`DEAMON_CONF` is deprecated

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In my /etc/default/hostapd I see this warning:

# Defaults for hostapd initscript
#
# WARNING: The DAEMON_CONF setting has been deprecated and will be removed
#          in future package releases.
#
# See /usr/share/doc/hostapd/README.Debian for information about alternative
# methods of managing hostapd.
#
# Uncomment and set DAEMON_CONF to the absolute path of a hostapd configuration
# file and hostapd will be started during system boot. An example configuration
# file can be found at /usr/share/doc/hostapd/examples/hostapd.conf.gz
#
#DAEMON_CONF=""

So, instead of setting this option, you should just go ahead and create the file /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf like you did already.