Issues with Hidden SSID connectivity / Stuck Beacon?

[michael_katzung]

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

[michael_katzung]

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

[rw_van_der_knoo]

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

[keith_redfield]

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

[rw_van_der_knoo]

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