How to connect to an OPEN wifi from a terminal.

[edbarx]

IFUP fails to connect to an OPEN wifi even when the proper ESSID has been entered in /etc/network/interfaces file. The following method is a way of connecting to an OPEN wifi using iwconfig.

The Procedure:

1. First bring up the network interface wlan0 or whatever you have.
   

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   #ifconfig wlan0 up

2. Assuming your wifi hotspot name, ESSID, is freeopenwifi, run:
   

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   # iwconfig wlan0 essid freeopenwifi

3. Run dhclient to assign an ip address so that the connection becomes useable.
   

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   # dhclient wlan0

Enjoy.

[edbarx]

If someone knows how to disconnect other than brute forcing a disconnection like killing dhclient and using iwconfig wlan0 down, please post your method here. Sometimes, the only way to connect is by using these low level methods.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Clear the DHCP lease with:

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# dhclient -r wlan0

Then either bring the connection down:

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# ifconfig wlan0 down

Or force a null connection:

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# iwconfig wlan0 ap 00:00:00:00:00:00

EDIT: thanks for the great guide, it is very useful

[edbarx]

To Head-on-a-Stick: Thanks.