Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

shera10001 · 2018-01-27 11:54:03

I have an Airtel 4G LTE usb stick modem device. It works perfectly fine on windows, but is not connecting to the internet on archlinux. I have googled around and from this post - https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=199057 - and the section - https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/US … _switching - found that the initially 'Mass storage' detected modem needed to be switched to 'Networkcard' through installing the 'usb_modeswitch' package. I did that and now it is detected as a 'Networkcard' device.

Now on Windows the 4G LTE device has a GUI menu which has a simple connect button. Once I click connect it works. How do I find the equivalent on linux? I have seen accounts of people who have made the airtel device connect to the internet and have internet up and running, but I can't do the same. I don't know how to make it connect without the GUI button. I found a post here - http://krblogs.com/post/62519969772/air … e-on-linux - where the person makes a request to a url and that makes the device connect to the internet. ArchWiki also recommends the same URL here for a different model modem - https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/ZT … )_4G_Modem - but when I make a request to that url this is the output -

[dds@raf ~]$ curl --header "Referer: http://192.168.0.1/index.html" http://192.168.0.1/goform/goform_set_cmd_process?goformId=CONNECT_NETWORK
curl: (7) Failed to connect to 192.168.0.1 port 80: No route to host

Clicking on the url through the web browser also says "Unable to connect

Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at 192.168.0.1".

Also when I insert the usb into the usb port on the computer, the LED light starts blinking blue, but the wiki says that does not happen until the link is clicked. So clearly the airtel modem can connect to the internet on ArchLinux, but for some reason is not able to.

So what is the alternative to the GUI, which method can I use to make the modem connect to the internet? It is being detected correctly as a Networkcard by usb_modeswitch, so that is not the problem (many people have problems with usb_modeswitch detecting it as a mass storage device but not me luckily). I would follow the instructions for connection from the wiki, but have only been able to find the article for 3G modems, and the link from the 4G modem article (that too for another model entirely) does not work.

EDIT : ip link (I have verified this is the device by removing it and checking which entry of ip link vanished) -

7: wwp0s26u1u3i2: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UNKNOWN mode DEFAULT group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 00:1e:10:1f:00:00 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff

and lsusb

Bus 001 Device 013: ID 12d1:1506 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Modem/Networkcard

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-02-03 18:58:56)

progandy · 2018-01-27 12:18:25

If that modem is managed with a network connection, you should probably try to run dhcpcd on the network interface or try to set a static ip like 192.168.0.20 for it.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ne … figuration

Edit: Yes, the wiki mentions it, too::

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/ZT … stablished
Use NetworkManager or dhcdpc.

Last edited by progandy (2018-01-27 12:21:22)

shera10001 · 2018-01-27 12:21:59

[dds@raf ~]$ ping 8.8.8.8
connect: Network is unreachable

dhcpcd does not make it connect to the internet. It works perfectly on windows though, with the GUI provided, simply click the connect button, no login information or password needed. I'm sure I'm dhcpcd'ing the right interface too, since this the only one which disappears if I remove the modem. After dhcpcd I tried clicking the link again and it didn't work.

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-01-27 12:23:00)

progandy · 2018-01-27 12:30:57

Did you follow the steps in the wiki? First you should run dhcpcd, then open the given url to connect. Is the ip address assigned after you run dhcpcd?

$ ip addr

Edit: Did you try to copy/paste the URL instead of clicking it? What is the output of the curl command?

Last edited by progandy (2018-01-27 12:36:31)

shera10001 · 2018-01-27 12:42:01

Yes, I dhcpcd'ed first and then clicked on the link but it didn't work. Also, ip address was assigned when I plugged the usb in, before dhcpcd command was run. Also, the wiki says LED light won't be blinking before dhcpcd has been run but in my case it blinks maybe 10 seconds after a plug in the usb. Therefore dhcpcd is automatically running or something of that sort, there is a very small problem somewhere which is preventing the link from opening and the modem from connecting.

EDIT : I posted output of curl command in the first post too. It is -

[dds@raf ~]$ curl --header "Referer: http://192.168.0.1/index.html" http://192.168.0.1/goform/goform_set_cmd_process?goformId=CONNECT_NETWORK

curl: (7) Failed to connect to 192.168.0.1 port 80: No route to host

And pasting the url instead of clicking it doesn't work either.

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-01-27 12:44:16)

progandy · 2018-01-27 12:53:53

What is the output of

ip route 
ip addr

shera10001 · 2018-01-27 12:56:17

[dds@raf ~]$ ip route 
default via 192.168.1.1 dev enp0s26u1u5 src 192.168.1.102 metric 213 
192.168.0.0/16 dev enp0s26u1u5 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.102 metric 213

ip addr is (and I have seen that by removing the device the entry starting with wwp0- always disappears) -

[dds@raf ~]$ ip addr
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: eno1: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 38:60:77:b5:7f:e5 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
3: wlp0s26u1u2: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc mq state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether e8:4e:06:4a:f7:63 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
12: wwp0s26u1u3i2: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 00:1e:10:1f:00:00 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet6 fe80::2d8b:ffad:bd99:8ad3/64 scope link 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
13: enp0s26u1u5: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether fc:de:56:ff:01:06 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet 192.168.1.102/16 brd 192.168.255.255 scope global enp0s26u1u5
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 2405:204:a606:5230:26bb:2695:e6a3:8474/64 scope global dynamic mngtmpaddr noprefixroute 
       valid_lft 7193sec preferred_lft 2693sec
    inet6 fe80::c5f1:33b4:dc78:79b6/64 scope link 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

Since that modem is not working, I am using another modem, called the Jio Wifi but connected through a network adapter as a wired connection. So I am not using wifi at all. Just providing this information in case it helps.

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-01-27 12:57:22)

progandy · 2018-01-27 13:07:31

wwp0s26u1u3i2 has no ip, so maybe you should try it with sakis3g or this:
https://github.com/Janhouse/4g-connect-linux

shera10001 · 2018-01-27 13:13:02

How to tell if an interface has an ip? I'll try running ip addr after running dhcpcd on the correct interface. Please let me know. Maybe that will give it an IP and we can investigate from there. Also the github script is third party and for a model other than my E3372 LTE so I'm worried about running it. But could you look through the script and tell me what it is doing. To me it just seems to be some error handling, some text output, and a dhcpcd command :-) The author even says you can probably do it without the script, it is really simple.

EDIT : the AUR sakis-3g package seems to be outdated, going by the comments. How do I run the github script? Using perl?

EDIT : Running the script with sudo perl ./<scriptname> , slightly worried, it is stuck at OK OK OK but hasn't shown an error yet. Please answer my other questions.

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-01-27 13:18:06)

progandy · 2018-01-27 13:28:38

ip addr lists the ips for all interfaces, but wwp0s26u1u3i2 doesn't show any (except the ipv6 address starting with fe80, but that can be mostly ignored)

So the script seems not compatible with your stick (or --apn and --interface are set wrong), but since the usb id was the same it was worth a shot.

Last edited by progandy (2018-01-27 13:29:36)

shera10001 · 2018-01-27 13:35:04

Thanks for the information! This will be useful in the future. Also running dhcpcd on wwp0s26u1u3i2 and then running ip addr gives the following output (still without an ip address) -

14: wwp0s26u1u3i2: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 00:1e:10:1f:00:00 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet6 fe80::2d8b:ffad:bd99:8ad3/64 scope link 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

EDIT : Can only one interface have an IPv4 ip address at a time? Should I try removing my working modem and then try running dhcpcd on the airtel non-working modem interface? Will that give it an IP? EDIT : Just tried it, doesn't give it an ip.

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-01-27 13:38:49)

progandy · 2018-01-27 14:15:22

The script by janhouse may work with "--apn airtelgprs.com --interface wwp0s26u1u3i2", but I can't guarantee it.
https://www.apnsettings.org/india/airte … r-android/

Some sources claim that the device can be used in ethernet mode when it is recognized as 12d1:14dc in lsusb (that may require configuring usb_modeswitch to switch to the correct mode)
http://www.gnuton.org/blog/2015/07/huawei-e3372/
https://wiki.c-sautter.de/HUAWEI_E3372_ … stallieren

Last edited by progandy (2018-01-27 14:17:31)

shera10001 · 2018-01-27 14:51:21

The script doesn't work with the new flags. And how do I configure usb_modeswitch to the new mode? I know I can either add something to the udev file or run a manual command in the format -

usb_modeswitch -v 12d1 -p 14dc -c /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/12d1\:1f01

but I am not sure which fiile should this target, and how should I target the modem device. But you are right, it appears from this thread (just keep ctrl f ing 12d1:14dc) - it appears that it has different modes apart from mass storage.
Quoting from the thread - http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswit … f=4&t=1734 -
<quote>
So, on my E303h-1,
- 12d1:1f01 is the default (mass storage device) mode
- I can switch to 12d1:14dc ("ethernet" mode) using either 55534243123456780000000000000011062000000101000100000000000000 (standard) or 55534243123456780000000000000a11062000000000000100000000000000
- I can switch to 12d1:1001 (broadband modem mode) using 55534243123456780000000000000011063000000100010000000000000000
- I can switch to 12d1:1442 (???) using 55534243000000000000000000000011060000000000000000000000000000
</quote>

I think I need broadband mode or ethernet mode, so my new question is, please tell me how to make it set to 12d1:1001? In fact, I can try all the modes and the whole process of dhcpcd and clicking on the link from start to end for each mode but I need to know how to use usb_modeswitch and which file and which device (in the sense of code of device or whatever) to target. Please give detailed instructions. I feel I am very close to solving this issue.

EDIT : https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=232401 - found this thread which has multiple manual uses of modeswitch. I don't want to risk messing up udev or doing some kind of permanent configuration change which affects other parts of the system and then be stuck with a new problem. If someone could, reading my lsusb and ip addr output, tell me which commands to use, I'll try for each of the modes to see which one finally works. Will check back in 4 hours. Also remember, the modem is 4G not 3G which is why I am not following the instructions for USB 3G modems on the Archwiki, but instead for a 4G model which is very different from mine. So the real way may be very different.

EDIT : As written on this thread, http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswit … 443#p18443 - 12d1:1506 means the mode has already switched to the correct mode needed by the net interface to be connected through the linux driver named 'linux huawei_cdc_ncm'. So I have installed network manager but it is not detecting the modem as a valid ethernet connection. I wonder what can I do to fix this. Is this a driver error? I'll repeat, 12d1:1506 means the mode switching has taken place sufficiently to be connected to the internet.

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-01-27 17:21:48)

shera10001 · 2018-02-03 18:58:12

The problem is solved and my modem is connecting to the internet. I installed ModemManager and NetworkManager. Then I had to disable and restart the services using systemd and then the device was finally detected by the following code -

sudo mmcli -L

Found 1 modems:
	/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/1 [huawei] E3372

And the networkmanager gui applet also picked it up. After that, clicking on the IND Airtel button connected it to the internet. However, some problems still remain. The device is never able to connect on startup, automatically, when I try to connect it. It is detected by networkmanager and modemmanager, but never able to connect to the internet. I have to physically remove the device and reinsert it and then it is able to connect to the internet. However, usb_modeswitch always shows it in the desired modem/NetworkCard mode of 12d1:1506 (run lsusb to see).

Here is where I solved it - (start reading from posts by shera10001 at the bottom) - http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswit … f=4&t=2756 . Marking thread as solved.

EDIT : I can now connect to the internet each time I plug in the device after bootup. I do not have to reinsert it. I am not sure what caused it, it could have been a system upgrade.

Last edited by shera10001 (2018-03-12 13:23:10)

Arch Linux

#1 2018-01-27 11:54:03

Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#2 2018-01-27 12:18:25

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#3 2018-01-27 12:21:59

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#4 2018-01-27 12:30:57

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#5 2018-01-27 12:42:01

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#6 2018-01-27 12:53:53

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#7 2018-01-27 12:56:17

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#8 2018-01-27 13:07:31

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#9 2018-01-27 13:13:02

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#10 2018-01-27 13:28:38

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#11 2018-01-27 13:35:04

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#12 2018-01-27 14:15:22

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#13 2018-01-27 14:51:21

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

#14 2018-02-03 18:58:12

Re: Make HUAWEI E3372 4G LTE usb airtel modem connect to internet [SOLVED]

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