ZTE MF627 USB 3G modem not detected by NM0.7

[Jonathon Fernyhough]

Binary package hint: network-manager

Running Jaunty 2.6.28-3-generic.

network-manager:
Installed: 0.7~~svn20081018t105859-0ubuntu2

3G modem supplied by 3 UK. Detected (after updating USB ids) as
Bus 005 Device 007: ID 19d2:2000 ONDA Communication S.p.A.

Using the settings for the MF682+ with usb_modeswitch gets the dongle to be detected as ID 19d2:0031 and it shows up as the ZeroCD device and USB drive. UMTSmon detects the modem once switched. /dev/ttyUSB[0-2] are created.

An addition to the HAL device information is needed for network-manager to recognise the modem. Files are attached that work around the problem.

References:
http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/
http://blog.ufsoft.org/2007/11/30/zte-mf622-usb-modem-under-linux
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/259028
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+question/48520
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/hal/+bug/267727

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

Pertinent output of sudo lsusb -vvv

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

Output of lshal once modem has been mode-switched.

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

Output of lsusb -vvv once modem has been switched.

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

After switching it is possible to get the modem detected by network-manager by adding information to a HAL FDI file. I created one called 20-wwan-quirk.fdi in /usr/share/hal/fdi/information/20thirdparty but it could probably be integrated into 10-modem.fdi.

The kernel detects three modems with usb addresses 1.0, 1.1, 1.3 and creates ttys for each (/dev/ttyUSB[0-2]).

However, no matter which interface is picked in 20-wwan-quirk (0,1,3) the modem fails to initialise. This sequence is the same for each ttyUSB0, ttyUSB1, ttyUSB2.

Finally, I can't chat or screen to any of the /dev/ttyUSB[0-2] - it hangs and does nothing.

Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyUSB1) starting connection '3'
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> (ttyUSB1): device state change: 3 -> 4
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyUSB1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyUSB1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <debug> [1229863806.250497] nm_serial_device_open(): (ttyUSB1) opening device...
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyUSB1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <WARN> init_done(): Modem initialization failed
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> (ttyUSB1): device state change: 4 -> 9
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <debug> [1229863806.393000] nm_serial_device_close(): Closing device 'ttyUSB1'
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> Marking connection '3' invalid.
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> Activation (ttyUSB1) failed.
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> (ttyUSB1): device state change: 9 -> 3
Dec 21 12:50:06 t7200 NetworkManager: <info> (ttyUSB1): deactivating device (reason: 0).

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

OK - using the correct SIM card would help. I was testing with my mobile SIM rather than the Broadband SIM as the broadband SIM won't work in a 2G service area whereas my mobile SIM will (as I've just found out on the 3 website. Grr.).

Selecting interface 3 in 20-wwan-quirk now leaves the modem searching for a network (which for me it will never find as I'm not in a 3G area - useful).

However, it appears to work. Great!

So, need to use usb_modeswitch with the settings for the MF628+ and add the device information so HAL recognises it as a modem. I just need to work out how to make a file into a patch now; patching 10-modem.fdi would make most sense as the information is already there for other ZTE modems.

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

OK - so ignore the bit about the SIM card. Of course, my mobile SIM had a PIN request enabled. Disabling this means everything works. The LED on the modem changes from red to blue, meaning it's found a network, and once switched it will connect - tested and it receives data.

Phew.

References:
http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/
http://blog.ufsoft.org/2007/11/30/zte-mf622-usb-modem-under-linux
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/259028
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+question/48520

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

I've put together a how-to for reference.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1017630

[Liam Green-Hughes (liamgh)]

I've put together a package and put it in my PPA to enable the ZTE MF627 to be detected by Network Manager. Hope this helps. Details at:
http://www.greenhughes.com/content/zte-mf627-easy-way

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

This would most likely be fixed by a patch to 10-modem.fdi:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/hal-info/+bug/407679