[pkg-wpa-devel] Bug#488309: wpa_supplicant does not work with ifup and ifdown scripts

[prosolutions at gmx.net]

Package: wpasupplicant
Version: 0.6.3-2

Unfortunately wpasupplicant does not make it very easy for the average
end user to be able to configure their wireless interface.  I followed
the directions in /usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/README.modes.gz, section 3. "Mode
#2: Roaming Mode"

Following the information I created the following stanza in
/etc/network/interfaces for the wireless device:

allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet manual
        wpa-driver wext
        wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

iface default inet dhcp

iface wwf inet dhcp

iface wird inet dhcp

iface wgguest inet dhcp


Now, when I run "ifup wlan0" or "ifdown wlan0" nothing at all happens.  ifconfig never shows the interface.  No output is given in /var/log/syslog.  Basically whatever is happening is happening in a black box that is impossible to diagnose.  

When the machine is booted up initially, the interface will come up, but if I disable it with:

ifconfig wlan0 down
modprobe -r iwl3945

all is lost when I try to reload the interface using ifup.  Even if I manually modprobe iwl3945 and run ifconfig wlan0 up nothing happens.  Something is very wrong.

I wish there were at the very least a simple, command-line way to tell the interface "come up, and associate with this access point" or "come up, and roam for the best available access point"

Despite the long, very involved documentation, it is not at all clear what an end user is supposed to do to get their wireless card to work.