3G connection to Option Globetrotter HSDPA Modem fails with "IP Configure Timeout"

[Serge van Ginderachter]

Binary package hint: network-manager

Problem description:
================
Network manager does not seem able to connect to a cellular network, the only relevant error seems to be syslogged, mentioning an "ip timeout"

It does not seem clear what the problem is. I found other users with similar problems, no solution seems to be known at the moment.

Software versions
===============
Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope
network-manager 0.7.1~rc4.1.cf199a964-0ubuntu2
network-manager-gnome 0.7.1~rc4.1-0ubuntu2

Provider info
===========
Belgium, Mobistar

Device info:
==========
 USB 3G modem stick
$ lsusb
 Bus 008 Device 003: ID 0af0:6971 Option

$ gsmctl -d /dev/ttyHS0 ME
<ME0> Manufacturer: Option N.V.
<ME1> Model: GlobeTrotter HSDPA Modem
<ME2> Revision: 2.5.13Hd (Date: Feb 18 2008, Time: 18:32:40)
<ME3> Serial Number: XXXXXX

kernel output
==========
[56716.088035] usb 8-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
[56716.290059] usb 8-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[56716.526772] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.0 failed with error -5
[56716.526794] hso 8-1:1.0: Not our interface
[56716.529828] usb 8-1: USB disconnect, address 4
[56719.012023] usb 8-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 5
[56719.196132] usb 8-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[56719.200229] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.0 failed with error -5
[56719.200608] hso0: Disabled Privacy Extensions
[56719.227610] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.1 failed with error -5
[56719.270494] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.2 failed with error -5

  (I assume the errors are triggered after modeswitch runs (usb_modeswitch)

syslog when device plugged in
=======================

Apr 29 16:39:32 cyberlab kernel: [56716.088035] usb 8-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
Apr 29 16:39:32 cyberlab kernel: [56716.290059] usb 8-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Apr 29 16:39:32 cyberlab kernel: [56716.526772] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.0 failed with error -5
Apr 29 16:39:32 cyberlab kernel: [56716.526794] hso 8-1:1.0: Not our interface
Apr 29 16:39:32 cyberlab kernel: [56716.529828] usb 8-1: USB disconnect, address 4
Apr 29 16:39:35 cyberlab kernel: [56719.012023] usb 8-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 5
Apr 29 16:39:35 cyberlab kernel: [56719.196132] usb 8-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Apr 29 16:39:35 cyberlab kernel: [56719.200229] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.0 failed with error -5
Apr 29 16:39:35 cyberlab kernel: [56719.200608] hso0: Disabled Privacy Extensions
Apr 29 16:39:35 cyberlab kernel: [56719.227610] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.1 failed with error -5
Apr 29 16:39:35 cyberlab kernel: [56719.270494] usb-storage: probe of 8-1:1.2 failed with error -5
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab nm-system-settings: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: device added (udi: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_af0_6971_Serial_Number_if0_serial_unknown_2, iface: (null)): iface not found
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS2): found serial port (udev:GSM hal:GSM)
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS4): found serial port (udev:GSM hal:)
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS4): deferring until all ports found
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab nm-system-settings: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: device added (udi: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_af0_6971_Serial_Number_if0_serial_unknown_1, iface: (null)): iface not found
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): found serial port (udev:GSM hal:GSM)
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): new Modem device (driver: 'hso')
Apr 29 16:39:36 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): exported as /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_af0_6971_Serial_Number_if0_serial_unknown_1
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Re-checking deferred serial ports
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 1 -> 2
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): deactivating device (reason: 2).
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (eth0): writing resolv.conf to /sbin/resolvconf
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'Auto eth0' (eth0) as default for routing and DNS.
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: nm_system_device_flush_ip4_routes_with_iface: assertion `iface_idx >= 0' failed
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: nm_system_device_flush_ip4_addresses_with_iface: assertion `iface_idx >= 0' failed
Apr 29 16:39:40 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 2 -> 3
Apr 29 16:39:42 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS3): ignoring due to lack of mobile broadband capabilties

syslog during connection attempt:
===============================
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) starting connection 'Mobistar (business)'
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 3 -> 4
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <debug> [1241016590.116140] nm_serial_device_open(): (ttyHS1) opening device...
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): GSM pin secret required
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 4 -> 6
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 6 -> 4
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <debug> [1241016590.461954] nm_serial_device_open(): (ttyHS1) opening device...
Apr 29 16:49:50 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Apr 29 16:49:51 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): powering up...
Apr 29 16:49:53 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Searching for a network...
Apr 29 16:49:56 cyberlab last message repeated 3 times
Apr 29 16:49:57 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Registered on Home network
Apr 29 16:49:57 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Associated with network: +COPS: 0,0,"Mobistar",0
Apr 29 16:49:57 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Apr 29 16:49:57 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Apr 29 16:49:57 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 4 -> 5
Apr 29 16:49:57 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Apr 29 16:49:57 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Authentication successful!
Apr 29 16:50:02 cyberlab /USR/SBIN/CRON[20116]: (root) CMD ([ -x /usr/sbin/update-motd ] && /usr/sbin/update-motd 2>/dev/null)
Apr 29 16:50:02 cyberlab /USR/SBIN/CRON[20119]: (root) CMD (if [ -x /usr/bin/gsmsmsrequeue ]; then /usr/bin/gsmsmsrequeue; fi)
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Connected, Woo!
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) scheduled.
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) started...
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 5 -> 7
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) complete.
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 4 of 5 (IP Configure Timeout) scheduled...
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 4 of 5 (IP Configure Timeout) started...
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 7 -> 9
Apr 29 16:50:04 cyberlab NetworkManager: <debug> [1241016604.999025] nm_serial_device_close(): Closing device 'ttyHS1'
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Marking connection 'Mobistar (business)' invalid.
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) failed.
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyHS1) Stage 4 of 5 (IP Configure Timeout) complete.
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): device state change: 9 -> 3
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (ttyHS1): deactivating device (reason: 0).
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> (eth0): writing resolv.conf to /sbin/resolvconf
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'Auto eth0' (eth0) as default for routing and DNS.
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: nm_system_device_flush_ip4_routes_with_iface: assertion `iface_idx >= 0' failed
Apr 29 16:50:05 cyberlab NetworkManager: nm_system_device_flush_ip4_addresses_with_iface: assertion `iface_idx >= 0' failed

After which nm notifs "GSM network disconnected"

[Nomax (nomax)]

Same problem on eeePC 4G (701) with Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04.

Sources say it was working in Intrepid.

[Alan Lord (theopensourcerer)]

On a default install of Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop, this dongle works fine for me.

We were involved early on in getting this to work for a project with CarPhone Warehouse in the UK and 8.04. There were some problems with the kernel driver (hso) at that stage but my recent experiences on 9.04 have been fine.

You could try and install "Wader" which adds some extra functionality and might help with further debugging too. Search Launchpad - it has a Project and PPA.

[Serge van Ginderachter (svg)]

- trying wader didn't get me further.
- on looking up stuff on the provider's web, I found some reference on the APN, which was stated to be "iew.be", whicj is not how nm configs it by default for this provider

Changing the APN got me connected, but
- only after a second try - I remember several people mentioned this also
- trying again later gave me the same ip timeout message, and I was not able to make a connection afterwards

[Thomas Hood (jdthood)]

@Serge: Has this bug been fixed in Ubuntu 12.04?

[Serge van Ginderachter (svg)]

@Thomas: I'm not using that modem any more. Can't confirm this. Mobile Internet works fine on 12.04 with my internal cellular modem now.

[Thomas Hood (jdthood)]

Has anyone else got the Globetrotter HSDPA modem who can test it out in Ubuntu 12.04?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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