topic Re: Association errors in Wireless

Association errors

Alex1231 — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 21:56:35 GMT

Hi all,

I'm having some issues with client association errors on our dash for our new network:

auth_mode='wpa3-psk' 11k='1' 11v='1' reason='reserved' radio='2' vap='4' channel='85' rssi='46'

Seems to occur on an initial connection and sometimes when roaming. The issue only occurs on 6 Ghz - If we disable 6 Ghz on the client and fall back to 5 Ghz, there is no error. Disconnecting/reconnecting to the network triggers the error.

Looking at wireshark, there doesn't appear to be anything out of the norm (4 Packets Authentication, 2 Packets association, then 4 packets for handshake):

Authentication, SN=356, FN=0, Flags =.
Authentication, SN=396, FN=0, Flags=
Authentication, SN=357, FN=0, Flags=
Authentication, SN=397, FN=0, Flags =.
Association Request, SN=358, FN=0, Flags=
Association Response, SN=0, FN=0, Flags=
Key (Message 1 of 4)
Key (Message 2 of 4)
Key (Message 3 of 4)
Key (Message 4 of 4)

From a performance perspective, the error isn't noticeable on the client. There is also nothing of note in the WLAN report.

We're running MR 30.7.1 / CW9166I APs / WPA3-SAE / Intel AX211 (also had same issue on Netgear A8000)

Any ideas?

Re: Association errors

Philip D'Ath — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 06:10:31 GMT

WPA3 is difficult to get going, full stop. This is because of client side issues. And now throw 6Ghz into the mix - it is note really suitable for production roll out yet.

It is nearly always buggy client side drivers. Start by driving to update the WiFi drivers on whatever the device is. Don't be surprised if it takes another couple of years before you get drivers that work reliably.

Re: Association errors

Vivek5 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 01:23:54 GMT

Hi ,

Are you using this mode of wpa3 ?

PSK (WPA3-SAE Transition Mode)

Re: Association errors

macnerd1 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:59:07 GMT

hi, our Cisco 9164 and 9162 are having the same exact error

our meraki dashboard states that “our Intel ax211” clients are experiencing “failure to associate”

we tried using 5GHz only with wpa3-sae, no issue

but when we only use 6Ghz only with wpa3-sae, the issue occurs

the behaviour is the same with @Alex1231 the error occurs when users 1st power on their laptop and did a 1st time connect with our ap

and it will occur also when our clients are roaming

Re: Association errors

Alex1231 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 19:48:47 GMT

We are running WPA3 only (no transition mode)

Re: Association errors

Vivek5 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 22:18:22 GMT

Can you please try PSK (WPA3-SAE Transition Mode)? We were having similar issue with Meraki Mr57. Post switching from wpa3 only to Transition Mode , now the connectivity is more stable with 6Ghz.

Re: Association errors

macnerd1 — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 02:29:06 GMT

hi @Vivek5

according to meraki documentation, if we need to use 6Ghz, we can't use wpa3 transition mode

we have tried also, it can't connect

for wpa3 personal, our option is only pure wpa3-sae

we can't go wpa3 enterprise either

Re: Association errors

Vivek5 — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:32:06 GMT

This is what I can see on our dashboard :

When WPA3 is selected, 802.11w is automatically set to required. If any APs broadcasting the SSID do not support WPA3, they will default to WPA2 authentication instead.

WPA3 only : This options comes when we use radius authentication.. The below should be get enabled automatically

802.11w

Enabled (allow unsupported clients)
Required (reject unsupported clients)
Disabled (never use)

If we use PSK .. then we should see WPA3-SAE Transition Mode.802.11w is automatically required

I have MR57 , it works well without any issue.

Re: Association errors

Alex1231 — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 23:23:14 GMT

Hi VivekT,

When trying to use WPA3 transition mode on 6ghz, I get the error message below:

This SSID will not broadcast on the 6 GHz band. Use WPA3 to enable this band.

Meraki support have recommended to move to the latest stable candidate firmware. I'll report back in a couple of days when I am able to upgrade/test.

Re: Association errors

Alex1231 — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:02:58 GMT

No luck with MR 31.1.5.1

Re: Association errors

AnthonyN1 — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:58:30 GMT

Hey Alex

If your also getting the same errors on other AP's then it is likely a client side issue. Have you updated your wireless drivers to the latest firmware? Might be worth raising a ticket with your vendor.

Re: Association errors

Alex1231 — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 01:13:13 GMT

Yeah already running latest drivers. Also occurs when live booted into ubuntu.

It's been escalated to the meraki devs. In the mean time we're moving to WPA3-Enterprise to get the project finished.

Re: Association errors

macnerd1 — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 04:16:32 GMT

hi,

sorry for this delayed reply

was doing testing

we are running 30.7.1 for meraki

we found that even laptop was station and it didn’t jump AP, the failure will occur

we are in contact with meraki

we have asked their help to do simulation at their eng lab to see if they can replicate this behaviour

the intel ax211 driver that we are running is v23.90 which is the latest

we fresh install windows and let Microsoft auto install the WiFi nic driver, it’s installing v23.60. > same behaviour

we tested dell’s driver, the latest is v23.60 > same behaviour

Re: Association errors

b-ganesan-srvcprvdr — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:29:50 GMT

i have the same behaviour in our environment, Slight change in the MAC and Windows laptops are causing issues on roaming between AP and getting latency and packet drops

Re: Association errors

macnerd1 — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:22:01 GMT

i see,

may i ask, have you found a solution for this problem?

Re: Association errors

b-ganesan-srvcprvdr — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:34:26 GMT

Not Yet. We're still working with TAC. Almost did everything possible at the AP and Network driver ends. nothing helped out.

Re: Association errors

macnerd1 — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:55:46 GMT

We are the same, also in contact with TAC. Previously we tested, iPhone and Android, same issue, we think it’s may not be related to Windows OS drivers

Re: Association errors

b-ganesan-srvcprvdr — Fri, 02 May 2025 22:37:30 GMT

Here we have Intel AX211 6E 23.120.0.3, the majority of users are causing issues

Re: Association errors

macnerd1 — Sat, 03 May 2025 08:56:06 GMT

@b-ganesan-srvcprvdr

on the 15th last month, mr31.1.7 was released as release candidate. in the changed log, there is a mention of <code 0 : reserved> being fixed. we upgraded but we are still having the same behaviour.

drivers version that we have tested :

these are the drivers that we tested until we found that Apple iOS is exhibiting the same behaviour previously.

22.120 : totally unable to detect 6GHz band
22.130 : totally unable to detect 6GHz band
22.140 : totally unable to detect 6GHz band
22.150 : totally unable to detect 6GHz band
22.160 : totally unable to detect 6GHz band
22.170 : able to detect 6GHz band but exhibit the same behaviour
22.180 : able to detect 6GHz band but exhibit the same behaviour
22.190 : able to detect 6GHz band but exhibit the same behaviour
22.240 : able to detect 6GHz band but exhibit the same behaviour
23.50 : able to detect 6GHz band but exhibit the same behaviour

after we upgraded to mr31.1.7, we tested the 23.130.1, Intel latest. same behaviour

Re: Association errors

badreddine — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:28:32 GMT

Hello community,

Is this an ongoing issue that hasn’t been resolved in any firmware version yet?

Thank you !