eth2ap example fails to reconnect after client restart (IDFGH-14716)

[dizcza]

Answers checklist.

• I have read the documentation ESP-IDF Programming Guide and the issue is not addressed there.
• I have updated my IDF branch (master or release) to the latest version and checked that the issue is present there.
• I have searched the issue tracker for a similar issue and not found a similar issue.

IDF version.

v5.1.5-143-gdb1c67632a

Espressif SoC revision.

ESP32-S3 (QFN56) (revision v0.2)

Operating System used.

Linux

How did you build your project?

Command line with idf.py

If you are using Windows, please specify command line type.

None

Development Kit.

T-ETH-ELITE

Power Supply used.

USB

What is the expected behavior?

After the client restarts, it successfully reconnects to eth2ap.

What is the actual behavior?

After the client restarts, it fails to reconnect to eth2ap.

Steps to reproduce.

• Run your official eth2ap example.
• Take another ESP32 board (X) and connect to eth2ap
• Restart the X

The X can no longer connect to the eth2ap. eth2ap wasn't restarted. If I restart eth2ap, it works again.

Below are the eth2ap logs, which are missing in the original issue description. On the second attempt, eth2ap logs that the client 4c:eb:d6:43:46:64 join but on the client side I see only WIFI_EVENT_STA_CONNECTED and never get IP_EVENT_STA_GOT_IP which leads to client stopping the wifi and eth2ap logs 4c:eb:d6:43:46:64 leave.

Debug Logs.

I (0) cpu_start: App cpu up.
I (274) cpu_start: Pro cpu start user code
I (274) cpu_start: cpu freq: 160000000 Hz
I (274) cpu_start: Application information:
I (277) cpu_start: Project name:     eth2ap
I (281) cpu_start: App version:      1
I (286) cpu_start: Compile time:     Feb 24 2025 10:38:52
I (292) cpu_start: ELF file SHA256:  09f62b55c3494110...
I (298) cpu_start: ESP-IDF:          v5.1.5-143-gdb1c67632a
I (304) cpu_start: Min chip rev:     v0.0
I (309) cpu_start: Max chip rev:     v0.99 
I (314) cpu_start: Chip rev:         v0.2
I (319) heap_init: Initializing. RAM available for dynamic allocation:
I (326) heap_init: At 3FCA1490 len 00048280 (288 KiB): DRAM
I (332) heap_init: At 3FCE9710 len 00005724 (21 KiB): STACK/DRAM
I (339) heap_init: At 3FCF0000 len 00008000 (32 KiB): DRAM
I (345) heap_init: At 600FE010 len 00001FD8 (7 KiB): RTCRAM
I (352) spi_flash: detected chip: gd
I (355) spi_flash: flash io: dio
W (359) spi_flash: Detected size(16384k) larger than the size in the binary image header(2048k). Using the size in the binary image header.
I (373) sleep: Configure to isolate all GPIO pins in sleep state
I (379) sleep: Enable automatic switching of GPIO sleep configuration
I (387) app_start: Starting scheduler on CPU0
I (391) app_start: Starting scheduler on CPU1
I (391) main_task: Started on CPU0
I (401) main_task: Calling app_main()
I (411) pp: pp rom version: e7ae62f
I (411) net80211: net80211 rom version: e7ae62f
I (421) wifi:wifi driver task: 3fcaaae4, prio:23, stack:6656, core=0
I (421) wifi:wifi firmware version: ae5b70c44
I (421) wifi:wifi certification version: v7.0
I (431) wifi:config NVS flash: enabled
I (431) wifi:config nano formating: disabled
I (431) wifi:Init data frame dynamic rx buffer num: 32
I (441) wifi:Init static rx mgmt buffer num: 5
I (441) wifi:Init management short buffer num: 32
I (451) wifi:Init dynamic tx buffer num: 32
I (451) wifi:Init static tx FG buffer num: 2
I (461) wifi:Init static rx buffer size: 1600
I (461) wifi:Init static rx buffer num: 10
I (461) wifi:Init dynamic rx buffer num: 32
I (471) wifi_init: rx ba win: 6
I (471) wifi_init: tcpip mbox: 32
I (481) wifi_init: udp mbox: 6
I (481) wifi_init: tcp mbox: 6
I (481) wifi_init: tcp tx win: 5760
I (491) wifi_init: tcp rx win: 5760
I (491) wifi_init: tcp mss: 1440
I (501) wifi_init: WiFi IRAM OP enabled
I (501) wifi_init: WiFi RX IRAM OP enabled
I (1011) eth2ap_example: Ethernet Started
I (1011) main_task: Returned from app_main()
I (3011) eth2ap_example: Ethernet Link Up
I (3011) phy_init: phy_version 680,a6008b2,Jun  4 2024,16:41:10
I (3041) wifi:mode : softAP (4a:ca:43:bf:8d:7c)
I (3051) wifi:Total power save buffer number: 16
I (3051) wifi:Init max length of beacon: 752/752
I (3051) wifi:Init max length of beacon: 752/752
I (8521) wifi:new:<1,1>, old:<1,1>, ap:<1,1>, sta:<255,255>, prof:1
I (8521) wifi:station: 4c:eb:d6:43:46:64 join, AID=1, bgn, 40U
I (8541) eth2ap_example: Wi-Fi AP got a station connected
I (9761) wifi:<ba-add>idx:2 (ifx:1, 4c:eb:d6:43:46:64), tid:0, ssn:0, winSize:64
I (42451) eth2ap_example: Wi-Fi AP got a station disconnected
I (42451) wifi:starting SA query procedure with STA(4c:eb:d6:43:46:64)
I (42451) wifi:Send SA Query req with transaction id 958e
I (42651) wifi:Send SA Query req with transaction id 958f
I (42851) wifi:Send SA Query req with transaction id 9590
I (43051) wifi:Send SA Query req with transaction id 9591
I (43251) wifi:Send SA Query req with transaction id 9592
I (43451) wifi:Send SA Query req with transaction id 9593
I (43481) wifi:STA not responded to 6 SA Query attempts, Reset connection sending disassoc
I (43481) wifi:station: 4c:eb:d6:43:46:64 leave, AID = 1, bss_flags is 756851, bss:0x3fcb2e78
I (43481) wifi:new:<1,0>, old:<1,1>, ap:<1,1>, sta:<255,255>, prof:1
I (43491) wifi:<ba-del>idx:2, tid:0
I (43491) eth2ap_example: Wi-Fi AP got a station disconnected
I (44101) wifi:new:<1,1>, old:<1,0>, ap:<1,1>, sta:<255,255>, prof:1
I (44101) wifi:station: 4c:eb:d6:43:46:64 join, AID=1, bgn, 40U
I (44121) eth2ap_example: Wi-Fi AP got a station connected
I (57201) wifi:station: 4c:eb:d6:43:46:64 leave, AID = 1, bss_flags is 756851, bss:0x3fcb2e78
I (57211) wifi:new:<1,0>, old:<1,1>, ap:<1,1>, sta:<255,255>, prof:1
I (57211) eth2ap_example: Wi-Fi AP got a station disconnected

More Information.

Originally opened in Xinyuan-LilyGO/LilyGO-T-ETH-Series#98.

If I had known that they just copied your example, I'd have opened the issue here in the first place.

[dizcza]

I should mention that this behavior occurs irrespective of the underlying client hardware: smartphone, ESP32 board, or PC desktop - they all cannot connect on the second attempt.