topic Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon? in ZoneDirector

Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:30:58 GMT

I used to install Ruckus APs for one of Ruckus's bigdogs that uses ruckus aps in hotels (i've done a bunch of the training online, done wireless installs for 4+ years so I'm no expert like Mike, but not new to the subject). Anyways... I started a new job and am trying to get them to switch from using these terrible Engenius aps to using ruckus (since they are awesome).

I'm demoing a 7372 and having a few issues, and hoping to get some help here.

Basic config:
No Zone director
No Vlans
2.4 and 5ghz radios both set to the same SSID
Not broadcasting SSID
WPA2 PSK, AES
ACL to only allow approved MACs (Although the problems I am having I was having BEFORE I implemented this feature so that is unrelated AFAIK)

Issues I'm having, and how I've been working through them.

1) 5Ghz was giving me some invalid channel errors until I changed to 20mhz and set a static channel of 36. (Found that solution on the forums here).

2) 2.4 will work for a second few seconds after boot up, then stop broadcasting, INSSIDer records the MAC, and then the radio stops broadcasting. Cannot connect to SSID
I enable broadcasting of the SSID and it works fine, can connect, can see the SSID.
Switch back to hidden SSID, it's gone again.

3) Shut off 5 ghz radio, can suddenly connect to 2.4 after reboot. Connection appears to work fine for a few minutes but eventually I get limited connectivity that comes and goes.
Switching to static channel on 2.4 doesnt seem to help (Was worried this was a similar issue to the 5ghz.)

Absolutely stumped here guys... Never had any issues like this working with the 7363s...

Did I just get a Lemon AP?

Also, weird error messages in the logs, I've copied pasted below.

Nov 5 21:08:11 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: wifi0: 1347445 : stuck beacon (missed 11) scanning 0, syncbeacon 0, sc_beacons 1
Nov 5 21:08:12 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 0 measured latest ctl:-101 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-101 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:12 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 1 measured latest ctl:-100 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-99 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:12 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 2 measured latest ctl:0 ext:0 capped median ctl:-55 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:12 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: wifi0: 1348679 : stuck beacon (missed 11) scanning 0, syncbeacon 0, sc_beacons 1
Nov 5 21:08:13 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 0 measured latest ctl:-101 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-101 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:13 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 1 measured latest ctl:-98 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-99 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:13 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 2 measured latest ctl:0 ext:1 capped median ctl:-55 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:13 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: wifi0: 1349914 : stuck beacon (missed 11) scanning 0, syncbeacon 0, sc_beacons 1
Nov 5 21:08:14 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 0 measured latest ctl:-98 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-101 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:14 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 1 measured latest ctl:-98 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-99 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:14 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 2 measured latest ctl:-32710 ext:18080 capped median ctl:-55 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:14 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: wifi0: 1351148 : stuck beacon (missed 11) scanning 0, syncbeacon 0, sc_beacons 1
Nov 5 21:08:15 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: nodestats used greatest stack depth: 7004 bytes left
Nov 5 21:08:15 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 0 measured latest ctl:-99 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-101 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:15 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 1 measured latest ctl:-97 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-99 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:16 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 2 measured latest ctl:0 ext:-16328 capped median ctl:-55 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:16 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: wifi0: 1352382 : stuck beacon (missed 11) scanning 0, syncbeacon 0, sc_beacons 1
Nov 5 21:08:17 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 0 measured latest ctl:-101 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-101 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:17 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 1 measured latest ctl:-99 ext:-50 capped median ctl:-99 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:17 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: NF Channel 2437 Chain 2 measured latest ctl:-31019 ext:0 capped median ctl:-55 ext:-55
Nov 5 21:08:17 RuckusAP user.warn kernel: wifi0: 1353616 : stuck beacon (missed 11) scanning 0, syncbeacon 0, sc_beacons 1

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

keith_redfield — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 22:04:32 GMT

Is anything other than your backhaul plugged in?
What version of ZoneFlex is loaded?

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 23:20:55 GMT

Downloaded and installed 9.6.1.0.15

As for the backhaul It's a big mixed environment on a /20. So servers, workstations etc, Fed Via a PoE brick, nothing plugged into the non poe port.

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

keith_redfield — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 23:38:14 GMT

I think you might very well be seeing a hardware failure. Easy test if you have another unit handy. But, these are fairly subtle symptoms, and usually hardware is a "go big or go home" fail.

Other things to try:

Set the AP to factory reset (ssh in, "set factory/reboot") and maybe power cycle it as well.

Unplug the AP from ethernet while running the tests (to eliminate odd broadcast, etc as culpable)

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

keith_redfield — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 00:38:48 GMT

Update - I ran a quick test in our lab on the same AP - no issues. I think you got a bum unit 😞

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 20:39:41 GMT

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I'll be swapping this out on Saturday, I'll inform if a new AP fixes the issue.

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:44:44 GMT

Confirmed, it was not a bad AP, swapped it out and had the same results.

One of our senior admins happened to have a wispy 2.0 so I tried that. Guys, I've been in hotels in downtown Seattle where I could actively see 200+ APs I have NEVER in my life seen wireless interference like this.

Check this out (Forgive me, the fact this is from my phone, I did it on his computer and asked him for a screen shot but he never sent it to me, luckily I took this pic in the event he didn't)

This is in down town Chicago, right next to the L, it looks like every time a train passes the interference would spike.

Is there anything I can do here guys? It seems to work so long as the SSID isn't hidden, but that's connected directly to our LAN and my boss is against broadcasting that ssid unless absolutely necessary.

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:45:24 GMT

Ignore the Solid band in the middle, I wanted to show a coworker what a microwave does 😃

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:47:20 GMT

Also Ignore the solid bar in the middle, that was me showing a co-worker what a microwave does to wireless signal.

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:56:40 GMT

Also switching to channel 11 didn't help. Later on in the test (not pictured) that band also got flooded

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

keith_redfield — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:40:24 GMT

I'll betcha those trains are using conventional brushed electric motors. So you've basically got a lightening storm (electric arcs) passing by. It's a bit odd that hidden vs visible SSID makes a difference, but that's likely client-driven. (Are you using DPSK?)

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:44:51 GMT

No, just standard PSK with AES and MAC ACL on the AP

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 19:27:44 GMT

Also, this was not just limited to 1 laptop, I was experiencing the same thing with 2 different laptops.

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

rw_van_der_knoo — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:59:06 GMT

@All,

Maybe some extra information concerning 5 Ghz. and 'hidden SSID' in combination with (channel) 'SmartSelect'.
I discovered on my 7363 that whenever I set the option 'SSID Hidden' and the option 'SmartSelect' is enbabled instead of a fixed channel, e.g. 36, none of my devices (Windows laptops, android devices etc.) can connect.
The moment I disabled the 'hidden' option for SSID, the problem was solved.
This probleem seems unrelated to the firmware version

With kind regards,

R.W. van der Knoop

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

keith_redfield — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 16:40:13 GMT

Interesting..If you can provide a little more detail like:

ZD or standalone?
AP model?
Specific ZoneFlex version?

we'll try to reproduce.

FWIW - I just hid the SSID's on my home 7982 (yeah..there are perks..) under 9.6.1 and turned SSID broadcast off on both 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz. I have SmartSelect enabled. My Mac was able to re-connect without issue. But my Chromecast, and my Samsung S4 both lost their connection. My Samsung re-connected when I manually added the network. Chromecast will not connect to the hidden SSID. Static channel made no difference.

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

michael_katzung — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 17:58:08 GMT

Mine was stand alone, 7372 and 9.6.1.0.15, I was having issues on both Smartselect and static mapping.

Again, There was that massive amount of interference but I could connect either by disabling the 5ghz or by broadcasting the SSID.

It did this on my work Dell, my personal MSI and my Coworkers personal HP

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

rw_van_der_knoo — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:36:05 GMT

Hello Keith and Others,

Let me elaborate a little bit more about this issue....
I contacted my retailer (Wifishop.nl / alcadis.nl) because my Windows/Linux laptops & Android devices could not connect through the 5 Ghz. band when SmartSelect was turned on in combination with 'SSID hidden'. Sometimes it did (because, as I discovered later, channels 36, 40,44,48 were no problem) as it sometimes chose one of above mentioned channels.
My retailer contacted Ruckus US and they asked me to do some tests.
As mentioned in my earlier reply on this forum I solved the problem myself.
This (the 'solution') was communicated through my retailer to Ruckus.
The 2.4 Ghz. has no problems; SmartSelect turned 'on' and SSID 'hidden' works fine for all my devices.

In summary for 5 Ghz.; SmartSelect turned 'on' and the option 'SSID hidden' turned off, no problems for my devices.
The option 'SSID hidden' turned on and SmartSelect 'on'; gives problems. UNLESS one chooses one of the following (fixed) channels; 36, 40,44 or 48. In others words SmartSelect must be turned off.

Below the following setiings and devices I used;

Standalone (home network) 7363, firmware 9.6.1.0.15, but other (older) firmware had the same problem.
- Laptop Dell 620 with wifi-card 'Atheros 9280' (2.4 Ghz. & 5 Ghz.)
- Sony Experia Z1 (Android v4.2.2) (2.4 Ghz. & 5 Ghz.)
- Samsung Tab2 (Android 4.0.2) (2.4 Ghz.)
- Linux CentOS v6.4 with wifi-card 'Atheros 9280' (2.4 Ghz. / 5 Ghz.)

I hope this information will help some people ...
With kind regards,

Roel van der Knoop

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

keith_redfield — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:40:44 GMT

I've a sneaking suspicion this is an interaction between US and EU 5Ghz channelization. 20Mhz or 40Mhz channel width? Any interesting log messages? Are you using an EU coded AP?

-K

Re: Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

rw_van_der_knoo — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 20:05:52 GMT

HI Keith,

That is correct, I use an EU (The Netherlands) coded AP. That is why I later found out about the (fixed?) channels 36, 40, 44 & 48.
However in my case the solution was not the bandwidth 20 or 40 Mhz. Of course, at first I tried these settings.
Since I never broadcast my SSID and it is always turned off in my home network, I never came to the point of checking this option. The fact that I started with 2.4 Ghz. and not having any trouble with hidden SSID, contributed to the fact that I never tried the option of turning on or off the SSID hidden option.

On request of Ruckus I made twice a supportinfo file after various tests, but Ruclus could not pinpoint the issue through these files.
The log messages didn't show any information I could use.

-rwvdk