Can't get Wireless Networking working with TP-link TL-WN722N wireless card

[TomGauss]

Hi, I am new to this forum and to linux, so if I post with bad etiquette or anything, I apologize.

Alright, here is my problem. I am running Backtrack 5 r3 fully installed on my hdd, with a TP-link TL-WN722N USB wireless card. I know that Backtrack detects my device because it shows up as 'Atheros AR9271' when I run lsusb. However, when I open wicd, it shows that there are no networks available, and when I run iwconfig I get:

lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.

When I run airmon-ng I get:

Interface Chipset Driver

but it doesn't show anything else. I have the AR9271 driver. Also, my wireless config file is empty. I am pretty sure that is part of the problem, but I think there may be more to it as well. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[C00m4nd0]

Hi, I am new to this forum and to linux, so if I post with bad etiquette or anything, I apologize.

Alright, here is my problem. I am running Backtrack 5 r3 with a TP-link TL-WN722N USB wireless card. I know that Backtrack detects my device because it shows up as 'Atheros AR9271' when I run lsusb. However, when I open wicd, it shows that there are no networks available, and when I run iwconfig I get:

lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.

When I run airmon-ng I get:

Interface Chipset Driver

but it doesn't show anything else. I have the AR9271 driver. Also, my wireless config file is empty. I am pretty sure that is part of the problem, but I think there may be more to it as well. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You maybe need to do a:
usb_modeswitch -v xxxx -p xxxx <---- where xxxx replace with numbers from lsusb ex. -v --->>12d1:1c35 <--- -p
your command will be:

root@bt:~# usb_modeswitch -v 12d1 -p 1c35

Use your numbers for vendor and product ID.

Than try:

root@bt:~# ifconfig

If you can see your extension, something like wlan0 or wlan1...etc
Then:

root@bt:~# airmon-ng start wlan0 <---- your interface

Let me know if that helps.

[TomGauss]

Thanks for the help! I Tried what you said and this is what happened:

root@bt:~# lsusb
Bus 011 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 010 Device 003: ID 0cf3:9271 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR9271 802.11n
Bus 010 Device 002: ID 045e:00dd Microsoft Corp. Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 V1.0
Bus 010 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 009 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 008 Device 003: ID 046d:c05a Logitech, Inc. Optical Mouse M90
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
root@bt:~# usb_modeswitch -v 0cf3 -p 9271

Looking for default devices ...
 Found devices in default mode or class (1)
Accessing device 003 on bus 010 ...
Using endpoints 0x01 (out) and 0x82 (in)
Not a storage device, skipping SCSI inquiry

USB description data (for identification)
-------------------------
Manufacturer: ATHEROS
     Product: USB2.0 WLAN
  Serial No.: 12345
-------------------------
Warning: no switching method given.
-> Run lsusb to note any changes. Bye.

root@bt:~# ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 94:de:80:21:35:ce  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
          Interrupt:75 Base address:0x8000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:33 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:33 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:2273 (2.2 KB)  TX bytes:2273 (2.2 KB)

It didn't show up as wlan0 or anything when I ran ifconfig as you can see. Do I need to edit my wireless config file and add it or something?

EDIT:

I don't know if this is useful information or not, but I thought I had better include it.
The wireless card is a USB 2.0 device (as are my mouse and keyboard), and when I am on Windows the wireless card won't work in a USB 3.0 port.
However, when I am on backtrack none of the USB 2.0 ports work; it doesn't recognize my mouse, keyboard, or wireless card unless they are plugged
into one of the USB 3.0 ports. So I am thinking this whole thing could have something to do with the level of compatibility my wireless card has with USB 3.0.
I know nothing about that, though. I am going to look for some information about it, and I will post back here if I find anything.

[TomGauss]

Update:
Alright, so I learned that my problem may be that I needed to either install some drivers that I already had, or get some drivers that I didn't have an then install them. So I got the compat wireless drivers from here: http://drvbp1.linux-foundation.org/~...ompat-drivers/
and ran

tar -xf /root/compat-drivers-3.9-rc2-2-su.tar.bz2 
cd compat-drivers-3.9-rc2-2-su 
make 
make install 
make unload 
reboot

which ran through all of the install info. Then I ran a modprobe for two of the ath9k drivers

modprobe ath9k_htc
modprobe ath9k

but nothing happened. I don't know if this is whats supposed to happen if everything is running smoothly or not.
Then I rebooted, and ran service networking start, and service wicd start, but when I opened wicd there were no connections available.
and when I run airmon-ng it still doesn't recognize my device. It just gives the same output I posted above when I ran it before.

What am I doing wrong?

[maverik35]

Update:
Alright, so I learned that my problem may be that I needed to either install some drivers that I already had, or get some drivers that I didn't have an then install them. So I got the compat wireless drivers from here: http://drvbp1.linux-foundation.org/~...ompat-drivers/
and ran

tar -xf /root/compat-drivers-3.9-rc2-2-su.tar.bz2 
cd compat-drivers-3.9-rc2-2-su 
make 
make install 
make unload 
reboot

which ran through all of the install info. Then I ran a modprobe for two of the ath9k drivers

modprobe ath9k_htc
modprobe ath9k

but nothing happened. I don't know if this is whats supposed to happen if everything is running smoothly or not.
Then I rebooted, and ran service networking start, and service wicd start, but when I opened wicd there were no connections available.
and when I run airmon-ng it still doesn't recognize my device. It just gives the same output I posted above when I ran it before.

What am I doing wrong?

You need the firmware as well: http://wireless.kernel.org/download/htc_fw/1.3/

You need the htc_9271.fw. Once downloaded, please copy it here: /lib/firmware/

It should be seeing like this: /lib/firmware/htc_9271.fw

Reboot, then see if it was loaded, if not, do it manually...Your iface might end up in wlan0 or wlan1..

[TomGauss]

Thanks for the help! I got the firmware (which I guess I already had) and copied it into /lib/firmware,
then rebooted and did exactly this:

root@bt:~# startx
root@bt:~# service networking start
networking stop/waiting
root@bt:~# service wicd start
 * Starting Network connection manager wicd                              [ OK ] 
root@bt:~# ifup
ifup: Use --help for help
root@bt:~# ifup wlan0
Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.1.3
Copyright 2004-2009 Internet Systems Consortium.
All rights reserved.
For info, please visit https://www.isc.org/software/dhcp/

SIOCSIFADDR: No such device
wlan0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
wlan0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
Bind socket to interface: No such device
Failed to bring up wlan0.
root@bt:~# airmon-ng


Interface	Chipset		Driver


root@bt:~# ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 94:de:80:21:35:ce  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
          Interrupt:75 Base address:0x8000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:32 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:32 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:2201 (2.2 KB)  TX bytes:2201 (2.2 KB)

root@bt:~# iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

I don't know how to load the drivers manually, but I imagine that could be my problem.
Thanks for explaining things!

[maverik35]

First check what module was loaded (if any): lsusb -v

Post it.

Unplug the usb device and do this
1. Remove the modules loaded by kernel ------> modprobe -rf ath9k ath9k_htc
2. unblock all hard and soft locks (just in case)----> rfkill unblock all
3. load modules ath9k and ath9k_htc -------------> modprobe ath9k ath9k_htc
4. Plug the USB stick again.

Then try to stop and then start networking services:----> /etc/init.d/wicd stop and then start

Check with iwconfig to see if any interface shows up...

Please post /etc/netwonk/interfaces and /etc/network/run/ifstate files.

TRy wlan0 and wlan1...You do not know in which interface is your wifi device..Use ifconfig, not ifup please.

Ifup will search for the /etc/network/interface file, reads it and configure the interfaces within the file according to the parameters in the same file..If wlan0 or wlan1 are not in there, you will end up configuring nothing or configuring an unexisting interfce.

Refer to ifup manual (man ifup)..Use ifconfig to configure the interface and bring it up/down manually...

Remember, it can be in wlan0 or wlan1.

[TomGauss]

Alright I got this far:
I ran lspci -v and got this:

http://pastebin.com/zFxLuag9

but I am not sure which module I need to remove.

I also ran lsusb -v because my wireless card is a USB device. I am not sure if that information is useful or not, but here it is.

(It was too long to post here, so here is a link to paste bin)
http://pastebin.com/W6k71Jmp

here is the contents of /etc/network/interfaces

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp

There was not a directory called run in /etc/network. This is all that I have

root@bt:/etc/network# ls
if-down.d  if-post-down.d  if-pre-up.d  if-up.d  interfaces

Could my problem be that that directory doesn't exist? Or am I just looking in the wrong place? Also, which kernel module do I need to remove, and from where do I get the ath9k_htc module?
Thanks for your help!

EDIT: I posted this before I saw your edit, so I did exactly what you said and this is the result:

root@bt:~# modprobe -rf ath9k
root@bt:~# modprobe -rf ath9k_htc
root@bt:~# rfkill unblock all
root@bt:~# modprobe ath9k
root@bt:~# modprobe ath9k_htc
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/wicd stop
 * Stopping Network connection manager wicd                              [ OK ] 
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/networking stop
 * Deconfiguring network interfaces...                                          There is already a pid file /var/run/dhclient.eth0.pid with pid 1221
killed old client process, removed PID file
Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.1.3
Copyright 2004-2009 Internet Systems Consortium.
All rights reserved.
For info, please visit https://www.isc.org/software/dhcp/

Listening on LPF/eth0/94:de:80:21:35:ce
Sending on   LPF/eth0/94:de:80:21:35:ce
Sending on   Socket/fallback
DHCPRELEASE on eth0 to 192.168.48.254 port 67
send_packet: Network is unreachable
send_packet: please consult README file regarding broadcast address.
                                                                         [ OK ]
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/wicd start
 * Starting Network connection manager wicd                              [ OK ] 
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/networking start
Rather than invoking init scripts through /etc/init.d, use the service(8)
utility, e.g. service networking start

Since the script you are attempting to invoke has been converted to an
Upstart job, you may also use the start(8) utility, e.g. start networking
^C
root@bt:~# start networking
start: Job is already running: networking
root@bt:~# iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

root@bt:~# ifconfig wlan0 up
wlan0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
root@bt:~# ifconfig wlan1 up
wlan1: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
root@bt:~#

[Irajoo]

Hi there I am also stuck in the same situation I have Backtrack 3 fully installed on my hdd,. I know that Backtrack detects my device because it shows up as 'Ralink Technology' when I run lsusb. However, it shows that there are no networks available, and when I run iwconfig I get:

lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.

When I run airmon-ng I get:

Interface Chipset Driver

I use your advice of running usb_modeswitch command by taking vendor Id and Product Id from lsusb but in backtrack 3 its shows error that command not found please help


lsusb
Bus 1 Device 4: ID 148f:2070 Ralink Technology, Corp.

[maverik35]

Alright I got this far:
I ran lspci -v and got this:

http://pastebin.com/zFxLuag9

but I am not sure which module I need to remove.

I also ran lsusb -v because my wireless card is a USB device. I am not sure if that information is useful or not, but here it is.

(It was too long to post here, so here is a link to paste bin)
http://pastebin.com/W6k71Jmp

here is the contents of /etc/network/interfaces

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp

There was not a directory called run in /etc/network. This is all that I have

root@bt:/etc/network# ls
if-down.d  if-post-down.d  if-pre-up.d  if-up.d  interfaces

Could my problem be that that directory doesn't exist? Or am I just looking in the wrong place? Also, which kernel module do I need to remove, and from where do I get the ath9k_htc module?
Thanks for your help!

EDIT: I posted this before I saw your edit, so I did exactly what you said and this is the result:

root@bt:~# modprobe -rf ath9k
root@bt:~# modprobe -rf ath9k_htc
root@bt:~# rfkill unblock all
root@bt:~# modprobe ath9k
root@bt:~# modprobe ath9k_htc
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/wicd stop
 * Stopping Network connection manager wicd                              [ OK ] 
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/networking stop
 * Deconfiguring network interfaces...                                          There is already a pid file /var/run/dhclient.eth0.pid with pid 1221
killed old client process, removed PID file
Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.1.3
Copyright 2004-2009 Internet Systems Consortium.
All rights reserved.
For info, please visit https://www.isc.org/software/dhcp/

Listening on LPF/eth0/94:de:80:21:35:ce
Sending on   LPF/eth0/94:de:80:21:35:ce
Sending on   Socket/fallback
DHCPRELEASE on eth0 to 192.168.48.254 port 67
send_packet: Network is unreachable
send_packet: please consult README file regarding broadcast address.
                                                                         [ OK ]
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/wicd start
 * Starting Network connection manager wicd                              [ OK ] 
root@bt:~# /etc/init.d/networking start
Rather than invoking init scripts through /etc/init.d, use the service(8)
utility, e.g. service networking start

Since the script you are attempting to invoke has been converted to an
Upstart job, you may also use the start(8) utility, e.g. start networking
^C
root@bt:~# start networking
start: Job is already running: networking
root@bt:~# iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

root@bt:~# ifconfig wlan0 up
wlan0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
root@bt:~# ifconfig wlan1 up
wlan1: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
root@bt:~#

Type: lsmod | grep -i ath9k

or lsmod and look for the ath9k and ath9k_htc

Post the output, please.

If they are loaded do as I posted:
Unplug the usb device and do this
1. Remove the modules loaded by kernel ------> modprobe -rf athk9k ath9k_htc
2. unblock all hard and soft locks (just in case)----> rfkill unblock all
3. load modules ath9k and ath9k_htc -------------> modprobe ath9k_htc ------->Just load the ath9k_htc
4. Plug the USB stick again.

YOU need to UNPLUG the wifi device first, then follow steps..
Check with iwconfig to see if any interface shows up...

If still nothing, please do this:
open up a terminal and do this: cat /boot/config-"your kernel version" | grep -i config_ath ------> Check this parameters:
CONFIG_ATH_COMMON=m
CONFIG_ATH9K_HW=m
CONFIG_ATH9K_COMMON=m
CONFIG_ATH9K_HTC=m

They must be enabled (=m), use nano to edit and change the file if are not enabled:
nano /boot/config-"your kernel version"

Then change parametes accordingly. Save (Ctrl+O) and Exit (Ctrl+X).

Reboot.

Repeat steps above (unplug, steps 1-4, plug back in)