title: Running Intel 7260 in AP mode under Ubuntu 14.04
body: <p>I would like to use the built-in WiFi on a Gigabyte mini-ITX system I just bought as an access point. And for some reason I am going in circles.</p>
  
  <p><code>lspci | grep -i wireless</code> reveals:</p>
  
  <pre><code>04:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 (rev 73)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><code>lsmod | grep 80211</code> gives:</p>
  
  <pre><code>mac80211              630669  1 iwlmvm
  cfg80211              484040  3 iwlwifi,mac80211,iwlmvm
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I installed <strong>hostapd</strong>.  Here is the (more than) minimal <code>hostapd.conf</code> I created:</p>
  
  <pre><code>interface=wlan0
  driver=nl80211
  logger_syslog=-1
  logger_syslog_level=2
  logger_stdout=-1
  logger_stdout_level=2
  ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd
  ctrl_interface_group=0
  ssid=test
  hw_mode=g
  channel=1
  beacon_int=100
  dtim_period=2
  max_num_sta=255
  rts_threshold=2347
  fragm_threshold=2346
  macaddr_acl=0
  auth_algs=3
  ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
  wmm_enabled=1
  wmm_ac_bk_cwmin=4
  wmm_ac_bk_cwmax=10
  wmm_ac_bk_aifs=7
  wmm_ac_bk_txop_limit=0
  wmm_ac_bk_acm=0
  wmm_ac_be_aifs=3
  wmm_ac_be_cwmin=4
  wmm_ac_be_cwmax=10
  wmm_ac_be_txop_limit=0
  wmm_ac_be_acm=0
  wmm_ac_vi_aifs=2
  wmm_ac_vi_cwmin=3
  wmm_ac_vi_cwmax=4
  wmm_ac_vi_txop_limit=94
  wmm_ac_vi_acm=0
  wmm_ac_vo_aifs=2
  wmm_ac_vo_cwmin=2
  wmm_ac_vo_cwmax=3
  wmm_ac_vo_txop_limit=47
  own_ip_addr=127.0.0.1
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When I try to run hostapd, I get this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ sudo hostapd ./hostapd.conf
  
  Configuration file: ./hostapd.conf
  nl80211: Could not configure driver mode
  nl80211 driver initialization failed.
  hostapd_free_hapd_data: Interface wlan0 wasn't started
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So, I read there was a problem with Ubuntu 14.04 and how to get around it.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/wpa/+bug/1289047" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/wpa/+bug/1289047</a></p>
  
  <p>Interestingly it appears that now the driver (version 2.1) does something with error, and before it ignored it.</p>
  
  <p>a solution (in desktop cases) is to do following to release resource.. then hostapd has no error....</p>
  
  <pre><code>sudo nmcli nm wifi off
  sudo rfkill unblock wlan
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>this info has been gleaned from <a href="https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1221799" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1221799</a></p>
  
  <p>nmcli is part of network-manager, which needed to be installed.
  Next,</p>
  
  <pre><code>/etc/hostapd$ sudo nmcli nm wifi off
  ** (process:5724): WARNING **: Could not initialize NMClient /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager: The name org.freedesktop.NetworkManager was not provided by any .service files
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So I ran these commands, which are supposedly a workaround.</p>
  
  <pre><code>/etc/hostapd$ sudo service network-manager start
  network-manager start/running, process 5763
  /etc/hostapd$ sudo nmcli nm wifi off
  /etc/hostapd$ sudo rfkill unblock wlan
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But still the same problem with trying to run hostapd.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://askubuntu.com/questions/472794/hostapd-error-nl80211-could-not-configure-driver-mode">https://askubuntu.com/questions/472794/hostapd-error-nl80211-could-not-configure-driver-mode</a> recommends this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>sudo ifconfig wlan0 10.15.0.1/24 up 
  sleep 1 
  sudo service isc-dhcp-server restart 
  sudo service hostapd restart
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>isc-dhcp-server is not yet installed.  Everything else ran without showing any error.</p>
  
  <p>Still having the problem though!</p>
  
  <p><code>ifconfig wlan0</code> shows:</p>
  
  <pre><code>wlan0     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 80:19:34:32:20:a3
            inet addr:10.15.0.1  Bcast:10.15.0.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
            inet6 addr: fd04:bd3:80e8:1:91e9:7f2e:f005:5af9/64 Scope:Global
            inet6 addr: fe80::8219:34ff:fe32:20a3/64 Scope:Link
            inet6 addr: fd04:bd3:80e8:1:8219:34ff:fe32:20a3/64 Scope:Global
            UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
            RX packets:43138 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
            TX packets:638 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
            collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
            RX bytes:6824297 (6.8 MB)  TX bytes:121399 (121.3 KB)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><code>iw list</code> shows:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Wiphy phy0
          Band 1:
                  Capabilities: 0x1062
                          HT20/HT40
                          Static SM Power Save
                          RX HT20 SGI
                          RX HT40 SGI
                          No RX STBC
                          Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
                          DSSS/CCK HT40
                  Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                  Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
                  HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15, 32
                  Frequencies:
                          * 2412 MHz [1] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2417 MHz [2] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2422 MHz [3] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2427 MHz [4] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2432 MHz [5] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2437 MHz [6] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2442 MHz [7] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2447 MHz [8] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2452 MHz [9] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2457 MHz [10] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2462 MHz [11] (22.0 dBm)
                          * 2467 MHz [12] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 2472 MHz [13] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                  Bitrates (non-HT):
                          * 1.0 Mbps
                          * 2.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
                          * 5.5 Mbps (short preamble supported)
                          * 11.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
                          * 6.0 Mbps
                          * 9.0 Mbps
                          * 12.0 Mbps
                          * 18.0 Mbps
                          * 24.0 Mbps
                          * 36.0 Mbps
                          * 48.0 Mbps
                          * 54.0 Mbps
          Band 2:
                  Capabilities: 0x1062
                          HT20/HT40
                          Static SM Power Save
                          RX HT20 SGI
                          RX HT40 SGI
                          No RX STBC
                          Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
                          DSSS/CCK HT40
                  Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                  Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
                  HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15, 32
                  Frequencies:
                          * 5180 MHz [36] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5200 MHz [40] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5220 MHz [44] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5240 MHz [48] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5260 MHz [52] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5280 MHz [56] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5300 MHz [60] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5320 MHz [64] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5500 MHz [100] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5520 MHz [104] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5540 MHz [108] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5560 MHz [112] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5580 MHz [116] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5600 MHz [120] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5620 MHz [124] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5640 MHz [128] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5660 MHz [132] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5680 MHz [136] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5700 MHz [140] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5720 MHz [144] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
                          * 5745 MHz [149] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5765 MHz [153] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5785 MHz [157] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5805 MHz [161] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                          * 5825 MHz [165] (22.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
                  Bitrates (non-HT):
                          * 6.0 Mbps
                          * 9.0 Mbps
                          * 12.0 Mbps
                          * 18.0 Mbps
                          * 24.0 Mbps
                          * 36.0 Mbps
                          * 48.0 Mbps
                          * 54.0 Mbps
          max # scan SSIDs: 20
          max scan IEs length: 393 bytes
          Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
          Supported Ciphers:
                  * WEP40 (00-0f-ac:1)
                  * WEP104 (00-0f-ac:5)
                  * TKIP (00-0f-ac:2)
                  * CCMP (00-0f-ac:4)
                  * CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
          Available Antennas: TX 0 RX 0
          Supported interface modes:
                   * IBSS
                   * managed
                   * AP
                   * AP/VLAN
                   * monitor
                   * P2P-client
                   * P2P-GO
                   * Unknown mode (10)
          software interface modes (can always be added):
                   * AP/VLAN
                   * monitor
          valid interface combinations:
                   * #{ managed } &lt;= 1, #{ AP, P2P-client, P2P-GO } &lt;= 1, #{ Unknown mode (10) } &lt;= 1,
                     total &lt;= 3, #channels &lt;= 1
          Supported commands:
                   * new_interface
                   * set_interface
                   * new_key
                   * new_beacon
                   * new_station
                   * new_mpath
                   * set_mesh_params
                   * set_bss
                   * authenticate
                   * associate
                   * deauthenticate
                   * disassociate
                   * join_ibss
                   * join_mesh
                   * remain_on_channel
                   * set_tx_bitrate_mask
                   * action
                   * frame_wait_cancel
                   * set_wiphy_netns
                   * set_channel
                   * set_wds_peer
                   * Unknown command (84)
                   * Unknown command (87)
                   * Unknown command (85)
                   * Unknown command (89)
                   * Unknown command (92)
                   * connect
                   * disconnect
          Supported TX frame types:
                   * IBSS: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                   * managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                   * AP: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                   * AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                   * mesh point: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                   * P2P-client: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                   * P2P-GO: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                   * Unknown mode (10): 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
          Supported RX frame types:
                   * IBSS: 0x40 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                   * managed: 0x40 0xd0
                   * AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                   * AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                   * mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                   * P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
                   * P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                   * Unknown mode (10): 0x40 0xd0
          Device supports RSN-IBSS.
          WoWLAN support:
                   * wake up on disconnect
                   * wake up on magic packet
                   * wake up on pattern match, up to 20 patterns of 16-128 bytes
                   * can do GTK rekeying
                   * wake up on GTK rekey failure
                   * wake up on EAP identity request
                   * wake up on 4-way handshake
                   * wake up on rfkill release
          HT Capability overrides:
                   * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
                   * maximum A-MSDU length
                   * supported channel width
                   * short GI for 40 MHz
                   * max A-MPDU length exponent
                   * min MPDU start spacing
          Device supports TX status socket option.
          Device supports HT-IBSS.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Using <code>iwconfig</code> to set it to "Master" mode, which I think means to set it to AP mode, results in this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode Master
  Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) :
      SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So, I guess it's possible that the 7260 driver does not want to work in AP mode.  However, the <code>iwlist</code> command output shows AP mode as one of the possibilities.</p>