Huawei E353 3G modem

[exetrix]

This is available in the UK from the 3 network. I've tried to install it, following the online instructions, but can't get it to work. It shows multiple /dev files in the Link Interfaces selection box. At first there were two. I tried one, then the other. Neither would stay up. The messages in the PPP system log lack consistency. I tried removing the two i/f's and rebooting with the modem in place. Now it's showing three /dev/ entries, /dev/cuaU0.0, cuaU0.2, cuaU0.3. I tried cuaU0.3, and the log is now giving the message Uulock: read: file exists, which it didn't before.

If anyone has got this modem to work, I'd appreciate knowing how. Failing that, I'm interested in any modem I could currently get that someone has got working.

I don't know why the forum thinks I am exetrix, btw.

[wallabybob]

I had the Huawei E1762 working with a version of pfSense earlier than 2.0.1. I don't know if the E1762 is still available to you. (The E1762 is no longer in my possession.)

I tried the Huawei E153 on pfSense 2.1 and it apparently did exchange data with the ISP but failed in PPP negotiation. (The E153  talks with a different telco than the telco I used on the E1762.)

I suspect you should be using /dev/cuaU0.0 for PPP. What does the PPP log show when you attempt that?

[stephenw10]

To get this working (or even to try) we will need to know the USB vendor and device IDs reported when it is connected.
You can get this using:

usbconfig dump_device_desc

Then look at the usb_modeswitch forum to see if anyone else with those same IDs has successfully used it.
E.g. http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/bb/viewtopic.php?t=796&highlight=e353

Some of these newer modems can be either a modem or appear as a USB ethernet device. However I have never managed to get a CDC ethernet device to work reliably with pfSense because the driver invents a new MAC address at each boot!  >:(

Steve

[wallabybob]

That the /dev/cuaUx.x devices apparently show up suggests to me that the u3g driver recognises the modem and the modeswitch handshake is either not needed or already happens, though no harm in verifying that the driver recognises the modem.

More details on what is in the PPP logs would be helpful.

[stephenw10]

Good point.  ::)

[exetrix]

Thanks for the help.

I did the usbconfig thing, here is the result:

ugen4.2: <huawei mobile="" huawei="" technologies="">at usbus4, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON

bLength = 0x0012
  bDescriptorType = 0x0001
  bcdUSB = 0x0200
  bDeviceClass = 0x0000
  bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
  bDeviceProtocol = 0x0000
  bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
  idVendor = 0x12d1
  idProduct = 0x14ac
  bcdDevice = 0x0000
  iManufacturer = 0x0003  <huawei technologies="">iProduct = 0x0002  <huawei mobile="">iSerialNumber = 0x0000  <no string="">bNumConfigurations = 0x0001

I searched the draisberghof forum but all the entries re E353 are for Linux, not BSD

I recreated everything acc to instructions, for cuaU0.0, and managed to catch the relevant bit in the PPP log before all the retries scrolled it off the screen, which only gives the last 50 entries.

Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] ACCMAP 0x000a0000
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] MRU 1500
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] MAGICNUM 88cab1f2
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: state change Ack-Sent –> Opened
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: auth: peer wants CHAP, I want nothing
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: LayerUp
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: rec'd Discard Request #1 (Opened)
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] CHAP: rec'd CHALLENGE #1 len: 35
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] Name: "UMTS_CHAP_SRVR"
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] CHAP: Using authname "user"
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] CHAP: sending RESPONSE #1 len: 25
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] CHAP: rec'd SUCCESS #1 len: 4
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: authorization successful
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: Matched action 'bundle "opt3" ""'
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: Join bundle "opt3"
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3] Bundle: Status update: up 1 link, total bandwidth 21600000 bps
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3] can't config [35]:: Invalid argument
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: fatal error, exiting
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3] IFACE: Close event
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3] IPCP: Close event
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3] Bundle: Shutdown
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: Shutdown
Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: process 44883 terminated
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: Multi-link PPP daemon for FreeBSD
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp:
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: process 42443 started, version 5.5 (root@FreeBSD_8.0_pfSense_2.0-snaps.pfsense.org 16:18 9-Jun-2011)
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: web: web is not running
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: [opt3] Bundle: Interface ng0 created
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: OPEN event
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: Open event
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: state change Initial –> Starting
Apr 26 14:44:34 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: LayerStart
Apr 26 14:44:47 ppp: [opt3_link0] chat: The modem is not responding to "AT" at ModemCmd: label.
Apr 26 14:44:47 ppp: [opt3_link0] MODEM: chat script failed
Apr 26 14:44:47 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: DOWN event
Apr 26 14:44:47 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: Down event
Apr 26 14:44:47 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 1 in 3 seconds
Apr 26 14:44:50 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 1
Apr 26 14:45:03 ppp: [opt3_link0] chat: The modem is not responding to "AT" at ModemCmd: label.
Apr 26 14:45:03 ppp: [opt3_link0] MODEM: chat script failed
Apr 26 14:45:03 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: DOWN event
Apr 26 14:45:03 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: Down event
Apr 26 14:45:03 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 2 in 1 seconds
Apr 26 14:45:04 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 2
Apr 26 14:45:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] chat: The modem is not responding to "AT" at ModemCmd: label.
Apr 26 14:45:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] MODEM: chat script failed
Apr 26 14:45:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: DOWN event
Apr 26 14:45:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] LCP: Down event
Apr 26 14:45:19 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 3 in 3 seconds
Apr 26 14:45:22 ppp: [opt3_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 3</no></huawei></huawei></huawei>

[wallabybob]

There are a number of hints in the log file that there has been successful data exchange.

@exetrix:

Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: [opt3] can't config [35]:: Invalid argument

I don't know what the above means - perhaps something weird in the ppp configuration file around line 35?

@exetrix:

Apr 26 14:44:19 ppp: fatal error, exiting

Serious weirdness in the ppp configuration file?

I suspect the apparent premature exit of ppp has left things in an inconsistent state from which it struggles to recover (if at all).

What version of pfSense are you using?

Please post the output of the pfSense shell command```

more /var/etc/mpd_opt3.conf

[exetrix]

version is 2.0-RC3(i386)
$ more /var/etc/mpd_opt3.conf
startup:

configure the console

set console close

configure the web server

set web close

default:
pppclient:
create bundle static opt3
set iface name ppp0
set iface disable on-demand
set iface idle 0
set iface enable tcpmssfix
set iface up-script /usr/local/sbin/ppp-linkup
set iface down-script /usr/local/sbin/ppp-linkdown
set ipcp ranges 0.0.0.0/0 10.64.64.0/0
set ipcp enable req-pri-dns
set ipcp enable req-sec-dns
#log -bund -ccp -chat -iface -ipcp -lcp -link

create link static opt3_link0 modem
set link action bundle opt3
set link disable multilink
set link keep-alive 10 60
set link max-redial 0
set link disable chap pap
set link accept chap pap eap
set link disable incoming
set link mtu 1492
set auth authname "user"
set auth password ž‰Þ
set modem device /dev/cuaU0.0
set modem script DialPeer
set modem idle-script Ringback
set modem watch -cd
set modem var $DialPrefix "DT"
set modem var $Telephone "*99#"
set modem var $APN "3internet"
set modem var $APNum "1"
open

[stephenw10]

@exetrix:

I searched the draisberghof forum but all the entries re E353 are for Linux, not BSD

That's true. usb_modeswitch was first written for Linux but there is a port for FreeBSD now.
Besides that it's often the best source if information about poorly documented modems.

Anyway it's not relevant because it seems your modem is already appearing as a serial port.

Steve

Edit: This may provide some insight: (it may be refered to as one of these models)
@http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/device_reference.txt:

Huawei E270+  (HSPA+ modem)

Huawei E1762

Huawei E1820

Contributor: Paranoid Paranoia

DefaultVendor=  0x12d1
DefaultProduct= 0x1446

TargetVendor=   0x12d1
TargetProduct=  0x14ac

MessageContent="55534243123456780000000000000011060000000000000000000000000000"

[wallabybob]

@exetrix:

version is 2.0-RC3(i386)

Is there a good reason you are running Release Candidate 3 rather than the official release or even version 2.0.1?

I don't know that the problem will be fixed in one of the official releases but I suspect it might be difficult to get a developer interested in producing a patch for an RC that has been superseded by two official releases. I suggest you upgrade to pfSense 2.0.1.

I didn't notice anything wrong in the PPP configuration file, but the rather uninformative error message didn't say it was complaining about the configuration file - I was guessing that might be the problem.

[stephenw10]

Same problem and a solution is reported here:
http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=28649.0
Problem is old version of mpd can't handle anything over 10Mbps. (edit: not an accurate description!)
Updating to 2.0.1 should resolve this.

Steve

[exetrix]

Upgrading to 2.0.1 seems to have fixed this.
Thanks.

[iwebs]

Hi I have recently purchased a e353 usb modem and for the life of me i cant get it to work. I have the latest version of pfSense 2.1-DEVELOPMENT (i386)
[built on Sun May 13 00:54:34 EDT 2012 FreeBSD 8.3-RELEASE-p1] installed and cant get pfSense to recognize the modem, using my old (e1820) i get a list of 5 ports for the modem (/dev/cuaU0.0…to../dev/cuaU0.2 & /dev/cuau0 and cuau1) but with the e353 I only get /dev/cuau0 and /dev/cuau1. I've checked the ppp logs and it looks like a similar problem to the one being experienced in the 1st post but I can't fix it. Any suggestions?  ??? thanks!

log of ppp:

May 14 01:56:17 ppp: [wan_link0] LCP: Down event
May 14 01:56:17 ppp: [wan_link0] Link: DOWN event
May 14 01:56:17 ppp: [wan_link0] MODEM: Fail to open serial port /dev/cuau0 on speed 115200
May 14 01:56:17 ppp: [wan_link0] can't lock device cuau0
May 14 01:56:17 ppp: UuLock: read: File exists
May 14 01:56:17 ppp: [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 8

[wallabybob]

@iwebs:

but with the e353 I only get /dev/cuau0 and /dev/cuau1.

You should have devices /dev/cuaU0.0 /dev/cuau0.1 etc.

If you didn't restart the box with the USB modem connected please do so then provide the output of the pfSense shell command```

#  dir /dev/cua*; dmesg

It is possible your modem is not recognised by the 3g modem driver. The requested output should settle the issue.

[iwebs]

Again when I plug in the e353 and reboot the pfSense box it only shows /dev/cuau0 and /dev/cuau1. the output of the command is below. All help is greatly appreciated thanks again!

$ dir /dev/cua*; dmesg
Copyright 1992-2012 The FreeBSD Project.
Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
FreeBSD is a registered trademark of The FreeBSD Foundation.
FreeBSD 8.3-RELEASE-p1 #1: Sun May 13 02:11:06 EDT 2012
    root@FreeBSD_8.3_pfSense_2.1.snaps.pfsense.org:/usr/obj./usr/pfSensesrc/src/sys/pfSense_SMP.8 i386
Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0
CPU: Intel Pentium III (797.42-MHz 686-class CPU)
  Origin = "GenuineIntel"  Id = 0x686  Family = 6  Model = 8  Stepping = 6
  Features=0x387f9ff <fpu,vme,de,pse,tsc,msr,pae,mce,cx8,sep,mtrr,pge,mca,cmov,pat,pse36,pn,mmx,fxsr,sse>real memory  = 402653184 (384 MB)
avail memory = 370208768 (353 MB)
wlan: mac acl policy registered
ipw_bss: You need to read the LICENSE file in /usr/share/doc/legal/intel_ipw/.
ipw_bss: If you agree with the license, set legal.intel_ipw.license_ack=1 in /boot/loader.conf.
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_bss_fw, 0xc07a9370, 0) error 1
ipw_ibss: You need to read the LICENSE file in /usr/share/doc/legal/intel_ipw/.
ipw_ibss: If you agree with the license, set legal.intel_ipw.license_ack=1 in /boot/loader.conf.
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_ibss_fw, 0xc07a9410, 0) error 1
ipw_monitor: You need to read the LICENSE file in /usr/share/doc/legal/intel_ipw/.
ipw_monitor: If you agree with the license, set legal.intel_ipw.license_ack=1 in /boot/loader.conf.
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_monitor_fw, 0xc07a94b0, 0) error 1
kbd1 at kbdmux0
cryptosoft0: <software crypto="">on motherboard
padlock0: No ACE support.
acpi0: <ptltd  rsdt="">on motherboard
acpi0: [ITHREAD]
acpi0: Power Button (fixed)
Timecounter "ACPI-fast" frequency 3579545 Hz quality 1000
acpi_timer0: <24-bit timer at 3.579545MHz> port 0x1008-0x100b on acpi0
cpu0: <acpi cpu="">on acpi0
pcib0: <acpi host-pci="" bridge="">port 0xcf8-0xcff on acpi0
pci0: <acpi pci="" bus="">on pcib0
pcib1: <acpi pci-pci="" bridge="">at device 30.0 on pci0
pci1: <acpi pci="" bus="">on pcib1
vgapci0: <vga-compatible display="">port 0x2400-0x24ff mem 0xed000000-0xedffffff,0xec101000-0xec101fff at device 1.0 on pci1
rl0: <realtek 10="" 8139="" 100basetx="">port 0x2800-0x28ff mem 0xec100400-0xec1004ff at device 2.0 on pci1
miibus0: <mii bus="">on rl0
rlphy0: <realtek internal="" media="" interface="">PHY 0 on miibus0
rlphy0:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto
rl0: [ITHREAD]
xl0: <3Com 3c905C-TX Fast Etherlink XL> port 0x2000-0x207f mem 0xec100000-0xec10007f irq 11 at device 4.0 on pci1
miibus1: <mii bus="">on xl0
xlphy0: <3c905C 10/100 internal PHY> PHY 24 on miibus1
xlphy0:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto, auto-flow
xl0: [ITHREAD]
isab0: <pci-isa bridge="">at device 31.0 on pci0
isa0: <isa bus="">on isab0
atapci0: <intel ich="" udma66="" controller="">port 0x1f0-0x1f7,0x3f6,0x170-0x177,0x376,0x1800-0x180f at device 31.1 on pci0
ata0: <ata channel="">at channel 0 on atapci0
ata0: [ITHREAD]
ata1: <ata channel="">at channel 1 on atapci0
ata1: [ITHREAD]
uhci0: <intel 82801aa="" (ich)="" usb="" controller="">port 0x1820-0x183f at device 31.2 on pci0
uhci0: [ITHREAD]
uhci0: LegSup = 0x2f00
usbus0: <intel 82801aa="" (ich)="" usb="" controller="">on uhci0
pci0: <serial bus,="" smbus="">at device 31.3 (no driver attached)
pci0: <multimedia, audio="">at device 31.5 (no driver attached)
acpi_button0: <power button="">on acpi0
atrtc0: <at realtime="" clock="">port 0x70-0x71 irq 8 on acpi0
atkbdc0: <keyboard controller="" (i8042)="">port 0x60,0x64 irq 1 on acpi0
atkbd0: <at keyboard="">irq 1 on atkbdc0
kbd0 at atkbd0
atkbd0: [GIANT-LOCKED]
atkbd0: [ITHREAD]
uart0: <16550 or compatible> port 0x3f8-0x3ff irq 4 flags 0x10 on acpi0
uart0: [FILTER]
uart1: <16550 or compatible> port 0x2f8-0x2ff irq 3 on acpi0
uart1: [FILTER]
ppc0: <parallel port="">port 0x378-0x37f irq 7 on acpi0
ppc0: Generic chipset (EPP/NIBBLE) in COMPATIBLE mode
ppc0: [ITHREAD]
ppbus0: <parallel port="" bus="">on ppc0
plip0: <plip network="" interface="">on ppbus0
plip0: [ITHREAD]
lpt0: <printer>on ppbus0
lpt0: [ITHREAD]
lpt0: Interrupt-driven port
ppi0: <parallel i="" o="">on ppbus0
pmtimer0 on isa0
orm0: <isa option="" roms="">at iomem 0xc0000-0xc7fff,0xc8000-0xc8fff,0xe4000-0xeffff pnpid ORM0000 on isa0
sc0: <system console="">at flags 0x100 on isa0
sc0: VGA <16 virtual consoles, flags=0x300>
vga0: <generic isa="" vga="">at port 0x3c0-0x3df iomem 0xa0000-0xbffff on isa0
Timecounter "TSC" frequency 797416343 Hz quality 800
Timecounters tick every 1.000 msec
IPsec: Initialized Security Association Processing.
usbus0: 12Mbps Full Speed USB v1.0
ad0: 152627MB <samsung sp1604n="" tm100-24="">at ata0-master UDMA66
ugen0.1: <intel>at usbus0
uhub0: <intel 1="" 9="" uhci="" root="" hub,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 1.00="" 1.00,="" addr="">on usbus0
Root mount waiting for: usbus0
uhub0: 2 ports with 2 removable, self powered
Root mount waiting for: usbus0
Root mount waiting for: usbus0
ugen0.2: <huawei>at usbus0
umass0: <huawei 0="" 2="" huawei="" hilink,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 1.02,="" addr="">on usbus0
umass0:  SCSI over Bulk-Only; quirks = 0x0100
umass0:0:0 Attached to scbus0
Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/ad0s1a
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): TEST UNIT READY. CDB: 0 0 0 0 0 0
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): CAM status: SCSI Status Error
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): SCSI status: Check Condition
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): SCSI sense: NOT READY asc:3a,0 (Medium not present)
cd0 at umass-sim0 bus 0 scbus0 target 0 lun 0
cd0: <huawei mass="" storage="" 2.31="">Removable CD-ROM SCSI-2 device
cd0: 1.000MB/s transfers
cd0: Attempt to query device size failed: NOT READY, Medium not present
pflog0: promiscuous mode enabled
rl0: link state changed to UP</huawei></huawei></huawei></intel></intel></samsung></generic></system></isa></parallel></printer></plip></parallel></parallel></at></keyboard></at></power></multimedia,></serial></intel></intel></ata></ata></intel></isa></pci-isa></mii></realtek></mii></realtek></vga-compatible></acpi></acpi></acpi></acpi></acpi></ptltd ></software></fpu,vme,de,pse,tsc,msr,pae,mce,cx8,sep,mtrr,pge,mca,cmov,pat,pse36,pn,mmx,fxsr,sse>

[wallabybob]

@iwebs:

Sorry,

$ dir /dev/cua*; dmesg

should have been

$ ls /dev/cua*; dmesg

but no matter for present purposes since there is no sign the u3g driver recognised your particular device.

Elsewhere in these forums it has been reported that it helps to initialise the modem on a Windows system, installing the driver software on the modem, connecting to the network, registering etc then disconnecting in the Windows software, removing the modem and taking it to the non Windows system. (It is possible the ISP tech support won't be interested in any problem report about the modem unless you can demonstrate it on a Windows system so it is possibly a good thing to do this to verify you have a working modem.) Apparently this step changes some state in the modem so that it reports itself not just as a CD device (as yours did):

$ dir /dev/cua*; dmesg
ugen0.2: <huawei>at usbus0
umass0: <huawei 0="" 2="" huawei="" hilink,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 1.02,="" addr="">on usbus0
umass0:  SCSI over Bulk-Only; quirks = 0x0100
umass0:0:0 Attached to scbus0
Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/ad0s1a
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): TEST UNIT READY. CDB: 0 0 0 0 0 0
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): CAM status: SCSI Status Error
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): SCSI status: Check Condition
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): SCSI sense: NOT READY asc:3a,0 (Medium not present)
cd0 at umass-sim0 bus 0 scbus0 target 0 lun 0
cd0: <huawei mass="" storage="" 2.31="">Removable CD-ROM SCSI-2 device
cd0: 1.000MB/s transfers
cd0: Attempt to query device size failed: NOT READY, Medium not present</huawei></huawei></huawei>

but as CD plus serial devices.

There is a utility usb_modeswitch which apparently should get invoked on recognition of a 3G modem. I'm not sure of its action in relation to the Windows initialisation I described earlier.

The following pfSense shell commands might provide some additional useful information (no need to reboot before issuing them):```

$ usbconfig
$ usbconfig -d ugen0.2 dump_device_desc show_ifdrv

Note the "ugen0.2" in the second command comes from the ugen device reporting Huawei in the first command. Here's the equivalent on my system which has a Huawei E153 modem plugged in and reporting cuaU0.x devices:

> $ usbconfig
> ugen0.1: <uhci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen1.1: <uhci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen2.1: <uhci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus2, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen3.1: <ehci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen3.2: <802.11 n WLAN Ralink> at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
> ugen3.3: <huawei mobile="" huawei="" technology="">at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
> $ usbconfig -d ugen3.3 dump_device_desc show_ifdrv
> ugen3.3: <huawei mobile="" huawei="" technology="">at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
> ugen3.3.0: u3g0: <huawei 0="" 3="" technology="" huawei="" mobile,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 0.00,="" addr="">ugen3.3.4: umass0: <huawei 0="" 3="" technology="" huawei="" mobile,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 0.00,="" addr="">ugen3.3.5: umass1: <huawei 0="" 3="" technology="" huawei="" mobile,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 0.00,="" addr="">bLength = 0x0012
>   bDescriptorType = 0x0001
>   bcdUSB = 0x0200
>   bDeviceClass = 0x0000
>   bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
>   bDeviceProtocol = 0x0000
>   bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
>   idVendor = 0x12d1
>   idProduct = 0x14ac
>   bcdDevice = 0x0000
>   iManufacturer = 0x0003  <huawei technology="">iProduct = 0x0002  <huawei mobile="">iSerialNumber = 0x0000  <no string="">bNumConfigurations = 0x0001
> 
> $</no></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></ehci></uhci></uhci></uhci>

[iwebs]

@wallabybob:

@iwebs:

Sorry,

$ dir /dev/cua*; dmesg

should have been

$ ls /dev/cua*; dmesg

but no matter for present purposes since there is no sign the u3g driver recognised your particular device.

Elsewhere in these forums it has been reported that it helps to initialise the modem on a Windows system, installing the driver software on the modem, connecting to the network, registering etc then disconnecting in the Windows software, removing the modem and taking it to the non Windows system. (It is possible the ISP tech support won't be interested in any problem report about the modem unless you can demonstrate it on a Windows system so it is possibly a good thing to do this to verify you have a working modem.) Apparently this step changes some state in the modem so that it reports itself not just as a CD device (as yours did):

$ dir /dev/cua*; dmesg
ugen0.2: <huawei>at usbus0
umass0: <huawei 0="" 2="" huawei="" hilink,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 1.02,="" addr="">on usbus0
umass0:  SCSI over Bulk-Only; quirks = 0x0100
umass0:0:0 Attached to scbus0
Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/ad0s1a
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): TEST UNIT READY. CDB: 0 0 0 0 0 0
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): CAM status: SCSI Status Error
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): SCSI status: Check Condition
(probe0:umass-sim0:0:0:0): SCSI sense: NOT READY asc:3a,0 (Medium not present)
cd0 at umass-sim0 bus 0 scbus0 target 0 lun 0
cd0: <huawei mass="" storage="" 2.31="">Removable CD-ROM SCSI-2 device
cd0: 1.000MB/s transfers
cd0: Attempt to query device size failed: NOT READY, Medium not present</huawei></huawei></huawei>

but as CD plus serial devices.

There is a utility usb_modeswitch which apparently should get invoked on recognition of a 3G modem. I'm not sure of its action in relation to the Windows initialisation I described earlier.

The following pfSense shell commands might provide some additional useful information (no need to reboot before issuing them):```

$ usbconfig
$ usbconfig -d ugen0.2 dump_device_desc show_ifdrv

Note the "ugen0.2" in the second command comes from the ugen device reporting Huawei in the first command. Here's the equivalent on my system which has a Huawei E153 modem plugged in and reporting cuaU0.x devices:

> $ usbconfig
> ugen0.1: <uhci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen1.1: <uhci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen2.1: <uhci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus2, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen3.1: <ehci root="" hub="" via="">at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=SAVE
> ugen3.2: <802.11 n WLAN Ralink> at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
> ugen3.3: <huawei mobile="" huawei="" technology="">at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
> $ usbconfig -d ugen3.3 dump_device_desc show_ifdrv
> ugen3.3: <huawei mobile="" huawei="" technology="">at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
> ugen3.3.0: u3g0: <huawei 0="" 3="" technology="" huawei="" mobile,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 0.00,="" addr="">ugen3.3.4: umass0: <huawei 0="" 3="" technology="" huawei="" mobile,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 0.00,="" addr="">ugen3.3.5: umass1: <huawei 0="" 3="" technology="" huawei="" mobile,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 0.00,="" addr="">bLength = 0x0012
>   bDescriptorType = 0x0001
>   bcdUSB = 0x0200
>   bDeviceClass = 0x0000
>   bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
>   bDeviceProtocol = 0x0000
>   bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
>   idVendor = 0x12d1
>   idProduct = 0x14ac
>   bcdDevice = 0x0000
>   iManufacturer = 0x0003  <huawei technology="">iProduct = 0x0002  <huawei mobile="">iSerialNumber = 0x0000  <no string="">bNumConfigurations = 0x0001
> 
> $</no></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei></ehci></uhci></uhci></uhci>

Hi Thanks again. I have initialized the modem on a windows 7 machine and installed all the software drivers etc. and it works fine, connects etc. As this is a new type of modem I have a feeling that its not yet supported under BSD yet. Anyway here's the output from the last command:

$ usbconfig -d ugen0.2 dump_device_desc show_ifdrv
ugen0.2: <huawei hilink="" huawei="">at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=ON
ugen0.2.0: umass0: <huawei 0="" 2="" huawei="" hilink,="" class="" 0,="" rev="" 2.00="" 1.02,="" addr="">bLength = 0x0012
  bDescriptorType = 0x0001
  bcdUSB = 0x0200
  bDeviceClass = 0x0000
  bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
  bDeviceProtocol = 0x0000
  bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
  idVendor = 0x12d1
  idProduct = 0x1f01
  bcdDevice = 0x0102
  iManufacturer = 0x0002  <huawei>iProduct = 0x0001  <huawei hilink="">iSerialNumber = 0x0000  <no string="">bNumConfigurations = 0x0001</no></huawei></huawei></huawei></huawei>

[wallabybob]

Confirmed: the u3g driver doesn't recognise it.

A search on the web turned up this thread http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=615196 which suggests to me the incantations necessary to get this modem to work have only "recently" been discovered, probably too recently to be included in FreeBSD 8.3.

[iwebs]

I had a feeling that was the case  :(. Thanks anyway for all of your help with trying to sort this out. I guess Ill have to wait until pfSense becomes compatible with it, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. All the best, iwebs!

[stephenw10]

Just FYI, serial devices named with an upper-case U (e.g. cuaU0.1) are connected via USB hence you need to see these on your modem.
You can almost certainly modeswitch this with the FreeBSD port of usb_modeswitch. Unfortunately it doesn't tie into the dev subsystem, like u3g does, so it's more of a manual process.

Steve