Although full support of multi-channel may not be available for `iwlwifi` , multi-channel operation is helpful for some special services like hotspot. For example, it is possible to use multi-channel operation to create Hotspot at the same time connected to a WIFI AP. See https://github.com/lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot for details. Commit 5c38bedac16a946402b627621b3d4bfcc9952479 bans multi-channel operation for `iwlwifi`. So that such Hotspot is not available anymore. See https://github.com/lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot/issues/435 for details. I suggest thinking about some revision not to ban multi-channel operation totally.
You should be using p2p_group_add instead of adding a hotspot. You'll get the same feature set, but then, you'll be able to add the GO because we'll be allowed to use the Notice Of Absence.
I am closing this since it is not a bug on the wifi side and there is a solution to keep your use case working: not using hostapd, but rather using p2p_group_add command in wpa_supplicant.
I'm sorry to come in late, but by now I use a kernel on my distribution (manjaro) that is affected by this change. I want to argue, that wifi-p2p doesn't give the same features as a hotspot and isn't even supported for dumb linux users like me. When looking at android and windows (and I would guess apple too), they have a prominent feature to open a hotspot even if the single wifi-adapter is already connected to a network. The option for wifi-p2p / Wifi Direct is well hidden. On linux there are no guis for p2p available. As recommended I tried to get wifi-p2p working and jumped through a lot of hoops. But I couldn't get my linux pc connect to an android phone and am even further away from a wifi bridge. Please see some of the steps I tried. This is not a call for support, rather an example that wifi-p2p isn't supported (yet?) on linux desktops. But if someone wants to get me going again in my course to setup a wireless bridge with wifi-p2p, I'm happy to hear. > > >* wifi bridge works on this machine with linux-wifi-hotspot and kernel 6.6 >* I was loosely following this 9 year old post [1] >* I was trying to understand [2] but didn't >* I can connect my android to another android via Wifi Direct >* firewall, dnsmasq.conf, interface capabilities should all check out >* I can see the connection attempts on the phone, but none go through to a >working connection > >``` >uname -r # returns 6.12.4-1-MANJARO >sudo dnsmasq > >nmcli con add type wifi-p2p peer mac:aa:of:phone autoconnect no ipv4.addresses >>192.168.12.1/24 ipv4.method manual >nmcli con up wifi-p2p ># not working > >### new attempt >echo 'ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant >ap_scan=1 >device_name=My-pc >device_type=1-0050F204-1 >driver_param=use_p2p_group_interface=1' > /home/user/wpa_supplicant.conf >nmcli radio wifi off >rfkill unblock wlan >sudo wpa_supplicant -Dnl80211 -iwlp3s0 -c/home/user/wpa_supplicant.conf >sudo wpa_cli > > p2p_find > > p2p_peers # returns mac:aa:of:phone > > p2p_connect mac:aa:of:phone 45629034 display persistent >sudo ip addr add 192.168.12.1/24 dev p2p-wlp3s0-0 ># connected but disconnected after several seconds > >### another attempt >sudo wpa_supplicant -Dnl80211 -iwlp3s0 -c/home/user/wpa_supplicant.conf >sudo wpa_cli > > p2p_find > > p2p_peers # returns mac:aa:of:phone > > p2p_connect mac:aa:of:phone 45629034 wps_pbc >sudo ip addr add 192.168.12.1/24 dev p2p-wlp3s0-0 ># android responds, but can't get over 'CTRL-EVENT-EAP-FAILURE' > >### again >sudo wpa_supplicant -Dnl80211 -iwlp3s0 -c/home/user/wpa_supplicant.conf >sudo wpa_cli -i wlp3s0 p2p_group_add >sudo ip addr a 192.168.12.1/24 dev p2p-wlp3s0-0 >sudo wpa_cli > > p2p_find > > p2p_peers # returns mac:aa:of:phone > > p2p_connect mac:aa:of:phone 45629034 display persistent ># fails with error 'Failed to create interface p2p-wlp3s0-0: -23 (Too many >open files in system)' >``` > I'm not sure whether all of this is valid from a kernel point of view, but I still hope that the repeater/hotspot usecase can get enabled again either in kernel or as a user application for wifi-p2p. > >[1](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31877144/how-to-set-up-a-wifi-direct-connection-between-android-and-linux) >[2](https://w1.fi/cgit/hostap/tree/wpa_supplicant/README-P2P)
I just registered to comment on this problem. Arch Linux's pacman just updated to linux-6.12.12-1, and my create_ap does not work while connecting to a WiFi. In my case, I run samba(smb) to share files on 192.168.12.0/24 only as well as port 22 for speed and security.
stuck in Arch 6.10.10 because i cant, for the life of me, successfully use the suggested "p2p_group_add". its probably skill issue but i am really hoping this feature will come back because its really useful for some cases.