management ap issue

[wushu]

So I just picked up a Pineapple Tactical Nano from Defcon, and I'm having an odd issue with the management IP. While using the pineapple with the battery, I will randomly loose my connection to the management network. When I try to reconnect, it tells me the pass phrase is incorrect, or just gives me a connection error (depending on the device I use to connect). When I unplug the nano from the battery and plug it back in, I can reconnect to the device. But of course, this resents PineAP and blows away the logs I've been collecting. Anyone else having this issue? There appears to have been an open ticket with a few people reporting the issue on the support site, but it hasn't been accepted or addressed.

[BeNe]

Does the same happen to you if you use another power connection instead of the battery ? Like a PC with the dual usb-cable or a usb power connector ?

 

[wushu]

I haven't used the Management AP with the Nano connected to a PC via USB, mainly because if I'm connecting via the USB, I'm just going to use the local connection instead of wireless.

I also haven't use a straight USB power connector, since one is not provided and it defeats the use-case I have for the Nano.  My reasoning for getting the Nano Tactical was the mobile ability of the device, where I could clip it to my bag and access via a tablet or phone.  Otherwise I would have just stuck with my older Mark Vs.

[BeNe]

I understand, of course thats what the nano is made for. But you will debug it right? So you need to check under what condition it work or not.

You can also disable the managment AP and connect to any broadcast SSID. The Webinterface is also available as normal Client with or without management ap. Or do you use the USB tethering ?

[wushu]

Even with the management AP disabled, it still only lets me connect for client mode over WLAN1, which disables the PineAP. I can only replicate the issue when PineAP is active.

 

I'll go ahead and power the nano from tablet tonight and see if the issue occurs still.

[b0N3z]

if you want to control the Pineapple with full functionality from your tablet, you need to make a hotspot on the tablet and use wlan2 (usb wifi dongle) and have the nano connect to the tablets hotspot so that you can use the Pineapple to its fullest.   When connecting to wlan1 from the tablet you disable PineAP because PineAP is dependent on both radios to function properly with everything on.

[BeNe]

I use the Ralink USB WiFi RT5370 for wlan2 --> http://hakshop.myshopify.com/collections/wifi-pineapple-kits/products/ralink-usb-wifi-rt5370

This incredibly small USB WiFi adapter adds a third interface to the WiFi Pineapple, enabling client mode without interrupting the PineAP suite.

 

[Foxtrot]

6 hours ago, b0N3z said:

if you want to control the Pineapple with full functionality from your tablet, you need to make a hotspot on the tablet and use wlan2 (usb wifi dongle) and have the nano connect to the tablets hotspot so that you can use the Pineapple to its fullest.

Uhm, why? A tablet can (should) be able to connect to the Management AP and use the Pineapple to its fullest, that's why it exists. Creating a hotspot and using a third add-on radio to connect to it yields no benefits, as far as i can see.

 

6 hours ago, b0N3z said:

When connecting to wlan1 from the tablet you disable PineAP because PineAP is dependent on both radios to function properly with everything on.

This is true... which is why the Management AP (wlan0) exists, so you can manage the Pineapple and still have a radio capable of injection.

 

Unless you want a source of internet by connecting to the Pineapple to another access point, you do not need the RT5370.

Edited August 9, 2016 by Foxtrot

[wushu]

So I powered the Nano last night connected to my tablet via USB and accessed the Nano from an iPhone over the Management AP.  The Nano ran for 2 hours without a hitch.  For the heck of it, I then ran the Nano from battery via the supplied U-shaped USB connector.  Once again, the Nano ran for 2 hours just fine.  Which I found odd since I had tried running it 4 times the previous day and had the Management AP crash on me all 4 times.  The only difference I can think of was that I had the Nano and battery clipped to my bag while I was moving around, as opposed to my tests last night where my Nano was static on my desk.  My suspicion at the moment is that the supplied U-shaped connector doesn't have a good contact with the Nano, and the movement is jarring it during use, which is crashing the system due to power fluctuations.

I'm going to purchase a low-profile male-to-female USB cable at some point this week and try that instead of the connector.

[b0N3z]

8 hours ago, Foxtrot said:

Uhm, why? A tablet can (should) be able to connect to the Management AP and use the Pineapple to its fullest, that's why it exists. Creating a hotspot and using a third add-on radio to connect to it yields no benefits, as far as i can see.

 

This is true... which is why the Management AP (wlan0) exists, so you can manage the Pineapple and still have a radio capable of injection.

 

Unless you want a source of internet by connecting to the Pineapple to another access point, you do not need the RT5370.

Ive always wanted a source of internet when connected to  the pineapple.  I have also never tried to connect to the managment AP to control it because of that but know that I think about it I really wouldnt need a source of internet for everything.

[wushu]

I've conducted a good deal of testing since the last post. I went and replaced the U connector with a cable and took the unit for a walk around the mall. The management AP crashed twice in 1 hour. So at this point, given the testing I've done, I suspect the cause is one of two things:

1. Movement- the unit had failed when I've been walking around but has worked when sitting on a table.

2. Heat- the unit gets very hot. It has failed while in the tactical bag, but not while sitting out on a table.

My next test will be to run the unit with the nano in my belt in the tactical bag and the battery in my pocket.

 

 

[wushu]

In respond to my above comment, I've done additional testing.  With the battery in my pocket but the Nano in the tactical bag, the management AP disconnected.  I then simply laid the Nano out on a table hooked to the battery, and the management AP disconnected in about 5 minutes.  The change from my previous tests was that this was done in a busy area and I was logging probes with PineAP.  At this point, I believe the issue is coming from either logging large numbers of probes, or heat.  Its now been 2 months and I have not been able to get the Pineapple to log probes in a busy area.