Wi-Fi won't connect - Ubuntu

[ClutchDisc]

Hey guys looking for some help here. Just installed Ubuntu 12.04 on my Dell desktop. All is good except it won't connect to my wireless network. It'll show on the list of networks, I can put my password in, but it'll just spin for a while and then ask me again for my password. I verified that I have the correct drivers using the lsmod command....is there some setting that I need to change causing this? Thanks for your help guys!

Btw tried booting it off of linux mint and it does the same thing.

 

[openroad]

Do you have MAC filtering enabled on the wireless router?

 

[ClutchDisc]

I don't know, how would I do that?

 

[openroad]

MAC filtering denies network access to devices with MAC addresses not manually white-listed on the router. It is a security setting and is disabled by default.

In this case you don't want to enable it.

 

[openroad]

Are you able to connect to via ethernet cable?

 

[AandPDan]

If your Dell used to connect, with Windows or another OS, then unless you changed the network card it probably isn't a MAC filtering issue.

What security are you using on the router and the desktop? Common options are WEP, WPA or WPA Personal, WPA2 or WPA2 Personal.

Then check your encryption. Are you using TKIP, AES, etc?

 

[ClutchDisc]

Where do I look to see if this is enabled?

 

[ClutchDisc]

The dell never had wifi before today...I just got a usb wireless card.

I'll look into the security settings.

 

[openroad]

Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Where do I look to see if this is enabled?

If you have never fiddled around with the router settings before it most likely will not be the MAC filter, as that setting is already disabled.

 

[ClutchDisc]

The wifi works fine on all the other computers.

Security settings on my router:

WPA2-PSK

How do you check encryption?

 

[AandPDan]

It's configured in the router. AES and TKIP are two common options. AES can be more secure but not everything supports it.

If you want to just test connectivity, turn the security off temporarily and see if it works.

 

[SrDriver]

Sounds like you need the Linux driver for your usb wireless card. Check their web site for a driver.

 

[AandPDan]

I don't think so. He says he can see the network so it probably isn't a hardware issue so much.

Trying it without any security will let him know if the card is actually working or not.

 

[openroad]

Ubuntu, like Microsoft Windows, should automatically detect and conform to the encryption scheme used by the router when initially connecting to a network.

Double check this in Ubuntu by left clicking once on the network icon in the task bar, and selecting "Edit" from the context menu. A window named "Network Connections" should pop up. Click on "Wi-Fi Connection 1" or "Wireless Connection 1" from the list on the left to select (highlight) it. With it selected, click on the button to the right that says "Edit". A second window will pop up with the settings for that connection. Click on the tab that says Wi-Fi Security and verify that you are using "WPA2 Personal".

 

[ClutchDisc]

Originally Posted By: openroad
Ubuntu, like Microsoft Windows, should automatically detect and conform to the encryption scheme used by the router when initially connecting to a network.

Double check this in Ubuntu by left clicking once on the network icon in the task bar, and selecting "Edit" from the context menu. A window named "Network Connections" should pop up. Click on "Wi-Fi Connection 1" or "Wireless Connection 1" from the list on the left to select (highlight) it. With it selected, click on the button to the right that says "Edit". A second window will pop up with the settings for that connection. Click on the tab that says Wi-Fi Security and verify that you are using "WPA2 Personal".

Ok I did that and I get: WPA & WPA2 Personal.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Originally Posted By: AandPDan
I don't think so. He says he can see the network so it probably isn't a hardware issue so much.

Trying it without any security will let him know if the card is actually working or not.

Correct. I have all the right drivers. How would you go about turning off the router security momentarily? Also if I do that is it easy to turn it back on and have the same password for it? Don't really want a different password if I can help it.

 

[JerryBob]

You say the Dell has never had wireless and you're using a stick. Did it ever have built-in wireless? If so, you may need to turn it off in the BIOS, due to some sort of conflict.

 

[openroad]

Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Ok I did that and I get: WPA & WPA2 Personal.


You mentioned back in post #3318336 that your router uses WPA2-PSK, if this is correct then the network encryption (security) settings are fine on both the router and Ubuntu.

 

[AandPDan]

Somewhere in your routers wireless configuration you should have the option of AES or TKIP. AES is not supported by everything.

So you could have WPA2-PSK work with TKIP but it MAY NOT work with AES.

What is your router model?

If you check the Ubuntu forums you'll see others have the same problem.

 

[LazyPrizm]

I once had issues staying connected to my AP with one card, and I fixed it by switching from NetworkManager to wicd instead. Arch linux, but it might be worth a shot.