Howto: Connect ZTE MF627 3G modem with NM0.7

[jfernyhough]

Updated
With Jaunty this is now not necessary and there is an easier way around. First, install udev-extras:

$ sudo aptitude install udev-extras

Depending on if/when my patch* gets accepted you will likely need to add information about the modem to the HAL infomation:

$ sudo cp /usr/share/hal/fdi/information/10freedesktop/10-modem.fdi /etc/hal/fdi/information/
$ gksudo gedit /etc/hal/fdi/information/10-modem.fdi

Add the following:

        <!-- ZTE MF627 HSDPA USB dongle -->
        <match key="@info.parent:usb.product_id" int="0x0031">
          <match key="@info.parent:usb.interface.number" int="3">
            <append key="modem.command_sets" type="strlist">GSM-07.07</append>
            <append key="modem.command_sets" type="strlist">GSM-07.05</append>
          </match>
        </match>

and save the file.

Now plug in your modem. It should mount as the ZeroCD device (1). Now right-click the icon on the desktop and eject. Wait a moment, and the light on the modem will go dark, then relight red then green. It should now mount as a modem and be detected by Network Manager (2).

A note should be made about udev-extras, though:

This package contains additional rules and add-ons for udev that are not yet mature enough for the base udev package. Many of these are intended for use with DeviceKit, replacing parts of HAL.

YMMV.

1)lsusb:

ID 19d2:2000 ONDA Communication S.p.A.

2)lsusb:

ID 19d2:0031 ONDA Communication S.p.A.

*
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...fo/+bug/407679
########

I recently bought a 3G mobile broadband modem and then realised I'd bought the wrong model - instead of getting a Huawei E160 or E169 that reportedly work OOTB with Intrepid I got a ZTE MF627 for which no information exists. On the plus side, it has a built-in MicroSD reader...

I initially submitted a bug report here. Since then, however, I have got it working and so here is a how-to. I hope someone else finds this useful.

1) Download and install usb_modeswitch

Go here and download the deb file. A direct link is here. Then install it.

This provides a way of switching the USB modem from its initial useless mode to its correct, functional modes. It will need configuring to apply to the modem.

2) Edit /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf to apply to the MF628+

Either comment the first modem configuration out, then find and uncomment the section for the MF628+, or (more easily) replace the content of the file with:

########################################################
# ZTE MF628+ (tested version from Telia / Sweden)
#
# Contributor: Joakim Wennergren
#
# Also applies to MF627 (Tested 3 UK) JF

DefaultVendor=  0x19d2
DefaultProduct= 0x2000

TargetVendor=   0x19d2
TargetProduct=  0x0031

MessageEndpoint=0x01
MessageContent="55534243123456782000000080000c85010101180101010101000000000000"

Save it.

3) Create a udev rule to automatically run usb_modeswitch when the modem is plugged in

Create a new file called 999-zte-rules:
gksudo gedit /etc/udev/rules.d/999-zte.rules

Its content should be as follows:

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idProduct}=="2000", SYSFS{idVendor}=="19d2", RUN+="/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch"

This will trigger usb_modeswitch every time you plug in the modem. Which is useful if you want it to work automatically. You can of course run it manually if you want.

4) Add device information to HAL so network-manager recognises the device as a modem

Finally, in order for Network Manager to recognise the modem information has to be added to HAL.

Create a new file:
gksudo gedit /usr/share/hal/fdi/information/20thirdparty/20-zte-mf627.fdi

Its content should be as follows:

<!-- -*- SGML -*- -->
<deviceinfo version="0.2">
  <device>
      <!-- ZTE MF627 HSDPA USB dongle -->
      <match key="@info.parent:usb.vendor_id" int="0x19d2">
        <match key="@info.parent:usb.product_id" int="0x0031">
          <match key="@info.parent:usb.interface.number" int="3">
            <append key="modem.command_sets" type="strlist">GSM-07.07</append>
            <append key="modem.command_sets" type="strlist">GSM-07.05</append>
            <append key="info.capabilities" type="strlist">modem</append>
          </match>
        </match>
      </match>
  </device>
</deviceinfo>

Save it.

5) Plug in the modem
Make sure the SIM card is in the modem (and if you're using 3 UK make sure you're in a 3G area. otherwise it won't work) and plug it into your PC.

After a little while (several seconds) the LED should light red as it powers up, then switch to blue when it finds a network. You can check it's working by checking dmesg. Once modeswitch has been triggered and the modem reboots you will be presented with the ZeroCD device (e.g. containing the 3connect software), a USB MicroSD card reader, and if everything has gone correctly, Network Manager will detect a new mobile broadband modem.

Feel free to ignore the ZeroCD device and unmount it from the desktop.

If everything has gone correctly dmesg should read something like:

[52189.029694] usb 5-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 32
[52189.177064] usb 5-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[52189.192061] usb-storage: device ignored
[52194.546308] usb 5-1: USB disconnect, address 32
[52200.032140] usb 5-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 33
[52200.183440] usb 5-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[52200.184979] option 5-1:1.0: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[52200.185184] usb 5-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[52200.185453] option 5-1:1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[52200.185592] usb 5-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[52200.200858] scsi28 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
[52200.204904] usb-storage: device found at 33
[52200.204909] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
[52200.205113] option 5-1:1.3: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[52200.205304] usb 5-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[52205.205580] usb-storage: device scan complete
[52205.207696] scsi 28:0:0:0: Direct-Access     ZTE      MMC Storage      2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
[52205.210603] scsi 28:0:0:1: CD-ROM            ZTE      USB SCSI CD-ROM  2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
[52205.226669] sd 28:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk
[52205.228914] sd 28:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
[52205.345654] sr1: scsi-1 drive
[52205.345837] sr 28:0:0:1: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr1
[52205.346023] sr 28:0:0:1: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 5
[52218.692468] ISO 9660 Extensions: Microsoft Joliet Level 1
[52218.699732] ISOFS: changing to secondary root

References:
http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/
http://blog.ufsoft.org/2007/11/30/zt...em-under-linux
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...al/+bug/267727
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...er/+bug/259028
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu...question/48520
Probably some others I've forgotten.