Which method to setup WiFi hotspot on OPiPC?

Christos · July 15, 2018

Hi,

Got Debian (8) legacy 3.4.113 server/console and would like to setup a WiFi hotspot. (latest Armbian build 5.51)

Seen two methods in Armbian docs

1. -> https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Advanced-Features/#how-to-set-wireless-access-point

and via armbian_config in https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Armbian-Config/

2. -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__BJtInOQFY

So I'm a bit buffled about it.

Got some questions

Got a RTL8188CUS is it suported nowadays? or should I get a specific other one?

Do I need to have internet/ethernet/lan connection active during the hotspot creation via armbian_config?

After I execute the armbian config method, there are a few screens as in the video, probing various methods, and then the system without reporting any error returns to its menu selection but do not show the "Manage..access point".

After that what do I need to do have the WiFi hotspot up?

How can I give it the required parameters eg ip, passphrase key for users to connect, SSID etc, is there any guide for it ?

PS.

Also tried with a OPiPCPlus that has onboard wlan and armbian config result is the same, did not give the "Manage .. access point" menu after run. It also not support WiFi access point creation?

WarHawk_AVG · July 17, 2018

Did a bit of googling

More or less just google setup wifi hotspot on debian since armbian mimics debian/ubuntu architecture nicely

You will need a compatible USB wifi card since the OPiPC doesn't have onboard wifi

https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/debian-ubuntu-linux-setting-wireless-access-point/

here is a PDF...for rasbian...you can skip the OS install since Armbian is for Orange Pi...but the commands and more than likely the interfaces will be the same

https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/downloads/pdf/setting-up-a-raspberry-pi-as-a-wifi-access-point.pdf

To make a hotspot and route traffic from one interface to another is a little bit more intensive than just setting up the interfaces
The above PDF should walk you thru easy enough even if it is written for a specific device...it's pretty universal

Christos · July 18, 2018

Thanks @WarHawk_AVG

Unfortunately could not setup a hotspot in OPiPC using the armbian-config.

Tried to use various usb/wifi dongles and with none that I used got any results.

Also, I bought one of the specified in the download page as supported, the Comfast with RTL8811AU chipset.

OPiPC runnning latest 5.51 Debian (8) legacy kernel 3.4.113 simply does not even recognizes it for use as client.

Not creating the wlan0 device at all.

  ___                               ____  _   ____   ____
 / _ \ _ __ __ _ _ __   __ _  ___  |  _ \(_) |  _ \ / ___|    _
| | | | '__/ _` | '_ \ / _` |/ _ \ | |_) | | | |_) | |      _| |_
| |_| | | | (_| | | | | (_| |  __/ |  __/| | |  __/| |___  |_   _|
 \___/|_|  \__,_|_| |_|\__, |\___| |_|   |_| |_|    \____|   |_|
                       |___/

Welcome to ARMBIAN 5.51 user-built Debian GNU/Linux 8 (jessie) 3.4.113-rt143-sun8i
System load:   0.00 0.03 0.05   Up time:       22 min
Memory usage:  16 % of 997MB    IP:            192.168.1.70
CPU temp:      51°C
Usage of /:    11% of 15G




dmesg

[  826.660215] ehci_irq: highspeed device connect
[  826.910179] usb 4-1: new high-speed USB device number 5 using sunxi-ehci
[  827.062370] usb 4-1: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=a811
[  827.062406] usb 4-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[  827.062437] usb 4-1: Product: 802.11ac WLAN Adapter
[  827.062460] usb 4-1: Manufacturer: Realtek
[  827.062483] usb 4-1: SerialNumber: 00e04c000001


root@orangepipcplus:~# ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr e2:bd:ab:0f:e9:b7
          inet addr:192.168.1.70  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: 2a02:582:d0e:e00:e0bd:abff:fe0f:e9b7/64 Scope:Global
          inet6 addr: fe80::e0bd:abff:fe0f:e9b7/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:567 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:855 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:45453 (44.3 KiB)  TX bytes:138041 (134.8 KiB)
          Interrupt:114

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:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)

root@orangepipcplus:~#

@Igor

@zador.blood.stained

So, am I missing something? Do I need to do something in order for the device to be identified?

Is the download page with supported/tested interfaces valid ?

https://www.armbian.com/orange-pi-pc/

Can I use the Comfast RTL8811AU dongle?