Most recent kernel where this bug did not occur: Distribution: Debian/testing Hardware Environment: Celeron, a USB card managed by zd1211rw driver Software Environment: Problem Description: New information: ** This bug persists with wireless-tools 29.pre21. However personally for me it is better reproduciable with version 28. >The command ># iwconfig eth0 essid default >randomly sets ESSID either to "default" or to "d". > >I did some attempts to debug it myself but give up. However >it seems for me that the bug is in the kernel not in >iwconfig utility. Well, I suppose it may be version >incompatibility. > >wireless-tools 28 >Linux 2.6.21.5 >eth0 is a USB card managed by zd1211rw driver. > >$ iwconfig --version >iwconfig Wireless-Tools version 28 > Compatible with Wireless Extension v11 to v20. > >Kernel Currently compiled with Wireless Extension v22. > >eth0 Recommend Wireless Extension v20 or later, > Currently compiled with Wireless Extension v22
This bug persists with wireless-tools 29.pre22.
This is a softmac bug, with a simple workaround: don't attempt to set the ESSID before bringing the interface up.
Subject: Re: ESSID truncated sometimes This workaround cannot be used with DHCP. >------- Comment #2 from dsd@gentoo.org 2007-07-02 10:46 ------- >This is a softmac bug, with a simple workaround: don't attempt to set the >ESSID >before bringing the interface up. >
I suggest you use a DHCP client that doesn't mess with interface state (e.g. http://dhcpcd.berlios.de/) DHCP clients that bring the interface down will cause you other problems even if this bug gets fixed. Such clients are not compatible with softmac-based drivers and a few others.
>------- Comment #4 from dsd@gentoo.org 2007-07-02 12:08 ------- >I suggest you use a DHCP client that doesn't mess with interface state (e.g. >http://dhcpcd.berlios.de/) > >DHCP clients that bring the interface down will cause you other problems even >if this bug gets fixed. Such clients are not compatible with softmac-based >drivers and a few others. I'm not going to bring interface down except of when powering off the computer. Well, indeed I have random system bug when Internet ceases to work and pinging my router (192.168.0.1) produces something like "Network unreachable" error. I'm lost what's its cause. I hope that these network hangings will disappear as soon as truncated ESSID bug will be fixed.
(In reply to comment #5) > I'm not going to bring interface down except of when powering off the > computer. That's fine. Make sure you use a DHCP client which also doesn't bring the interface down, otherwise this will cause you problems (including the truncated ESSID) > Well, indeed I have random system bug when Internet ceases to work and > pinging > my router (192.168.0.1) produces something like "Network unreachable" error. > I'm lost what's its cause. I hope that these network hangings will disappear > as > soon as truncated ESSID bug will be fixed. The truncated ESSID bug probably won't be fixed. softmac is unmaintained. Use the workaround: always bring the interface up before using it, and don't use any software which brings it down.
>the workaround: always bring the interface up before using it, and don't use >any software which brings it down. OK, it works with this workaround. Here is the real example of working /etc/interfaces for a DHCP managed zd1211 wireless network card: iface eth0 inet manual up ifconfig eth0 up up iwconfig eth0 essid default mode Managed ap 00:C0:02:0A:C7:3E up dhclient eth0 pre-up iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.up.rules
This requirement will persist in mac80211-based driver as well.