To generate passphrase from ascii string:
wpa_passphrase WIFINAME PASSPHRASE
# network={
# ssid="mdlug"
# #psk="GNU-linux"
# psk=0655b4dfefffb865426998d1d5db60ce0b42755d1a55e83dcd7aaf40e51833a5
# }
To associate interface with access point from command line.
cat wpa.conf
# ...
# network={
# ssid="WIFINAME"
# psk="PASSPHRASE"
# }
sudo wpa_supplicant -D nl80211 -i wlan1 -c wpa.conf -f wpa.log &
tail -f wpa.log
# Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
# wlan1: SME: Trying to authenticate with b8:27:eb:f9:63:5e (SSID='mdlug' freq=2412 MHz)
# wlan1: Trying to associate with b8:27:eb:f9:63:5e (SSID='mdlug' freq=2412 MHz)
# wlan1: Associated with b8:27:eb:f9:63:5e
# wlan1: CTRL-EVENT-REGDOM-CHANGE init=COUNTRY_IE type=COUNTRY alpha2=US
# wlan1: WPA: Key negotiation completed with b8:27:eb:f9:63:5e [PTK=CCMP GTK=TKIP]
# wlan1: CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to b8:27:eb:f9:63:5e completed [id=2 id_str=mdlug]
# ...
To verify radio traffic on access point host:
cat /etc/hostapd/hostapd
# ...
# logger_syslog=15
# logger_syslog_level=1
tail -f /var/log/syslog | grep hostapd
# ...
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr IEEE 802.11: associated
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: event 1 notification
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: start authentication
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr IEEE 802.1X: unauthorizing port
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: sending 1/4 msg of 4-Way Handshake
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: received EAPOL-Key frame (2/4 Pairwise)
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: sending 3/4 msg of 4-Way Handshake
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: received EAPOL-Key frame (4/4 Pairwise)
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr IEEE 802.1X: authorizing port
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr RADIUS: starting accounting session 593DB368-00000004
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: pairwise key handshake completed (WPA)
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: sending 1/2 msg of Group Key Handshake
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: received EAPOL-Key frame (2/2 Group)
# ... hostapd: wlan0: STA wl:an:1m:ac:ad:dr WPA: group key handshake completed (WPA)
# ...
To verify association while wpa_supplicant is running in background.
iwconfig wlan1
# wlan1 IEEE 802.11bgn ESSID:"WIFINAME"
# Mode:Managed Frequency:... Access Point: 11:22:33:44:55:66 ...