[lucid] (option) 3G USB modem unusable if inserted from boot

[Per Ångström]

Binary package hint: network-manager

If I happen to have my 3G USB modem inserted when my laptop boots, I cannot use the modem. Even unplugging and replugging the modem will not work, except maybe occasionally. As far as I can see, only rebooting with the modem unplugged works around the problem.

This is on Lucid. I never had much luck with this modem and Karmic, but it worked flawlessly with Jaunty.

lsusb:
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 12d1:1001 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. E620 USB Modem

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Date: Tue Jan 19 10:38:17 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
IfupdownConfig:
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
IpRoute:
 192.168.1.0/24 dev eth0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.225 metric 1
 169.254.0.0/16 dev eth0 scope link metric 1000
 default via 192.168.1.1 dev eth0 proto static
Package: network-manager 0.8~a~git.20091013t193206.679d548-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-10.14-generic
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: yes
SourcePackage: network-manager
Tags: lucid
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-10-generic x86_64
WpaSupplicantLog:
---
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.21.
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC262 Analog [ALC262 Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: pang 2281 F.... pulseaudio
BugPatternURL: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/456184
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xfef00000 irq 22'
   Mixer name : 'Realtek ALC262'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0262,18540120,00100002'
   Controls : 20
   Simple ctrls : 12
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=2a4d2eac-9fba-4760-849b-e366ea52a359
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
MachineType: LG Electronics P300-T.APE4V
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-12-generic root=UUID=01ebab7a-379c-48c8-87d6-a2800f6dccfd ro quiet splash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-12.16-generic
Regression: Yes
RelatedPackageVersions: linux-firmware 1.29
Reproducible: Yes
Tags: lucid needs-upstream-testing regression-potential
TestedUpstream: No
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-12-generic x86_64
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 06/30/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
dmi.bios.version: ELGNSF18
dmi.board.name: ELGON
dmi.board.vendor: LG Electronics
dmi.board.version: Not Applicable
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LG Electronics
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvrELGNSF18:bd06/30/2008:svnLGElectronics:pnP300-T.APE4V:pvrNotApplicable:rvnLGElectronics:rnELGON:rvrNotApplicable:cvnLGElectronics:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: P300-T.APE4V
dmi.product.version: Not Applicable
dmi.sys.vendor: LG Electronics

[Per Ångström (autark)]

The attached syslog contains at least one reboot and some failed connection attempts.

[Per Ångström (autark)]

I'm having the same problem on my second laptop. Confirming.

[Per Ångström (autark)]

I'm moving the bug to linux, since I think it's a driver isssue.

[Per Ångström (autark)]

In the attached log file, there is evidence of trouble with the option driver:
Jan 21 21:39:41 barbaren kernel: [ 12.609178] option: option_instat_callback: error -108

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[Per Ångström (autark)]

apport information

[svaens (svaens)]

I also have a 3g modem issue. I am using a huawei e1762,
The opposite is correct for me.

Only if i have it inserted at boot is it likely to work.

Seemed to be working perfectly for lucid alpha 3, until I installed all updates from the 7th of March 2010.
After that 3G modem was very unreliably detected. And only if i insert it before boot.

[Pēteris Krišjānis (pecisk-gmail)]

So far it seems option driver doesn't kick in when it should. Launched manually modem works, so I guess there is a problem with kernel and option driver and propably udev.

[Robert Hrovat (robi-hipnos)]

Same with netbook that have built in 3G (WWAN) modem. Booting from Live USB brings 3G modem up and running, but on installed system, I have to switch it off (hardware kill switch) and then on for system to see modem.

[electhor (electhor)]

I have the same issue and actually started a separate bug report, prior to seeing this one. I am still using 9.04 on my laptop because neither 9.10 or 10.04 (up to Beta 2) will not do anything with my Huawei E620 3G modem. Network manager doesn't even recognise it in Beta 2. This really needs to be fixed as mobile computing is almost a necessity these days for many people.

[electhor (electhor)]

I'm sure the developers are working on this issue, but it still doesn't work in 10/04 RC release. This is catastrophic in my opinion and the final release should be held back if these devices are not able to work. The device is now recognised as a VirginBroadband cd, rather than a modem. Network manager still won't connect it after all the relevant details are entered via 'edit'. I will try usb-modeswitch again, but it didn't work before, so I am not too hopeful. This really is ctastophic for those of us who rely on these devices to access the internet.

[blackest_knight (blackest-knight)]

Well interesting to see that inserting the modem after boot might make it usable.
Up to now i have been unable to get any use of my E620 other than as a cd drive and mass storage device.

However it might be of interest to electhor that i had no problems at all with the E620 in 9.10 currently I am using an E156 on the live CD netbook version.

I will experiment later with the E620 inserting after boot.

It is pretty much critical that this modem works as it is the standard contract modem for 3 ireland. With a sizable number of users.

[electhor (electhor)]

I tried inserting the modem after boot - that didn't work. Also the next time I booted, network manager no longer recognised the modem at all. blackest_knight, you are lucky to have had it worl in 9.10, I have only managed to use it on 9.04. It works on a live usb puppy linux install too.

[blackest_knight (blackest-knight)]

tried to use vodafone mobile connect but its uninstallable due to lack of a gnome package. The E620 has been working in ubuntu since 2007 - not any more it seems. unless the release date is pushed back. Its reasonable to assume that there is going to be a lot of fustrated netbook owners who can't use their modem under 10.04

The artwork in ubuntu gets better and better, i'd rather have working hardware.

[blackest_knight (blackest-knight)]

hi it is solved in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/546728

essentially you need to download these two packages

usb-modeswitch-data_20100127-1_all.deb
usb-modeswitch_1.1.0-2_i386.deb

(I put these in the microsd card in the E620)

I installed these with gdebi on the 10.04 live usb stick
and followed it up with
sudo modprobe option

reinserting the usb stick i just had to make a gsm profile for my provider and everything was working fine.
provided these 2 small packages are included / installed on the live cd then the modem should work out the box.

[electhor (electhor)]

I concur that those two .debs fix this issue. The 3g modem now works, although i also had to disable CHAP in configure settings under ppp settings. that may helps someone else.

[electhor (electhor)]

I have now installed the mainline kernel 2.6.34-999-generic and it seems to have fixed the problem for me. i am no longer using the .deb packages and the E620 connects perfectly now.

[svaens (svaens)]

this has just been a disaster after disaster ...
at the moment, it is so unreliable, it is not usable.
Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
funny thing is, for me, it works first every time on a new install, or on the live CD.
As soon as you have installed, done the first connection setup, reboot.
Then there are problems.
Usually you get the USB modem popping up as a drive, shown as an icon on the desktop,
but then rarely does it show up as a network option.
very frustrating.