4

I'm trying to get WiFi Direct running on my Arch linux machine to connect to an Android Smartphone. But when trying to find WiFi Direct peers, the message FAIL is returned with no other error message. How can I find out what's the problem?

Following the P2P README of wpa_supplicant and this blog post, I compiled wpa_supplicant from git (repo git://w1.fi/srv/git/hostap.git, commit 2d18ab40826ecaec26bfd82d42dcb08f2715e362, master as of May 31th, 2017, build config see below).

I started wpa_supplicant and used wpa_cli to issue the command p2p_find, however, this returns the message FAIL, with no other information neither in the wpa_cli output, nor in the wpa_supplicant output or the syslog (journalctl -f)

How can I get wpa_supplicant to show a helpful error message?

Building and running wpa_supplicant

git clone git://w1.fi/srv/git/hostap.git
cd hostapd/wpa_supplicant
cp defconf .config
# Edit .config to uncomment:
#  * CONFIG_AP=y
#  * CONFIG_P2P=y
#  * CONFIG_wps=y
#  * (CONFIG_DRIVER_NL80211=y) enabled by default
#  * (CONFIG_CTRL_IFACE=y)     enabled by default
# 
#  * CONFIG_LIBNL32=y (Arch Linux uses libnl 3.2)
# 
make

# Run wpa_supplicant. See below for config files
sudo ./wpa_supplicant -c/etc/wpa_supplicant/p2p.conf -iwlan0 -dd -Dnl80211

wpa_supplicant Peer-To-Peer configuration

/etc/wpa_supplicant/p2p.conf:

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant 
update_config=1
device_name=My Arch Machine
device_type=1-0050F204-1
driver_param=use_p2p_group_interface=1

Log files

wpa_cli session (user input after >)

> wpa_cli
wpa_cli v2.6
[...]
Selected interface 'wlan0'

Interactive mode

> p2p_find
FAIL

wpa_supplicant standard output. The point where p2p_find was invoked from within wpa_cli is marked with # < ------ p2p_find ------ >

/etc/wpa_supplicant/p2p.conf' driver 'nl80211' ctrl_interface 'N/A' bridge 'N/A'
Configuration file '/etc/wpa_supplicant/p2p.conf' -> '/etc/wpa_supplicant/p2p.conf'
Reading configuration file '/etc/wpa_supplicant/p2p.conf'
ctrl_interface='DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant'
update_config=1
device_name='My Arch Machine'
driver_param='use_p2p_group_interface=1'
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:1
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:5
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:2
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:4
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:10
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:8
nl80211: Supported cipher 00-0f-ac:9
nl80211: Using driver-based off-channel TX
nl80211: Driver-advertised extended capabilities (default) - hexdump(len=8): 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40
nl80211: Driver-advertised extended capabilities mask (default) - hexdump(len=8): 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40
nl80211: interface wlan0 in phy phy0
nl80211: Set mode ifindex 3 iftype 2 (STATION)
nl80211: Subscribe to mgmt frames with non-AP handle 0xa6c350
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=040a
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=040b
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=040c
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=040d
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=090a
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=090b
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=090c
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=090d
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=0409506f9a09
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=7f506f9a09
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=06
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=0a07
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=0a11
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=1101
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=1102
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=0505
nl80211: Register frame type=0xd0 (WLAN_FC_STYPE_ACTION) nl_handle=0xa6c350 match=0500
rfkill: initial event: idx=1 type=1 op=0 soft=0 hard=0
netlink: Operstate: ifindex=3 linkmode=1 (userspace-control), operstate=5 (IF_OPER_DORMANT)
nl80211: driver param='use_p2p_group_interface=1'
nl80211: Use separate P2P group interface
Add interface wlan0 to a new radio phy0
nl80211: Regulatory information - country=00
nl80211: 2402-2472 @ 40 MHz 20 mBm
nl80211: 2457-2482 @ 20 MHz 20 mBm (no IR)
nl80211: 2474-2494 @ 20 MHz 20 mBm (no OFDM) (no IR)
nl80211: 5170-5250 @ 80 MHz 20 mBm (no IR)
nl80211: 5250-5330 @ 80 MHz 20 mBm (DFS) (no IR)
nl80211: 5490-5730 @ 160 MHz 20 mBm (DFS) (no IR)
nl80211: 5735-5835 @ 80 MHz 20 mBm (no IR)
nl80211: 57240-63720 @ 2160 MHz 0 mBm
nl80211: Added 802.11b mode based on 802.11g information
wlan0: Own MAC address: 00:26:82:b0:3a:0a
wpa_driver_nl80211_set_key: ifindex=3 (wlan0) alg=0 addr=(nil) key_idx=0 set_tx=0 seq_len=0 key_len=0
wpa_driver_nl80211_set_key: ifindex=3 (wlan0) alg=0 addr=(nil) key_idx=1 set_tx=0 seq_len=0 key_len=0
wpa_driver_nl80211_set_key: ifindex=3 (wlan0) alg=0 addr=(nil) key_idx=2 set_tx=0 seq_len=0 key_len=0
wpa_driver_nl80211_set_key: ifindex=3 (wlan0) alg=0 addr=(nil) key_idx=3 set_tx=0 seq_len=0 key_len=0
wlan0: RSN: flushing PMKID list in the driver
nl80211: Flush PMKIDs
wlan0: State: DISCONNECTED -> INACTIVE
wlan0: WPS: UUID based on MAC address: cfafece3-a583-5946-bcde-95bd75350713
ENGINE: Loading dynamic engine
ENGINE: Loading dynamic engine
EAPOL: SUPP_PAE entering state DISCONNECTED
EAPOL: Supplicant port status: Unauthorized
nl80211: Skip set_supp_port(unauthorized) while not associated
EAPOL: KEY_RX entering state NO_KEY_RECEIVE
EAPOL: SUPP_BE entering state INITIALIZE
EAP: EAP entering state DISABLED
wlan0: Added interface wlan0
wlan0: State: INACTIVE -> DISCONNECTED
nl80211: Set wlan0 operstate 0->0 (DORMANT)
netlink: Operstate: ifindex=3 linkmode=-1 (no change), operstate=5 (IF_OPER_DORMANT)
random: Got 20/20 bytes from /dev/random
RTM_NEWLINK: ifi_index=3 ifname=wlan0 operstate=2 linkmode=0 ifi_family=0 ifi_flags=0x1003 ([UP])
RTM_NEWLINK: ifi_index=3 ifname=wlan0 operstate=2 linkmode=1 ifi_family=0 ifi_flags=0x1003 ([UP])
EAPOL: disable timer tick
CTRL_IFACE monitor attached /tmp/wpa_ctrl_14358-125\x00
CTRL-DEBUG: ctrl_sock-sendto: sock=12 sndbuf=212992 outq=0 send_len=3
# < ------ p2p_find ------ >
wlan0: Control interface command 'P2P_FIND'
CTRL-DEBUG: ctrl_sock-sendto: sock=12 sndbuf=212992 outq=0 send_len=5
^Cwlan0: Removing interface wlan0
wlan0: Request to deauthenticate - bssid=00:00:00:00:00:00 pending_bssid=00:00:00:00:00:00 reason=3 state=DISCONNECTED
wlan0: State: DISCONNECTED -> DISCONNECTED
nl80211: Set wlan0 operstate 0->0 (DORMANT)
netlink: Operstate: ifindex=3 linkmode=-1 (no change), operstate=5 (IF_OPER_DORMANT)
EAPOL: External notification - portEnabled=0
EAPOL: External notification - portValid=0
wlan0: WPA: Clear old PMK and PTK
wlan0: Cancelling scan request
wlan0: Cancelling authentication timeout
Off-channel: Clear pending Action frame TX (pending_action_tx=(nil)
Remove interface wlan0 from radio phy0
Remove radio phy0
nl80211: deinit ifname=wlan0 disabled_11b_rates=0
nl80211: Remove monitor interface: refcount=0
netlink: Operstate: ifindex=3 linkmode=0 (kernel-control), operstate=6 (IF_OPER_UP)
nl80211: Set mode ifindex 3 iftype 2 (STATION)
nl80211: Unsubscribe mgmt frames handle 0x88888888882e4bd9 (mode change)
wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-TERMINATING 
CTRL-DEBUG: ctrl_sock-sendmsg: sock=12 sndbuf=212992 outq=0 send_len=23
CTRL_IFACE monitor sent successfully to /tmp/wpa_ctrl_14358-125\x00
CTRL_IFACE wait for attached monitors to receive messages

journalctl -f:

Mai 31 09:40:17 arch sudo[31534]: user : TTY=pts/3 ; PWD=/home/user/Computer/Network/wifi-direct/hostap/wpa_supplicant ; USER=root ; COMMAND=./wpa_supplicant -c/etc/wpa_supplicant/p2p.conf -iwlan0 -dd -Dnl80211
Mai 31 09:40:17 arch sudo[31534]: pam_unix(sudo:session): session opened for user root by user(uid=0)
Mai 31 09:40:17 arch kernel: brcmsmac bcma0:1: brcms_ops_bss_info_changed: qos enabled: false (implement)
Mai 31 09:40:17 arch kernel: brcmsmac bcma0:1: brcms_ops_config: change power-save mode: false (implement)
Mai 31 09:40:17 arch kernel: IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
# < ------ p2p_find ------ >
Mai 31 09:40:35 arch sudo[31534]: pam_unix(sudo:session): session closed for user root

System information

uname -a
## Linux arch 4.11.2-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon May 22 06:53:49 CEST 2017 x86_64 GNU/Linux

lspci -k
## 05:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Limited BCM43225 802.11b/g/n (rev 01)
##         Subsystem: Broadcom Limited Device 04da
##         Kernel driver in use: bcma-pci-bridge
##         Kernel modules: bcma

WLAN card capabilities

iw list output: capabilities P2P-client, P2P-GO and P2P-device are there.

Wiphy phy0
    max # scan SSIDs: 4
    max scan IEs length: 2257 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)
    Available Antennas: TX 0 RX 0
    Supported interface modes:
             * IBSS
             * managed
             * AP
             * AP/VLAN
             * monitor
    Band 1:
            Capabilities: 0x7c
                    HT20
                    SM Power Save disabled
                    RX Greenfield
                    RX HT20 SGI
                    RX HT40 SGI
                    No RX STBC
                    Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
                    No DSSS/CCK HT40
            Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
            Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
            HT Max RX data rate: 500 Mbps
            HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
            Bitrates (non-HT):
                    * 1.0 Mbps
                    * 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] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2417 MHz [2] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2422 MHz [3] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2427 MHz [4] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2432 MHz [5] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2437 MHz [6] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2442 MHz [7] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2447 MHz [8] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2452 MHz [9] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2457 MHz [10] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2462 MHz [11] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2467 MHz [12] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2472 MHz [13] (19.0 dBm)
                    * 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
    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
             * Unknown command (121)
    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
    interface combinations are not supported
    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 configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
Improve this question
3
  • I believe you are using the wrong interface wlan0 instead of p2p0 . Try running wpa_cli with the option -i p2p0 -p /etc/wpa_supplicant/ and hopefully you are running as root.
    – Zoso
    May 31, 2017 at 10:25
  • I cannot find a device called p2p0 on my machine. ip link show only lists eth0, wlan0 and lo. There is also no error message to indicate that the creation of the p2p0 device failed. Yes, all commands were run as root.
    – akraf
    May 31, 2017 at 14:07
  • ... consequently, wpa_supplicant -i p2p0 ... fails with an error message indicating that the interface p2p0 is unknown
    – akraf
    May 31, 2017 at 14:14

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

From the iw list outpout : the open source driver brcmfmac doesn't support the P2P mode.

The supported mode :

Supported interface modes:
         * IBSS
         * managed
         * AP
         * AP/VLAN
         * monitor

The P2P support is marked as unknown on the wikidev

Supported modes

STA (Station) mode: supported
IBSS (Ad-Hoc) mode: supported
AP (Master) mode: unsupported
Mesh (802.11s) mode: unsupported
P2P mode: unknown
Monitor mode: supported
Packet injection: unknown
Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Thanks for that helpful link. I fear you are right. Also, the alternative driver b43, installed following ArchWiki (mind the additional parameter allhwsupport=1 might be needed for b43; load the module after opening dmesg -w in another terminal and watch for error messages) is not any better for me in this respect.
    – akraf
    Jun 1, 2017 at 12:05

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .