Huawei e398 doesn't work

[Maciej Cieciera]

After configuring in Network Manager all parameters specific to my ISP I can't connect to the network with such results:

Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) starting connection 'Cyfrowy Polsat Default'
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> (ttyUSB0): device state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason 'none') [30 40 0]
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> (ttyUSB0): device state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none') [40 50 0]
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) scheduled.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) started...
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> (ttyUSB0): device state change: config -> ip-config (reason 'none') [50 70 0]
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> starting PPP connection
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu pppd[2849]: Plugin /usr/lib/pppd/2.4.5/nm-pppd-plugin.so loaded.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> pppd started with pid 2849
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 4 of 5 (IPv6 Configure Timeout) scheduled...
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) complete.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 4 of 5 (IPv6 Configure Timeout) started...
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 4 of 5 (IPv6 Configure Timeout) complete.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu pppd[2849]: pppd 2.4.5 started by root, uid 0
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu pppd[2849]: Using interface ppp0
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu pppd[2849]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyUSB0
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: devices added (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/ppp0, iface: ppp0)
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: device added (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/ppp0, iface: ppp0): no ifupdown configuration found.
Aug 28 00:01:07 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <warn> /sys/devices/virtual/net/ppp0: couldn't determine device driver; ignoring...
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <warn> pppd timed out or didn't initialize our dbus module
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 4 of 5 (IPv4 Configure Timeout) scheduled...
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 4 of 5 (IPv4 Configure Timeout) started...
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> (ttyUSB0): device state change: ip-config -> failed (reason 'ip-config-unavailable') [70 120 5]
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <warn> Activation (ttyUSB0) failed for connection 'Cyfrowy Polsat Default'
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> Activation (ttyUSB0) Stage 4 of 5 (IPv4 Configure Timeout) complete.
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> (ttyUSB0): device state change: failed -> disconnected (reason 'none') [120 30 0]
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu NetworkManager[1152]: <info> (ttyUSB0): deactivating device (reason 'none') [0]
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu pppd[2849]: Terminating on signal 15
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu modem-manager[1140]: <info> Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager/Modems/0: state changed (connected -> disconnecting)
Aug 28 00:01:27 ubuntu modem-manager[1140]: <info> Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager/Modems/0: state changed (disconnecting -> connected)

It's also not possible to successfully launch this device under Server version using wvdial. ppp connection is dissconnected imediatly after first attempt to establish LTE connection.

Best regards,
MCC
---
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-07-14 (125 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
MarkForUpload: True
Package: modemmanager 0.6.0.0.really-0ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-18.29-generic 3.5.7
Tags: quantal running-unity
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-18-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to quantal on 2012-09-23 (54 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers
---
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-07-14 (125 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
MarkForUpload: True
Package: modemmanager 0.6.0.0.really-0ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-18.29-generic 3.5.7
Tags: quantal running-unity
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-18-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to quantal on 2012-09-23 (54 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

Please in a terminal run: "apport collect 1042456". Please also add debug logs: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingModemmanager

Bug #1079273 indicates that the connection sometimes succeeds. Are you sure that your LTE/4G coverage is good there?

[Maciej Cieciera (q-maciej-y)]

apport information

[Maciej Cieciera (q-maciej-y)]

apport information

[Maciej Cieciera (q-maciej-y)]

good 4G coverage. Tested with external antenna where i have superb coverage.

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

Hmm, I can't see that you are actually trying to connect in that log file. Could you please try to get a new log? Please disable wifi first, and try to connect several times.

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

It seems like the modem disconnects right after it has connected. I see that the signal level is 2 of 5. What happens if you try to set the connection to use only 2G or 3G?

There is work underway upstream to support connecting to the modem using QMI protocol, but that is probably not ready at earliest for Ubuntu 13.04. It will probably improve performance, but it seems like the modem should work without also.

[Maciej Cieciera (q-maciej-y)]

On other modems ie. huawei e172e it works ok.
Will check modem limited only to 2g and will show you modem with full coverage on LTE.

[Maciej Cieciera (q-maciej-y)]

One more comment - wvdial shows the same issue (IMO not NM problem).

[Maciej Cieciera (q-maciej-y)]

Modem limited to GSM works stable (logs). On LTE even with maximum coverage the problem exists (logs).

[Aleksander Morgado (aleksander-m)]

Current MM in Ubuntu fully ignores WWAN ports handled using the QMI protocol; which means the modem is stuck to use PPP over a serial port. That method seems to be enough for slower connections like GSM/HSPA, but definitely not for LTE.

The fix for this is to use QMI and the WWAN port, as done in current git master of MM :-/

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

@Aleksander: QMI gives higher speed yes, but in my two modems capable of using both QMI and PPP, I get almost as good downlink speed without QMI. Only the uplink speed seems to be a bit limited without using QMI.

[Aleksander Morgado (aleksander-m)]

@Marius: in your modems, are you using PPP for LTE? Maybe it's a Huawei-only issue?

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

For stable use yes. But they are Sierra and ZTE modems, so this is not a general problem with LTE modems.

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

See also duplicate bug #1079273 where a user in Sweden (other network) reports that it is just unstable, but works sometimes.

[Maciej Cieciera (q-maciej-y)]

I've also believe it's Huawei 398 issue. I found some information that it works with older (5) version of modem manager. I tried but it didn't work for me neither.

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

Hmm, I see now that you have full coverage (5/5). I see that the modem suddenly loses the data connection port:

modem-manager[14730]: <debug> [1353275176.363323] [mm-serial-port.c:697] data_available(): (ttyUSB0) unexpected port hangup!

But then right after it is connected:

modem-manager[14730]: <info> [1353275176.364505] [mm-modem.c:764] mm_modem_set_state(): Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager/Modems/0: state changed (disconnecting -> connected)

Aleksander: is there more Huawei port numbering lies? Or maybe the modem is not properly implemented/unstable for using LTE without QMI?

[Aleksander Morgado (aleksander-m)]

Don't know; have not played with that modem. But what I can tell is that using AT+PPP in such a modem is probably a fallback method which is not supposed to be used... LTE speeds need a net port, PPP just introduces too much unnecessary overhead.

[Daniel Holm (danielholm)]

Well, I still have this issue. Any news or thing that I should try?

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

Hmm, bug #889878 tells that it works. Testing of the latest daily Ubuntu "Raring" image would be useful.

[Bjørn Mork (bmork)]

FWIW, I have never had any problems using PPP with my Huawei E392 modem on LTE, except for upstream bandwidth being limited around 8 Mbits/s. But that is a somewhat different firmware with a different set of bugs from the E398

The issue sounds like a firmware problem. Which isn't unexpected. The PPP firmware support is probably completely untested, as the Windows drivers don't use it. If you are lucky then it works. If not, then there isn't much you can do about it. The only sensible workaround is using the newer ModemManager with QMI support.

But I'm biased of course :-)

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

If you want to test the QMI stuff, I have a PPA with newer packages:

https://launchpad.net/~mariusko/+archive/network-manager-snapshots

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for modemmanager (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]