Wifi hotspot not working on Linux Mint 21

[Maxman2000x]

Greetings, I recently installed Mint 21 on an old laptop that has a wired Ethernet connection and is regularly used as a WiFi access point but I can't seem to get the Hotspot function to work. I have created a profile for the Hotspot under Network Connections, set an SSID/password and ensured that it was set to share it's IP address, but I've had no luck with getting it to work. When the Hotspot is activated the machine displays a notification that the Hotspot connection is active, then around thirty seconds later it shows another one indicating that the activation of the Network Connection has failed. This is immediately followed by another one indicating that the connection is active. Some devices are completely unable to connect to it while others connect (and are assigned an ip) but cant access the internet or communicate with each other. I've tried changing lots of different settings and using different profiles, etc, but they all give me the same result. The laptop is able to connect to other WiFi networks just fine and the hotspot previously worked on Linux Mint 19.3 so I don't really have an idea of what might be causing this.
Here is the laptop's inxi:
System:
Kernel: 5.15.0-50-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.2.0
Desktop: Cinnamon 5.4.12 tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: Mutter vt: 7
dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21 Vanessa base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: TOSHIBA product: SATELLITE PRO C50-A-1MM
v: PSCG7E-038041EN serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: Intel model: PT10F v: Type2 - Board Version
serial: <superuser required> UEFI: Insyde v: 1.40 date: 04/22/2014
CPU:
Info: dual core model: Intel Celeron 1005M bits: 64 type: MCP
smt: <unsupported> arch: Ivy Bridge rev: 9 cache: L1: 128 KiB L2: 512 KiB
L3: 2 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 1197 min/max: 1200/1900 cores: 1: 1197 2: 1197
bogomips: 7582
Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Toshiba
driver: i915 v: kernel ports: active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,VGA-1
bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0156 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: Lite-On TOSHIBA Web Camera - HD type: USB driver: uvcvideo
bus-ID: 1-1.3:4 chip-ID: 04ca:7017 class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.3 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: i915 display-ID: :0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1366x768 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 361x203mm (14.2x8.0")
s-diag: 414mm (16.3")
Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: Samsung res: 1366x768 hz: 60 dpi: 101
size: 344x193mm (13.5x7.6") diag: 394mm (15.5") modes: 1366x768
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 2500 (IVB GT1)
v: 4.2 Mesa 22.0.5 compat-v: 3.1 direct render: Yes
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Toshiba
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1e20
class-ID: 0403
Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-50-generic running: yes
Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9462 Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Lite-On
driver: ath9k v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0
chip-ID: 168c:0034 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros QCA8172 Fast Ethernet vendor: Toshiba
driver: alx v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000
bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:10a0 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: tun0 state: unknown speed: 10 Mbps duplex: full mac: N/A
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 56.75 GiB (12.2%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: HGST (Hitachi) model: HTS545050A7E380
size: 465.76 GiB speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
rev: AH20 scheme: MBR
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 45.53 GiB used: 9.5 GiB (20.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
ID-2: /boot/efi size: 3.72 GiB used: 47.6 MiB (1.2%) fs: vfat
dev: /dev/sda1
ID-3: /home size: 393.11 GiB used: 47.19 GiB (12.0%) fs: ext4
dev: /dev/sda3
Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 15 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
dev: /dev/sda4
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 46.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
Packages: apt: 2147
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
1: deb https://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/pac ... m/packages vanessa main upstream import backport
2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
Info:
Processes: 218 Uptime: 4m wakeups: 1 Memory: 7.64 GiB
used: 1.79 GiB (23.4%) Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers:
gcc: 11.2.0 alt: 11 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: gnome-terminal
inxi: 3.3.13
Thanks

[jspatterson]

Sorry, I have nothing constructive to reply. I found your post whilst searching for information about my own hotspot problems, which sound similar to yours. Hopefully this is a known bug which will be fixed in an update soon. What's especially annoying is that I have absolutely no problems setting up reliable wifi hotspots on Win10 machines.

One tip though; when asking for help on here, and posting system info or the outputs of various commands, use the 'code tags' (the button that looks like this: </>), then paste the output between the square bracketed bit. Or just highlight the raw text that you've posted, then click the 'code tags' button. The gurus on here will appreciate it and will be more likely to give you assistance!

For example, here is my output to inxi -Fxxxrz. (for a single line of code, like this, use the in-line code button, c)

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-52-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.2.0
    Desktop: Cinnamon 5.4.12 tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: Mutter vt: 7
    dm: GDM3 42.0, LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21 Vanessa
    base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Micro-Star product: GP62MVR 7RFX v: REV:1.0
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Micro-Star model: MS-16JB v: REV:1.0 serial: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: E16JBIMS.31A date: 09/05/2018
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT1 charge: 35.1 Wh (94.1%) condition: 37.3/42.4 Wh (88.0%)
    volts: 12.1 min: 10.8 model: MSI Corp. MS-16JB type: Li-ion serial: N/A
    status: N/A
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: Intel Core i5-7300HQ bits: 64 type: MCP
    smt: <unsupported> arch: Kaby Lake rev: 9 cache: L1: 256 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
    L3: 6 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1347 high: 1471 min/max: 800/3500 cores: 1: 1471
    2: 1306 3: 1300 4: 1311 bogomips: 19999
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: i915
    v: kernel ports: active: eDP-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-2
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:591b class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP106M [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: nvidia v: 515.65.01 pcie: speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports:
    active: none off: DP-2 empty: HDMI-A-3 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1c20
    class-ID: 0300
  Device-3: Acer BisonCam NB Pro type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 1-11:5
    chip-ID: 5986:0683 class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.3 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa gpu: i915
    display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3840x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1016x286mm (40.0x11.3")
    s-diag: 1055mm (41.6")
  Monitor-1: DP-0 pos: primary,right res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 70
    size: 698x393mm (27.5x15.5") diag: 801mm (31.5")
  Monitor-2: eDP-1-1 pos: primary,left res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 142
    size: 344x193mm (13.5x7.6") diag: 394mm (15.5")
  OpenGL: renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060/PCIe/SSE2
    v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 515.65.01 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a171 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP106 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel pcie: speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f1
    class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-52-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168NGW [Stone Peak] driver: iwlwifi
    v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:24fb
    class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2400 Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: alx v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
    port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:e0a1 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: ipv6leakintrf0 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A
    mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-2: proton0 state: unknown speed: 10 Mbps duplex: full mac: N/A
  IF-ID-3: pvpnksintrf0 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 3168 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 1-10:4 chip-ID: 8087:0aa7 class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down
    bt-service: enabled,running rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes
    address: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.4 TiB used: 1.51 TiB (63.1%)
  ID-1: /dev/mmcblk0 type: USB model: 5 DRP size: 119.25 GiB type: SSD
    serial: <filter> scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Crucial model: CT250P2SSD8 size: 232.89 GiB
    speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: P2CR012
    temp: 55.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST2000LM015-2E8174 size: 1.82 TiB
    speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter> rev: SDM1 scheme: MBR
  ID-4: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Sabrent model: Sabrent size: 238.47 GiB
    type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1.00 scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 227.68 GiB used: 48.51 GiB (21.3%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 511 MiB used: 5.2 MiB (1.0%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    file: /swapfile
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 63.0 C pch: 69.0 C mobo: 27.8 C gpu: nvidia
    temp: 64 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2809 apt: 2754 flatpak: 42 snap: 13
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/musicbrainz-developers-stable-jammy.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https://mirrors.ukfast.co.uk/sites/linuxmint.com/packages vanessa main upstream import backport
    2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.list
    1: deb https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/protonvpn-stable.list
    1: deb [arch="all", signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/protonvpn-stable-archive-keyring.gpg] https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian stable main
Info:
  Processes: 287 Uptime: 7h 33m wakeups: 1 Memory: 15.51 GiB
  used: 4.48 GiB (28.9%) Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers:
  gcc: 11.3.0 alt: 11 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: gnome-terminal
  inxi: 3.3.13

[rattkjelke]

I recently tried using the hotspot function and have some of the same problems.
I want to use the wifi hotspot to provide internet access to a smart phone.

Here is what I discovered:

My wifi adapter in the PC is a Realtek. Any kernel version after 5.13 has the driver built in and the OS recognizes the adapter. I can see the other networks around here but never tried to connect to one (no public ones here) so I never new if it really worked.

Sometimes If I change any network manager settings they don't seem to take effect until I reboot.

Network Settings and Network Connections seem to have settings that conflict.

LM 21 kernel is 5.15. I discovered that if I use the Ubuntu driver in Driver Manger it works.

I noticed that some 5 GHz wifi channels don't work and others do.

It won't connect unless I turn off the firewall (ufw/gufw).

There doesn't seem to be good instructions online for what firewall and /etc/sysctl.conf settings to use for hotspot mode. Everything I found was many years old and may not be relevant now.

[kristians]

I ran into the same, or a similar problem after upgrading from Linux Mint 20 to Linux Mint 21.

After setting up the WiFi Hotspot on my main computer after upgrading it to LM21, I was no longer able to connect from my phone, but I was able to connect from my laptop, which is still running LM20.

I ended up figuring out what was happening, and how to fix it.

As far as I can tell, the problem is caused by the Network Manager UI in LM21 forgetting to set appropriate values for `802-11-wireless-security.pairwise` an/or `802-11-wireless-security.group`. See also https://developer-old.gnome.org/Network ... urity.html.

I first noticed that the Hotspot was fully working immediately after I set it up using the "Use as Hotspot..." function in the "Network Settings" dialog. However, it was not working properly if I set it up by manually adding the connection via the "Network Connections" dialog. Also, editing anything in the connection would cause it to no longer work if it was working before.

By comparing the output from `nmcli connection show <hotspot name>` between a working and a non-working connection, I noticed some differences.

Apparently, when manually creating a connection via the "Network Connections" dialog, and when editing an existing connection, the values of some parameters are lost, in particular, the values of `802-11-wireless-security.pairwise` an `802-11-wireless-security.group`.

After some fiddling, I realized that the following fixed the problem for me, assuming `Hotspot` is the name of the connection:

nmcli connection modify Hotspot 802-11-wireless-security.pairwise ccmp
nmcli connection modify Hotspot 802-11-wireless-security.group ccmp
nmcli connection down Hotspot
nmcli connection up Hotspot

[rattkjelke]

I noticed that some 5 GHz wifi channels don't work and others do.

I distro hopped from LM to MX partially because of this.
The 6.1 kernel in MX 21.3 AHS fixed some of my wifi problems but I still had the same problem of some wifi channels not working.
I found out it was because the country code wasn't set properly.
In a terminal you can do:

Code: Select all

sudo iw reg get

to find the wireless regulatory domain (regdomain) country code for the channels allowed in your country.

For some reason it was either never set properly to begin with or it got changed or reset to default.
I don't know if this can happen on Linux Mint/Ubuntu because I don't have a LM installation on real hardware to check and I don't know how the Live USB or VirtualBox handle it. I also don't know if this can be a problem on all wifi devices.

I had to manually set it to US with:

Code: Select all

sudo iw reg set US

and all the US channels my wifi module supports now work.

[sleeper12]

jspatterson,

In your case, I suspect Proton vpn is the problem. See if this helps:

Code: Select all

protonvpn-cli disconnect

If no help, see this thread: viewtopic.php?f=90&t=390190&hilit=proton