USB 3G modem not found in Lubuntu

[Lars Noodén]

I have a USB 3G modem that works find in Kubuntu. There, I can plug it in and the system automatically detects and sets it up. It appears as a wired network interface and basically works out of the box with no actions needed on my part. However, in Lubuntu, the same modem is not found and even the nm-connection-editor can't find it when I run it manually.

The modem is a Huawei E3131:

$ lsusb | grep -i huawei
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 12d1:1f01 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

What should happen is that Lubuntu should find the modem and set it up like in Kubuntu. I have read that others have 3G modems working so the issue might be with just this model of modem.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: network-manager-gnome 0.9.8.0-1ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.10.0-6.17-generic 3.10.3
Uname: Linux 3.10.0-6-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.12-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'iw'
Date: Fri Aug 16 12:11:34 2013
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-08-09 (6 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Alpha amd64+mac (20130808)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.2.1 dev eth0 proto static
 192.168.2.0/24 dev eth0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.2.36 metric 1
MarkForUpload: True
NetworkManager.state:
 [main]
 NetworkingEnabled=true
 WirelessEnabled=true
 WWANEnabled=true
 WimaxEnabled=true
SourcePackage: network-manager-applet
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
nmcli-con:
 NAME UUID TYPE TIMESTAMP TIMESTAMP-REAL AUTOCONNECT READONLY DBUS-PATH
 Wired connection 1 8ee33eaa-5ef1-4a5f-8995-c38b6bd45b55 802-3-ethernet 1376644140 pe 16. elokuuta 2013 12.09.00 yes no /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Settings/0
nmcli-dev:
 DEVICE TYPE STATE DBUS-PATH
 wlan0 802-11-wireless disconnected /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/1
 eth0 802-3-ethernet connected /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/0
nmcli-nm:
 RUNNING VERSION STATE NET-ENABLED WIFI-HARDWARE WIFI WWAN-HARDWARE WWAN
 running 0.9.8.0 connected enabled enabled enabled enabled disabled

[fademind (fademind)]

Run in terminal:
sudo nano /etc/modules
Paste modules names:
option
usb_wwan
usbserial
usb_storage
Save changes in file. Reboot. Connect modem. This work for me. I have Alcatel OT X221S, propably Huawei use the same modules.

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

Thanks, Tomasz. That fixed it. Should that be something that is part of the default installation? If so, how to request that it be added?

[Daniel T. (pterion)]

I only need to add usb_wwan to /etc/modules to make it work. The other modules weren't necessary.