Issues running multiple instances on single interface

[alec801]

I am trying to create multiple APs using a single wifi adapter.
I have tried this with 2 adapters:

• ath9k
• rt2800

But I can't get either of them to run more than 1 AP at a time.

If I run
sudo iw dev wlan1 interface add <virt int name> type managed
I am able to create as many virtual interfaces as i want. To me, this is proof that my adapters do support virtual interfaces.

When I run
sudo create_ap wlan1 eth0 MyAccessPoint1
The access point starts up fine.
If I open another console and run
sudo create_ap wlan1 eth0 MyAccessPoint2

I get this response

RTNETLINK answers: Device or resource busy
ERROR: Maybe your WiFi adapter does not fully support virtual interfaces.

I tried to manually create the virtual interfaces
sudo iw dev wlan1 interface add vir1 type managed
sudo iw dev wlan1 interface add vir2 type managed

and then try starting 2 create_ap instances
sudo create_ap vir1 eth0 MyAccessPoint1 --no-virt
sudo create_ap vir2 eth0 MyAccessPoint2 --no-virt

but this returns

RTNETLINK answers: Name not unique on network

when starting the first instance

Does anybody know if I am doing something wrong, or if my adapters don't actually support virtual interfaces.

Thanks in advance :)

[oblique]

A managed virtual interface is different than a __ap virtual interface. Usually adapters that are not designed for actual routers, they allow you to have multiple managed interfaces and one __ap. That's why you get the RTNETLINK answers: Device or resource busy error. You can get these information from iw list (also post it here).

[alec801]

I assume we are looking at the valid interface combinations?

ath9k_htc device

valid interface combinations:
                 * #{ managed, P2P-client } <= 2, #{ AP, mesh point, P2P-GO } <= 2,
                   total <= 2, #channels <= 1

rt2800_usb device

        valid interface combinations:
                 * #{ AP, mesh point } <= 8,
                   total <= 8, #channels <= 1

so it looks like they're both only capable of 1 channel at a time, I think?

[oblique]

Yes, 1 channel at a time.
ath9k_htc can have 2 working virtual interfaces at a time, you can have 1 managed and 1 AP, or 2 managed, or 2 AP.
rt2800_usb can have 8 AP only (I never had the chance to test anything similar).

BTW, few days ago I made a change about AP type, make sure that you have my latest commit.