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#276207 - 19/02/2006 05:32 strange wireless DHCP problems
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
My once trusty Linksys WRT54GS decided to fry itself a few days ago for no apparent reason (just a blinking light in front to plaintively cry for help). I decided this was a fine excuse to get the D-Link DGL-4300 "gaming router", since does the whole not-quite-802.11n thing as well as having a 4-port gig-E switch, which might get me faster access to my file server.

Anyway, the computer and file server are happy. My wife's laptop (Dell Inspiron 600m) sees the wireless and does the DHCP properly and works exactly as you'd hop. My laptop, however (IBM/Lenovo X41 Tablet with the Atheros a/b/g chipset), has a weird problem. It sees the wireless, and the base station sees its MAC address (implying that I typed in the WEP key correctly). However, it gets no response from the DHCP server. I set a static IP address, but I still don't get any response from the network. Packets leave the laptop and never come back. I also tried disabling all the "Super-G" stuff, but that didn't make any difference.

Any ideas for other things to try?

EDIT: I tried re-entering the WEP key. This time, everything actually worked. *Sigh*

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#276208 - 19/02/2006 11:51 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: DWallach]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14493
Loc: Canada
Good to hear it's working, but you really ought to be using some security with that device (WEP is not security).

Cheers!

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#276209 - 19/02/2006 12:54 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: mlord]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
My SlimDevices SqueezeBox doesn't support anything newer than WEP, so that's what I'm using for now. My emphasis has been on host security, i.e., using real passwords, keeping things patched up, and disabling unnecessary services. So far, so good.

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#276210 - 19/02/2006 14:01 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: DWallach]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Mine does WPA. Unless yours is old, check again.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#276211 - 19/02/2006 14:29 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: wfaulk]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
Mine is an original SqueezeBox (but not the even earlier Slimp3). The new SqueezeBoxen support WPA, but not the originals.

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#276212 - 19/02/2006 15:33 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: DWallach]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Squeezebox 1 did 802.11b and WEP. Squeezebox 2 and the redesign does 802.11g and WPA.

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#276213 - 19/02/2006 15:33 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: DWallach]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Quote:
EDIT: I tried re-entering the WEP key. This time, everything actually worked. *Sigh*

The MAC address is sent in the clear in WiFi.

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#276214 - 19/02/2006 18:08 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: tman]
gbeer
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
Quote:
Quote:
EDIT: I tried re-entering the WEP key. This time, everything actually worked. *Sigh*

The MAC address is sent in the clear in WiFi.


Is that always, no matter what form of security?

BTW: Is there a practical difference between WPA and WPA-PSK (pre shared key)?
_________________________
Glenn

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#276215 - 19/02/2006 18:34 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: tman]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
Quote:
Squeezebox 1 did 802.11b and WEP. Squeezebox 2 and the redesign does 802.11g and WPA.

Squeezebox 2 also added bridging from wireless back to wired, among other things. Last year, when a power surge zapped my Squeezebox and I sent it in for repairs, I enquired about upgrading the guts to the Squeezebox 2. They simply said no-can-do (although they did resurrect my Squeezebox and all I paid was shipping).

Now, what Slim Devices needs to really do is reimplement SlimServer such that it (a) needs less memory and (b) supports large music libraries without grinding to a halt. The present SlimServer can be dog slow.

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#276216 - 19/02/2006 20:35 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: gbeer]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
Quote:
BTW: Is there a practical difference between WPA and WPA-PSK (pre shared key)?


When both terms are used, WPA will require a RADIUS authentication server and each user had their own login. WPA-PSK means every client is given the same key to make initial contact with the network. The other term for this is WPA-Personal and WPA-Enterprise.

Odd that the squeezebox model with 802.11b doesn't have an upgrade to WPA. They designed WPA to be backwards compatible with existing 802.11b equipment to try and get everyone off WEP. WPA2 also exists out there, but does generally require new equipment.

My personal setup consists of using WPA and WPA2 off the same base station. Clients that support WPA2 connect using it, and clients using WPA (like my Sony PSP) can also still connect.

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#276217 - 20/02/2006 07:34 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: drakino]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Quote:
Odd that the squeezebox model with 802.11b doesn't have an upgrade to WPA. They designed WPA to be backwards compatible with existing 802.11b equipment to try and get everyone off WEP.

Yeah. The SlimDevices guys posted to their mailing list about this awhile ago. They looked into it but the manufacturers of the WiFi card inside the Squeezebox 1 had discontinued it and also stopped driver/firmware development.

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#276218 - 20/02/2006 07:44 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: tman]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
It isn't the only device out there stuck on WEP either, there is no upgrade for my Netgear ME102, must replace it with something faster and more secure.
_________________________
Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday

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#276219 - 20/02/2006 21:57 Re: strange wireless DHCP problems [Re: tman]
gbeer
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
As far as I can tell, flash programmability mostly means the maker can call for a "do over" if a programming error threatens sales, present or future.
_________________________
Glenn

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