP: 002b:00007ffc2f22d978 EFLAGS: 00000246
ORIG_RAX: 000000000000002e
[ 1692.700389] RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 000055f6ab3c29f0 RCX:
00007f7020b67b94
[ 1692.700393] RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 00007ffc2f22d9b0 RDI:
0000000000000005
[ 1692.700398] RBP: 000055f6ab411700 R08: 0000000000000000 R09:
0000000000000000
[ 1692.700402] R10: 000055f6ab3c0010 R11: 0000000000000246 R12:
000055f6ab3c2900
[ 1692.700406] R13: 00007ffc2f22d9b0 R14: 0000000000000000 R15:
000055f6ab3c2d48
So I'm sort of arriving at a conclusion that for some reason, this
Netgear A6210 is not able to create both an access point and connect
to a WiFi network at the same time. Yet iw list suggests that the
driver can. Is there something I'm misunderstanding?
Or am I doing something incorrectly? If I am, please do point it out.
Lastly, if there is any information missing and you need, please feel
free to ask and I will do my best to provide it, or reproduce the
issue and provide the information you need.
Best regards,
Chris
ps. Apologies for resending this. I got a rejection notice for one of
the recipients because it contained some html.
