Reporting bugs

This section helps users report bugs in the right place.

Wireless components

We have a set of components which let users use to use wireless. Drivers are just one component. Userspace components are NetworkManager, wpa_supplicant, Dbus, wireless-tools, and iw.

Kernel panics

Kernel panics are kernel bugs, and should be reported immediately.

Other issues

Non-kernel panic issues still need to be reported, but you must first try to identify the source of the problem.

Identifying the bug

In order to help developers help you better you can do some work on your part to try to narrow bugs down better. If you are unsure about where the bug lies you can start by turning off NetworkManager and its attached wpa_supplicant and then try running wpa_supplicant yourself with your own configuration file. NetworkManager keeps its configuration internally and uses Dbus to relay to wpa_supplicant its configuration settings. To try to reproduce a configuration file similar to the one NetworkManager uses you can check the log file used by NetworkManager (/var/log/messages in most some systems) to review the settings used. If you can still reproduce the issue then try using wireless-tools or iw to connect manually. You will only be able to use wireless-tools or iw to connect manually if your wireless connection *does not require* WPA or WPA2. For connections with WPA or WPA2 you *need* to use wpa_supplicant.

To stop NetworkManager use:

sudo /sbin/service NetworkMananger stop
sudo killall -TERM wpa_supplicant

Reporting bugs on NetworkManager

If you have a bug on NetworkManager you can report it on GNOME's NetworkManager bugzilla product page.

Reporting bugs on wpa_supplicant

You can report bugs on the hostap mailing lists.

Reporting bugs on drivers or mac80211

You should report them on the Linux wireless mailing lists.