[gentoo-user] ath5k and wpa_supplicant

[Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com>]

Hi All,

Until gentoo-sources-2.6.29-r5 came out I was able to use my ath5 card
with wpa_supplicant.  My /etc/conf.d/net contained:
=============================================
modules=( "wpa_supplicant" )
wpa_supplicant_ath0="-Dmadwifi"
=============================================

All went swimmingly well until I tried to re-emerge wpa_supplicant
after I compiled my new kernel - an error message warned that
CONFIG_KMOD was missing ...
=============================================
 * Found sources for kernel version:
 *     2.6.29-gentoo-r5
 * Checking for suitable kernel configuration options...
 *    requires CONFIG_KMOD to be set to y or m
 * Please check to make sure these options are set correctly.
 * Failure to do so may cause unexpected problems.
 * Once you have satisfied these options, please try merging
 * this package again.
=============================================

I searched for KMOD in vane - couldn't find it in the new kernel
.config.  So I concluded that it may be curtains for wpa_supplicant.
I enabled ath5k in the kernel as a module, commented out all the
wpa_supplicant entries in my /etc/conf.d/net and rebooted.  When I
plugged in my ath5 cardbus it seems that the device is recognised, the
module loaded, but it cannot associate:
=============================================
 *     Found 00:1D:A2:86:D1:00 (managed, encrypted)
 *     Found 00:1D:A2:86:D1:80 (managed, encrypted)
 *     Found 00:1D:A2:86:D4:C0 (managed, encrypted)
 *     Found "blah-blah" at 00:1D:A2:86:CF:01 (managed)
 *     Found 00:1D:A2:86:CF:00 (managed, encrypted)
 *   Connecting to "blah-blah" in managed mode (WEP Disabled) ...
    [ !! ]
 *   Couldn't associate with any access points on wlan1
 *   Failed to configure wireless for wlan1                               [ !! ]
=============================================

However, running the following commands manually gets me online
without any problems:
=============================================
# modprobe -v ath5k
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.29-gentoo-r5/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/ath5k.ko
# ip link set wlan1 up
# iwconfig wlan1 essid any
# dhcpcd wlan1 up
wlan1: dhcpcd 4.0.13 starting
wlan1: broadcasting for a lease
wlan1: offered 10.211.38.232 from 1.1.1.1
wlan1: acknowledged 10.211.38.232 from 1.1.1.1
wlan1: checking 10.211.38.232 is available on attached networks
wlan1: leased 10.211.38.232 for 86400 seconds
=============================================

I am a bit rusty will all this as I did not have to configure it for
years.  If I am not doing anything wrong, any idea what I should enter
in my /etc/conf.d/net to allow the device to come up automatically
when plugged in?
-- 
Regards,
Mick