Dev1 Galaxy Forum / [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:27:00 +0000

I found the pebcak: you don't need to specify any gateway if your goal is to create a "direct connection".

Here the steps I made:

1. Install hostapd
2. modify /etc/default/hostapd:
```
DAEMON_CONF="/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf"
```

3. I need to create direct connection (crosscable), here my interfaces

# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

# # DHCP
# auto eth0
# allow-hotplug eth0
# iface eth0 inet dhcp

# The primary network interface
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
	address 10.0.10.1/24
	netmask 255.255.255.0

# wlan0
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
    address 10.1.10.1/24
    netmask 255.255.255.0

# usb0
allow-hotplug usb0
iface usb0 inet dhcp

4. Create: /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf

### Wireless network name ###
interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
country_code=US
ssid=$ESSID-NAME
hw_mode=g
channel=1
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=$PASSPHRASE
## Key management algorithms ##
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
## Set cipher suites (encryption algorithms) ##
## TKIP = Temporal Key Integrity Protocol
## CCMP = AES in Counter mode with CBC-MAC
wpa_pairwise=TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
## Shared Key Authentication ##
auth_algs=1
## Accept all MAC address ###
macaddr_acl=0

5. restart the network: sudo service networking restart
6. start the hostapd deamon: sudo service networking start

⚠️ please be advised that I reverted the name of the interfaces to the legacy naming!

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:41:11 +0000

g4sra... Got you but I am already setup this way, unless I am doing a typical pebcak mistake! 🤷

# eth0
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
	address 10.0.10.1/24
	netmask 255.255.255.0
	gateway 10.0.10.254

# wlan0
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
    address 10.1.10.1/24
    netmask 255.255.255.0
    gateway 10.1.10.254

# usb0
allow-hotplug usb0
iface usb0 inet dhcp

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (g4sra) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:44:20 +0000

You cannot assign 10.1.10.1 to both eth0 and wlan0.
If you want your wireless network to be a continuation of your existing ethernet network then you need to bridge.
Or
Make a new subnet for your wireless network e.g. 10.1.11.1/255.255.255.0
You will also need a DHCP server for this new subnet and routing configured.

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:25:41 +0000

Now I have two static IPv4:

sudo ifconfig
[sudo] password for freezr: 
eth0: flags=4163  mtu 1500
        inet 10.0.10.1  netmask 255.0.0.0  broadcast 10.255.255.255
        inet6 fe80::e251:d8ff:fe17:8dcd  prefixlen 64  scopeid 0x20
        ether e0:51:d8:17:8d:cd  txqueuelen 1000  (Ethernet)
        RX packets 947810  bytes 72203287 (68.8 MiB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 3407541  bytes 4858575073 (4.5 GiB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 2097 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

lo: flags=73  mtu 65536
        inet 127.0.0.1  netmask 255.0.0.0
        inet6 ::1  prefixlen 128  scopeid 0x10
        loop  txqueuelen 1000  (Local Loopback)
        RX packets 160515  bytes 387653396 (369.6 MiB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 160515  bytes 387653396 (369.6 MiB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 0 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

usb0: flags=4163  mtu 1500
        inet 10.92.39.251  netmask 255.255.255.0  broadcast 10.92.39.255
        inet6 fa45::23v7:vvde:la90:d3d4  prefixlen 64  scopeid 0x20
        inet6 5678:lj70:4455:ddfr4:78ip:vvdd:45tr:u7t5  prefixlen 64  scopeid 0x0
        ether 56:a5:lp:78:f5:f3  txqueuelen 1000  (Ethernet)
        RX packets 156925  bytes 214499218 (204.5 MiB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 77688  bytes 11670689 (11.1 MiB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 2 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

wlan0: flags=4163  mtu 1500
        inet 10.1.10.1  netmask 255.0.0.0  broadcast 10.255.255.255
        ether b0:ac:82:ff:a8:86  txqueuelen 1000  (Ethernet)
        RX packets 3262  bytes 235917 (230.3 KiB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 3  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 3605  bytes 358278 (349.8 KiB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 95 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

perhaps I should made "that" bridge that I read in other articles like this one:

https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/debian-ub … ess-point/

🤔

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:17:42 +0000

@dzz if I "force" to ignore the issues I can bring up wlan0.

sudo ifup -v --ignore-errors  wlan0

ifup: configuring interface wlan0=wlan0 (inet)
run-parts --verbose /etc/network/if-pre-up.d
run-parts: executing /etc/network/if-pre-up.d/hostapd
run-parts: executing /etc/network/if-pre-up.d/wireless-tools
run-parts: executing /etc/network/if-pre-up.d/wpasupplicant
ip addr add 10.1.10.1/255.255.255.0 broadcast 10.1.10.255 	  dev wlan0 label wlan0
Error: ipv4: Address already assigned.
ip link set dev wlan0   up
 ip route add default via 10.1.10.254  dev wlan0 onlink 
RTNETLINK answers: File exists
run-parts --verbose /etc/network/if-up.d
run-parts: executing /etc/network/if-up.d/mountnfs
run-parts: executing /etc/network/if-up.d/resolved
run-parts: executing /etc/network/if-up.d/wpasupplicant

inxi -bb

Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
    driver: rtw_8821ce
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: b0:ac:82:ff:a8:86
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    driver: r8169
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: e0:51:d8:17:8d:cd
  IF-ID-1: usb0 state: unknown speed: -1 duplex: half mac: 96:e7:cd:80:f0:f7

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (dzz) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:48:48 +0000

Worth rechecking the device really is assigned to wlan0 and not something else.. One of numerous methods:

inxi -nn

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:15:40 +0000

HOSTAPD made the magic, however I am still unable to bring up wlan0:

sudo ifup wlan0
Error: ipv4: Address already assigned.
ifup: failed to bring up wlan0

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (g4sra) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:41:45 +0000

Nope. I am wrong, key management is possible in ad hoc.
For AP mode go with the 'hostapd' package ('apt show hostapd')

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:29:20 +0000

Hi g4sra, I will follow you advise however I bought a dongle that should support hot-spot and "ad hoc " mode, then I'll try doing other tests.

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (g4sra) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:21:51 +0000

# Note: IBSS can only be used with key_mgmt NONE

key_mgmt=WPA-PSK

Make sure you terminate any\all daemons after config change and before 'ifup wlan0', wpa_supplicant daemon in particular can get 'stuck' and require killing.

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:19:46 +0000

Found another hint:

sudo wpa_supplicant -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf -i wlan0
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
Note: nl80211 driver interface is not designed to be used with ap_scan=2; this can result in connection failures

I tried to change driver, clearly this wifi chipset doesn't support "ad hoc":

sudo wpa_supplicant -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf -i wlan0 -D wext
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
ioctl[SIOCSIWENCODEEXT]: Invalid argument
ioctl[SIOCSIWENCODEEXT]: Invalid argument
wlan0: Trying to associate with SSID 'TEST-ESSID'
ioctl[SIOCSIWGENIE]: Operation not supported
wlan0: Association request to the driver failed
wlan0: Associated with 9a:dc:7c:a0:6d:5a
wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to 9a:dc:7c:a0:6d:5a completed [id=0 id_str=]

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:57:50 +0000

I found the documentation and what I did looks right:

# mode: IEEE 802.11 operation mode
# 0 = infrastructure (Managed) mode, i.e., associate with an AP (default)
# 1 = IBSS (ad-hoc, peer-to-peer)
# 2 = AP (access point)
# Note: IBSS can only be used with key_mgmt NONE (plaintext and static WEP) and
# WPA-PSK (with proto=RSN). In addition, key_mgmt=WPA-NONE (fixed group key
# TKIP/CCMP) is available for backwards compatibility, but its use is
# deprecated. WPA-None requires following network block options:
# proto=WPA, key_mgmt=WPA-NONE, pairwise=NONE, group=TKIP (or CCMP, but not
# both), and psk must also be set.
#
# frequency: Channel frequency in megahertz (MHz) for IBSS, e.g.,
# 2412 = IEEE 802.11b/g channel 1. This value is used to configure the initial
# channel for IBSS (adhoc) networks. It is ignored in the infrastructure mode.
# In addition, this value is only used by the station that creates the IBSS. If
# an IBSS network with the configured SSID is already present, the frequency of
# the network will be used instead of this configured value.

# IBSS/ad-hoc network with RSN
network={
	ssid="ibss-rsn"
	key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
	proto=RSN
	psk="12345678"
	mode=1
	frequency=2412
	pairwise=CCMP
	group=CCMP
}

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:44:35 +0000

That page doesn't include a method to use a WPA protection, therefore any transmission on the air is plain.

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:52:44 +0000

this webpage shows it was last updated in 2012 which may precede some/most/all of the systemd stuff

https://wiki.debian.org/WiFi/AdHoc

Re: [SOLVED] set up an "AD HOC" connection with HOSTAPD (OPENRC)

dummy@example.com (Danielsan) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:31:20 +0000

I found this documentation but when I tested it out, all the connections got frozen...

https://raspi.emawind.com/devnote/raspi … twork.html