[ath9k-devel] Bringing up More Than Two Station Mode Virtual Interfaces

[Jack Fallington]

I've been having a problem using the ath9k_htc driver and was hoping someone here might have some advice.

I'm trying to connect (on a single channel) to a single AP multiple times simultaneously using one physical wireless adapter. I haven't been able to bring up more than two virtual interfaces so far.

Here's my setup.
Linux Distribution:    Kali Linux 2016.2
Kernel Version:    4.6.0Wireless Adapter:    TP-Link TL-WN722NAdapter Chipset:    Atheros AR9271Driver: ath9k_htc
Firmware version: 1.4.0

Here's what I've tried:
Disable network-manager.    ***@kali:~# /etc/init.d/network-manager stop
    [ ok ] Stopping network-manager (via systemctl): network-manager.service.
Disable hardware encryption, because I've read this adapter won't support virtual interfaces with hardware encryption enabled.
    ***@kali:~# echo "options ath9k_htc nohwcrypt=1" >/etc/modprobe.d/ath9k_htc.conf    ***@kali:~# modprobe ath9k_htc
    ***@kali:~# cat /sys/module/ath9k_htc/parameters/nohwcrypt
    1
Create three virtual interfaces with unique MAC addresses.    ***@kali:~# iw dev wlan0 interface add wlan1 type station
    ***@kali:~# iw dev wlan0 interface add wlan2 type station
    ***@kali:~# iw dev wlan0 interface add wlan3 type station
    ***@kali:~# macchanger -r wlan1
    Current MAC:   [redacted] (unknown)
    Permanent MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
    New MAC:       ea:4c:bc:e0:8b:36 (unknown)
    ***@kali:~# macchanger -r wlan2
    Current MAC:   [redacted] (unknown)
    Permanent MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
    New MAC:       52:3a:02:22:4d:4a (unknown)
    ***@kali:~# macchanger -r wlan3
    Current MAC:   [redacted] (unknown)
    Permanent MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
    New MAC:       da:05:ce:1e:d0:41 (unknown)
Attempt to bring the new virtual interfaces up.    ***@kali:~# ifconfig wlan1 up
    ***@kali:~# ifconfig wlan2 up
    ***@kali:~# ifconfig wlan3 up
    SIOCSIFFLAGS: Device or resource busy
The third interface fails to come up.

On this page, they say, "We have successfully tested more than 200 stations and up to 4 APs per radio/NIC using ath9k and our code trees." They don't mention ath9k_htc, but I was hoping it also would also allow more than two station mode virtual interfaces. Or perhaps it's a firmware or hardware limitation causing my problem.

Is there anything else I can try? If not, is there another chipset and driver combination that would allow me to use at least 20 simultaneous station interfaces?

[Ben Greear]

Post by Jack Fallington
I've been having a problem using the ath9k_htc driver and was hoping someone here might have some advice.
I'm trying to connect (on a single channel) to a single AP multiple times simultaneously using one physical wireless adapter. I haven't been able to bring up more than two virtual interfaces so far.
On this page <http://www.candelatech.com/vsta.php>, they say, "We have successfully tested more than 200 stations and up to 4 APs per radio/NIC using ath9k and our code trees." They don't mention ath9k_htc, but I was hoping it also would also allow more than two station mode virtual interfaces. Or perhaps it's a firmware or hardware limitation causing my problem.

We use AR9380 NICs, and similar pcie ath9k nics will probably support similarly large numbers of stations.

At best ath9k-htc would be limited, I do not know *how* limited it would be.

Post by Jack Fallington
Is there anything else I can try? If not, is there another chipset and driver combination that would allow me to use at least 20 simultaneous station interfaces?

Use normal ath9k pcie nics.

If this is non-commercial, then you can also use our CT ath10k firmware and driver for multi-station work. It supports
64 vdevs on ath10k. But, if it is a commercial project, then contact me offlist.

Thanks,
Ben

[Jack Fallington]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. They've been very helpful.

I'm going to try an AR9380 NIC with the ath9k driver.

Post by Jack Fallington
I've been having a problem using the ath9k_htc driver and was hoping someone here might have some advice.
I'm trying to connect (on a single channel) to a single AP multiple times simultaneously using one physical wireless adapter. I haven't been able to bring up more than two virtual interfaces so far.
On this page <http://www.candelatech.com/vsta.php>, they say, "We have successfully tested more than 200 stations and up to 4 APs per radio/NIC using ath9k and our code trees." They don't mention ath9k_htc, but I was hoping it also would also allow more than two station mode virtual interfaces. Or perhaps it's a firmware or hardware limitation causing my problem.

We use AR9380 NICs, and similar pcie ath9k nics will probably support similarly large numbers of stations.

At best ath9k-htc would be limited, I do not know *how* limited it would be.

Post by Jack Fallington
Is there anything else I can try? If not, is there another chipset and driver combination that would allow me to use at least 20 simultaneous station interfaces?

Use normal ath9k pcie nics.

If this is non-commercial, then you can also use our CT ath10k firmware and driver for multi-station work.  It supports
64 vdevs on ath10k.  But, if it is a commercial project, then contact me offlist.

Thanks,
Ben

[Oleksij Rempel]

Post by Jack Fallington
I've been having a problem using the ath9k_htc driver and was hoping
someone here might have some advice.
I'm trying to connect (on a single channel) to a single AP multiple
times simultaneously using one physical wireless adapter. I haven't been
able to bring up more than two virtual interfaces so far.
Here's my setup.
Linux Distribution: Kali Linux 2016.2
Kernel Version: 4.6.0
Wireless Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN722N
Adapter Chipset: Atheros AR9271
Driver: ath9k_htc
Firmware version: 1.4.0
Disable network-manager.
network-manager.service.
Disable hardware encryption, because I've read this adapter won't
support virtual interfaces with hardware encryption enabled.

Post by Jack Fallington
/etc/modprobe.d/ath9k_htc.conf

1
Create three virtual interfaces with unique MAC addresses.
Current MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
Permanent MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
New MAC: ea:4c:bc:e0:8b:36 (unknown)
Current MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
Permanent MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
New MAC: 52:3a:02:22:4d:4a (unknown)
Current MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
Permanent MAC: [redacted] (unknown)
New MAC: da:05:ce:1e:d0:41 (unknown)
Attempt to bring the new virtual interfaces up.
SIOCSIFFLAGS: Device or resource busy
The third interface fails to come up.
On this page <http://www.candelatech.com/vsta.php>, they say, "We have
successfully tested more than 200 stations and up to 4 APs per radio/NIC
using ath9k and our code trees." They don't mention ath9k_htc, but I was
hoping it also would also allow more than two station mode virtual
interfaces. Or perhaps it's a firmware or hardware limitation causing my
problem.

yes.

Post by Jack Fallington
Is there anything else I can try? If not, is there another chipset and
driver combination that would allow me to use at least 20 simultaneous
station interfaces?

try ath9k.