Wi-Fi Associated Stations list cleared after restoring a backup via Luci

Hi, I've just received a GL-AR300M16 (300M Mini Smart Router) that has been configured in Luci as Wi-Fi client, to allow the two bridged physical ports (LAN + WAN) to connect to the Internet through the Wi-Fi interface.

Firmware is the latest 4.3.18 with OpenWrt 22.03.4 r20123-38ccc47687 / LuCI openwrt-22.03 branch git-23.093.57104-ce20b4a.

All is working well, apart from restoring a backup of my configuration: as soon as I restore the .tar.gz file, the wireless Associated Stations list is cleared and the device cannot connect to the Wi-Fi, at least until I go to Network > Wireless, hit Scan, rejoin my network, write in the WPA passphrase, save and Save & Apply.

My question is: why does restoring the backup erases my Wi-Fi settings every time? I've checked the contents of the .tar.gz file and the config/wireless file has this content:

config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'platform/ahb/18100000.wmac'
	option band '2g'
	option channel 'auto'
	option htmode 'HT40'
	option cell_density '0'
	option country 'IT'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet0'
	option ssid 'WIFIRD'
	option encryption 'psk2'
	option device 'radio0'
	option mode 'sta'
	option key 'redacted_password'
	option network 'wwan'

And this is config/glconfig:

config service 'general'
	option mode 'router'
	list track_ipv6 '2001:4860:4860::8844'
	list track_ipv6 '2001:4860:4860::8888'
	list track_ipv6 '2620:0:ccd::2'
	list track_ipv6 '2620:0:ccc::2'
	list track_ip '1.1.1.1'
	list track_ip '8.8.8.8'
	list track_ip '208.67.222.222'
	list track_ip '208.67.220.220'
	option inited '1'
	option autotimezone '1'
	option wan2lan '1'

Then, after restoring and rebooting, the wireless LED is not red anymore (but switched off) and I cannot reach the device from the Wi-Fi. I've tried inspecting via SSH on the LAN port and this is the message log in this situation (so, with the Wi-Fi settings just lost):

root@GL-AR300M:~# logread
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    0.000000] Linux version 5.10.176 (glinet@glinet) (mips-openwrt-linux-musl-gcc (OpenWrt GCC 11.2.0 r20123-38ccc47687) 11.2.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.37) #0 Sun Apr 9 12:27:46 2023
... CUT ...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    0.539791] mtd: setting mtd4 (rootfs) as root device
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    0.546005] 1 squashfs-split partitions found on MTD device rootfs
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    0.552470] 0x000000ec0000-0x000000fa0000 : "rootfs_data"
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    0.559311] 0x000000ff0000-0x000001000000 : "art"
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.err kernel: [    0.919398] ag71xx 19000000.eth: Could not connect to PHY device. Deferring probe.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    1.888776] mdio.0:1f: Found an AR934X built-in switch
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    1.956442] ag71xx 1a000000.eth: connected to PHY at fixed-0:00 [uid=00000000, driver=Generic PHY]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    1.966448] eth1: Atheros AG71xx at 0xba000000, irq 5, mode: gmii
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    1.975183] NET: Registered protocol family 10
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    1.988769] Segment Routing with IPv6
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    1.992693] NET: Registered protocol family 17
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    1.997366] bridge: filtering via arp/ip/ip6tables is no longer available by default. Update your scripts to load br_netfilter if you need this.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.010811] 8021q: 802.1Q VLAN Support v1.8
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.020565] PCI host bridge /ahb/pcie-controller@180c0000 ranges:
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.026908]  MEM 0x0000000010000000..0x0000000013ffffff
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.032373]   IO 0x0000000000000000..0x0000000000000000
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.warn kernel: [    2.037777] ar724x-pci 180c0000.pcie-controller: PCIe link is down
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.044384] PCI host bridge to bus 0000:00
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.048668] pci_bus 0000:00: root bus resource [mem 0x10000000-0x13ffffff]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.055773] pci_bus 0000:00: root bus resource [io  0x0000]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.061540] pci_bus 0000:00: root bus resource [??? 0x00000000 flags 0x0]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.068563] pci_bus 0000:00: No busn resource found for root bus, will use [bus 00-ff]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.077657] pci_bus 0000:00: busn_res: [bus 00-ff] end is updated to 00
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.420363] ag71xx 19000000.eth: connected to PHY at mdio.0:1f:04 [uid=004dd042, driver=Generic PHY]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.430798] eth0: Atheros AG71xx at 0xb9000000, irq 4, mode: mii
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.450698] VFS: Mounted root (squashfs filesystem) readonly on device 31:4.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.465309] Freeing unused kernel memory: 1188K
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.warn kernel: [    2.470020] This architecture does not have kernel memory protection.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    2.476678] Run /sbin/init as init process
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [    2.480912]   with arguments:
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [    2.480916]     /sbin/init
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [    2.480921]   with environment:
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [    2.480925]     HOME=/
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [    2.480929]     TERM=linux
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [    3.247499] init: Console is alive
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [    3.251674] init: - watchdog -
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [    5.782734] kmodloader: loading kernel modules from /etc/modules-boot.d/*
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.warn kernel: [    5.914980] install gl_hw_info
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    5.941339] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbfs
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    5.947080] usbcore: registered new interface driver hub
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    5.952735] usbcore: registered new device driver usb
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.006318] gl-tertf: (C) 2021 jianhui zhao <jianhui.zhao@gl-inet.com>
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.021776] ehci_hcd: USB 2.0 'Enhanced' Host Controller (EHCI) Driver
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    6.039647] SCSI subsystem initialized
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.051180] fsl-ehci: Freescale EHCI Host controller driver
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.060655] ehci-platform: EHCI generic platform driver
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.066466] ehci-platform 1b000000.usb: EHCI Host Controller
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.072422] ehci-platform 1b000000.usb: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.080682] ehci-platform 1b000000.usb: irq 3, io mem 0x1b000000
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.108325] ehci-platform 1b000000.usb: USB 2.0 started, EHCI 1.00
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.115708] hub 1-0:1.0: USB hub found
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.120587] hub 1-0:1.0: 1 port detected
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.133716] ohci_hcd: USB 1.1 'Open' Host Controller (OHCI) Driver
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.142179] ohci-platform: OHCI generic platform driver
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.151964] uhci_hcd: USB Universal Host Controller Interface driver
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    6.164701] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [    6.172608] kmodloader: done loading kernel modules from /etc/modules-boot.d/*
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [    6.180565] kmodloader: ["gl_system": "kernel_load"]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [    6.196272] init: - preinit -
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    7.760748] random: jshn: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    8.281752] random: jshn: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    8.316453] random: jshn: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    8.786512] random: jshn: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [    8.849663] random: jshn: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    9.555527] eth1: link up (1000Mbps/Full duplex)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [    9.568488] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth1: link becomes ready
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   13.979754] mount_root: loading kmods from internal overlay
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   14.072598] kmodloader: loading kernel modules from //etc/modules-boot.d/*
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   14.094758] kmodloader: done loading kernel modules from //etc/modules-boot.d/*
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   14.102802] kmodloader: ["gl_system": "kernel_load"]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   14.997503] jffs2: notice: (481) jffs2_build_xattr_subsystem: complete building xattr subsystem, 36 of xdatum (29 unchecked, 6 orphan) and 54 of xref (11 dead, 1 orphan) found.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   15.014621] block: attempting to load /tmp/jffs_cfg/upper/etc/config/fstab
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   15.031694] block: extroot: not configured
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   15.128792] jffs2: notice: (479) jffs2_build_xattr_subsystem: complete building xattr subsystem, 36 of xdatum (29 unchecked, 6 orphan) and 54 of xref (11 dead, 1 orphan) found.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   15.764065] block: attempting to load /tmp/jffs_cfg/upper/etc/config/fstab
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   15.780853] block: extroot: not configured
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   15.786612] mount_root: switching to jffs2 overlay
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.warn kernel: [   15.812147] overlayfs: upper fs does not support tmpfile.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.warn kernel: [   15.834427] urandom-seed: Seeding with /etc/urandom.seed
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   16.265946] eth1: link down
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   16.284229] procd: - early -
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   16.287635] procd: - watchdog -
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   17.202301] random: jshn: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   17.258675] procd: - watchdog -
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   17.337489] procd: - ubus -
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   17.708537] random: ubusd: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   17.718264] random: ubusd: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   17.767948] procd: - init -
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   19.066425] random: jshn: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   19.098848] random: ubusd: uninitialized urandom read (4 bytes read)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   21.464697] kmodloader: loading kernel modules from /etc/modules.d/*
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   21.645211] urngd: v1.0.2 started.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   22.755202] random: crng init done
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   22.758792] random: 37 urandom warning(s) missed due to ratelimiting
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   22.986596] ntfs: driver 2.1.32 [Flags: R/O MODULE].
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.115723] tun: Universal TUN/TAP device driver, 1.6
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.521329] GACT probability on
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.540072] Mirror/redirect action on
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.571781] u32 classifier
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.574600]     input device check on
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.578458]     Actions configured
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.820479] fuse: init (API version 7.32)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.notice kernel: [   23.884243] Bridge firewalling registered
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.902012] usbcore: registered new interface driver cdc_acm
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.907877] cdc_acm: USB Abstract Control Model driver for USB modems and ISDN adapters
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.940731] usbcore: registered new interface driver cdc_wdm
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.959694] Loading modules backported from Linux version v5.15.92-0-ge515b9902f5f
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   23.967532] Backport generated by backports.git v5.15.92-1-0-gdfe0f60c
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.111831] usbcore: registered new interface driver ipheth
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.425821] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.432760] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for generic
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.534656] wireguard: WireGuard 1.0.20220627 loaded. See www.wireguard.com for information.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.543454] wireguard: Copyright (C) 2015-2019 Jason A. Donenfeld <Jason@zx2c4.com>. All Rights Reserved.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.919050] xt_time: kernel timezone is -0000
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.932389] usbcore: registered new interface driver cdc_ether
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   24.961996] usbcore: registered new interface driver cdc_ncm
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   25.062416] usbcore: registered new interface driver huawei_cdc_ncm
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   26.015658] PPP generic driver version 2.4.2
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   26.090199] NET: Registered protocol family 24
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   26.104662] usbcore: registered new interface driver qmi_wwan
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   26.122074] usbcore: registered new interface driver rndis_host
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   26.261116] usbcore: registered new interface driver option
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   26.266975] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for GSM modem (1-port)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   26.379777] ath: EEPROM regdomain: 0x0
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   26.379793] ath: EEPROM indicates default country code should be used
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   26.379798] ath: doing EEPROM country->regdmn map search
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   26.379814] ath: country maps to regdmn code: 0x3a
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   26.379821] ath: Country alpha2 being used: US
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   26.379826] ath: Regpair used: 0x3a
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   26.392297] ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 kern.info kernel: [   26.394626] ieee80211 phy0: Atheros AR9531 Rev:2 mem=0xb8100000, irq=13
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   26.530533] kmodloader: done loading kernel modules from /etc/modules.d/*
Fri Nov 22 10:12:09 2024 user.info kernel: [   26.537941] kmodloader: ["gl_system": "kernel_load"]
Fri Nov 22 10:12:12 2024 daemon.notice procd: /etc/rc.d/S13openssl: Generating engines.cnf
Fri Nov 22 10:12:13 2024 daemon.info lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:563) load config...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:14 2024 daemon.info lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:477) delete sta from /etc/config/wireless
Fri Nov 22 10:12:14 2024 daemon.info lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:500) Manager created...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: started, version 2.86 cachesize 150
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: DNS service limited to local subnets
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: compile time options: IPv6 GNU-getopt no-DBus UBus no-i18n no-IDN DHCP DHCPv6 no-Lua TFTP conntrack ipset auth cryptohash DNSSEC no-ID loop-detect inotify dumpfile
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: UBus support enabled: connected to system bus
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for test
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for onion
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for localhost
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for local
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for invalid
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for bind
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for lan
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.warn dnsmasq[1]: no servers found in /tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto, will retry
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /etc/hosts - 4 addresses
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /tmp/hosts/dhcp.cfg01411c - 1 addresses
Fri Nov 22 10:12:17 2024 authpriv.info dropbear[1798]: Not backgrounding
Fri Nov 22 10:12:18 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:19 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:20 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:21 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:21 2024 daemon.notice procd: /etc/rc.d/S19firewall: iptables v1.8.7 (nf_tables): Chain 'VPN_SER_POLICY' does not exist
Fri Nov 22 10:12:21 2024 daemon.notice procd: /etc/rc.d/S19firewall: Try `iptables -h' or 'iptables --help' for more information.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:21 2024 daemon.notice procd: /etc/rc.d/S19firewall: iptables: No chain/target/match by that name.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:21 2024 daemon.notice procd: /etc/rc.d/S19firewall: iptables: No chain/target/match by that name.
Fri Nov 22 10:12:22 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:23 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:24 2024 daemon.err lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:368) Wait phy ready...
Fri Nov 22 10:12:24 2024 daemon.notice wpa_supplicant[2020]: Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: bonding
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: 8021ad
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: 8021q
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: macvlan
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: veth
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: bridge
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: Network device
Fri Nov 22 10:12:25 2024 user.notice : Added device handler type: tunnel
Fri Nov 22 10:12:35 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/dhcp reload dependency on /etc/config/network
Fri Nov 22 10:12:35 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/network reload dependency on /etc/config/wireless
Fri Nov 22 10:12:36 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/luci-splash reload dependency on /etc/config/firewall
Fri Nov 22 10:12:36 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/qos reload dependency on /etc/config/firewall
Fri Nov 22 10:12:36 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/miniupnpd reload dependency on /etc/config/firewall
Fri Nov 22 10:12:37 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/odhcpd reload dependency on /etc/config/dhcp
Fri Nov 22 10:12:38 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up non-init /etc/config/fstab reload handler: /sbin/block mount
Fri Nov 22 10:12:38 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/system reload trigger for non-procd /etc/init.d/led
Fri Nov 22 10:12:39 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/luci_statistics reload dependency on /etc/config/system
Fri Nov 22 10:12:39 2024 user.notice ucitrack: Setting up /etc/config/dhcp reload dependency on /etc/config/system
Fri Nov 22 10:12:44 2024 daemon.notice procd: /etc/rc.d/S96led: setting up led LAN
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.477399] tertf: br-lan registered, add it
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.592539] eth1: link up (1000Mbps/Full duplex)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.608912] br-lan: port 1(eth1) entered blocking state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.614335] br-lan: port 1(eth1) entered disabled state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.620179] device eth1 entered promiscuous mode
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.678975] br-lan: port 1(eth1) entered blocking state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.684394] br-lan: port 1(eth1) entered forwarding state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'lan' is enabled
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'lan' is setting up now
Fri Nov 22 10:12:45 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'lan' is now up
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.828863] br-lan: port 2(eth0) entered blocking state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.834284] br-lan: port 2(eth0) entered disabled state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 kern.info kernel: [   69.840091] device eth0 entered promiscuous mode
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: bridge 'br-lan' link is up
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'lan' has link connectivity
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'loopback' is enabled
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'loopback' is setting up now
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'loopback' is now up
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'eth1' link is up
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'lo' link is up
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'loopback' has link connectivity
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.info lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:412) found device: radio0 mac80211 phy0 2g
Fri Nov 22 10:12:46 2024 daemon.notice procd: /etc/rc.d/S97gl_led: setting up led LAN
Fri Nov 22 10:12:48 2024 kern.info kernel: [   71.861202] eth0: link up (100Mbps/Full duplex)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:48 2024 kern.info kernel: [   71.865946] br-lan: port 2(eth0) entered blocking state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:48 2024 kern.info kernel: [   71.871403] br-lan: port 2(eth0) entered forwarding state
Fri Nov 22 10:12:48 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'eth0' link is up
Fri Nov 22 10:12:49 2024 user.notice mwan3[3208]: Using firewall mask 0x3F00
Fri Nov 22 10:12:49 2024 user.notice mwan3[3208]: Max interface count is 60
Fri Nov 22 10:12:50 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   74.226950] ath: EEPROM regdomain: 0x817c
Fri Nov 22 10:12:50 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   74.226967] ath: EEPROM indicates we should expect a country code
Fri Nov 22 10:12:50 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   74.226973] ath: doing EEPROM country->regdmn map search
Fri Nov 22 10:12:50 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   74.226980] ath: country maps to regdmn code: 0x37
Fri Nov 22 10:12:50 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   74.226987] ath: Country alpha2 being used: IT
Fri Nov 22 10:12:50 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   74.226992] ath: Regpair used: 0x37
Fri Nov 22 10:12:50 2024 kern.debug kernel: [   74.227000] ath: regdomain 0x817c dynamically updated by user
Fri Nov 22 10:12:52 2024 daemon.notice netifd: Wireless device 'radio0' is now up
Fri Nov 22 10:12:52 2024 user.notice mwan3[3208]: Execute ifup event on interface lan (br-lan)
Fri Nov 22 10:12:54 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: exiting on receipt of SIGTERM
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: started, version 2.86 cachesize 150
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: DNS service limited to local subnets
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: compile time options: IPv6 GNU-getopt no-DBus UBus no-i18n no-IDN DHCP DHCPv6 no-Lua TFTP conntrack ipset auth cryptohash DNSSEC no-ID loop-detect inotify dumpfile
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: UBus support enabled: connected to system bus
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: DHCP, IP range 192.168.8.100 -- 192.168.8.249, lease time 12h
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for test
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for onion
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for localhost
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for local
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for invalid
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for bind
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for lan
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.warn dnsmasq[1]: no servers found in /tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto, will retry
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /etc/hosts - 4 addresses
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /tmp/hosts/dhcp.cfg01411c - 2 addresses
Fri Nov 22 10:12:55 2024 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: read /etc/ethers - 0 addresses
Fri Nov 22 10:12:58 2024 user.notice mwan3[3208]: Starting tracker on interface lan (br-lan)
Fri Nov 22 10:13:01 2024 daemon.info procd: - init complete -
Fri Nov 22 10:13:03 2024 daemon.err usbmuxd[4356]: [10:13:03.903][3] usbmuxd v1.1.1 starting up
Fri Nov 22 10:13:03 2024 daemon.err usbmuxd[4356]: [10:13:03.921][3] Using libusb 1.0.24
Fri Nov 22 10:13:03 2024 daemon.err usbmuxd[4356]: [10:13:03.923][3] Initialization complete
Fri Nov 22 10:13:03 2024 daemon.err usbmuxd[4356]: [10:13:03.924][3] Enabled exit on SIGUSR1 if no devices are attached. Start a new instance with "--exit" to trigger.
Fri Nov 22 10:13:05 2024 daemon.err usbmuxd[4356]: [10:13:05.270][3] Caught signal 15, exiting
Fri Nov 22 10:13:05 2024 daemon.err usbmuxd[4356]: [10:13:05.270][3] usbmuxd shutting down
Fri Nov 22 10:13:05 2024 daemon.err usbmuxd[4356]: [10:13:05.371][3] Shutdown complete
Fri Nov 22 10:13:05 2024 user.notice firewall: Reloading firewall due to ifup of lan (br-lan)

I'm not an expert, but I think the "offending" line is this one:

Fri Nov 22 10:12:14 2024 daemon.info lua: (...07/ipkg-mips_24kc/gl-sdk4-repeater/usr/sbin/repeater:477) delete sta from /etc/config/wireless

The wireless settings file confirms the missing part of the configuration (from above):

root@GL-AR300M:~# cat /etc/config/wireless

config wifi-device 'radio0'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option path 'platform/ahb/18100000.wmac'
        option band '2g'
        option channel 'auto'
        option htmode 'HT40'
        option cell_density '0'
        option country 'IT'

But, if I rejoin the Wi-Fi network in the Luci web-UI and hit Save & Apply, it changes like so:

root@GL-AR300M:~# cat /etc/config/wireless

config wifi-device 'radio0'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option path 'platform/ahb/18100000.wmac'
        option band '2g'
        option channel 'auto'
        option htmode 'HT40'
        option cell_density '0'
        option country 'IT'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet0'
        option ssid 'WIFIRD'
        option encryption 'psk2'
        option device 'radio0'
        option mode 'sta'
        option key 'redacted_password'
        option network 'wwan'

i.e. exactly the same of the one inside the .tar.gz file.

I tried several times, also by re-creating the backup, but every time I cannot reach the device via Wi-Fi after restoring it. Do you have any hints?
Unfortunately I need to do the restore procedures a lot of times because I have to give the device to other people that have to start configuring it from this base, but they need to do it from the wireless interface and this "bug" prevents from doing so...

If you connect the primary router WiFi via the repeater in the GL GUI, this issue does not seem to occur.

The detail steps are:

  1. Brand-new MT300NV2 boot-up, first configure, GL GUI repeater scan/connect to the primary router.
  2. Export the backup 'backup-GL-MT300N-V2-date.tar.gz' in Luci.
  3. Reset the firmware, and reboot.
  4. First configure, import the backup (above file) in Luci of the same one MT300NV2.
  5. Reboot auto, repeater works ok.
1 Like

Hi Bruce, thanks for your answer. Unfortunately I don't have the setting to connect to a wireless network on the GL GUI pages (see below).

I think it's because I'm actually using the Wi-Fi Client mode; consider that I didn't configure the device myself, it has been delivered to me by the IT department.


Anyway I've made further tests today and I discovered an even worse situation: the wireless settings are lost not only after a restore, but even after each reboot of the device!

With reboot I mean that I save & apply the Wi-Fi client settings in LUCI (like in the picture below) all is working well.

Then, if I reboot the device using the LUCI UI, or through the GL UI or if I remove power and then reapply it, the Wi-Fi associated station is lost/cleared. Like so:

I always see the suspicious entry in the log:

As I've written above, I need to access the device via Wi-Fi and this is not possible after reboot because it's basically not connected. I took these screenshot via LAN but it's not what I want.

Can you help me troubleshooting why the configuration is cleared at every reboot? It shouldn't be working like this.

From this snap I assume probably the wireless configuration files have problems, /etc/config/wireless, which causes the Wireless of GL GUI to be unable to display the content.

Can the router be reset firmware? Then re-connect WiFi manually at GL GUI Repeater?

Do not import the configuration file, since the wireless configuration file you are exported now probably is already broken.

I thought that this missing/blank page was due to the fact I had been using Wi-Fi client mode in Luci, which does not correspond to any of the 4 modes in the Network mode settings (Router, Access Point, Extender, WDS).

Not at the moment, I'll have to ask the guys that set it up like so whether I'm allowed to.

But does the repeater mode allow to use the Wi-Fi client in the GL GUI? I didn't find the Wi-Fi client mode in the documentation, although some posts like this one seem to suggest that this is possible...

... and I also forgot the fact I need the two physical ports (LAN & WAN) to be bridged together, which I think can't be set in the GL GUI, right?