Check your driver version:
modinfo sierra:
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.24-21-eeepc/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/sierra.ko
license: GPL
version: v.1.3.1b
description: USB Driver for Sierra Wireless USB modems
author: Kevin Lloyd <klloyd@sierrawireless.com>
srcversion: 9456FDA57CE23F096F43770
If your version is not >=v.1.2.x (The version shipped with Ibex seems to work) the go here to download:
http://www.sierrawireless.com/faq/ShowFAQ.aspx?ID=1229
uncompress/untar
cd into source directory
make
sudo make install
check that the new version is installed:
modinfo sierra
insert card into USB port
check to ensure that the driver is instantiated correctly:
dmesg
[ 1305.115328] usb 5-2: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 11
[ 1305.268445] usb 5-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 1305.270973] usb-storage: device ignored
[ 1305.283029] sierra: probe of 5-2:1.0 failed with error -5
[ 1305.283445] usb 5-2: USB disconnect, address 11
[ 1305.538837] usb 5-2: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 12
[ 1305.691338] usb 5-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 1305.736202] sierra 5-2:1.0: Sierra USB modem converter detected
[ 1305.741774] usb 5-2: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[ 1305.742291] sierra 5-2:1.1: Sierra USB modem converter detected
[ 1305.745951] usb 5-2: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[ 1305.746470] sierra 5-2:1.2: Sierra USB modem converter detected
[ 1305.749635] usb 5-2: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[ 1305.750150] sierra 5-2:1.3: Sierra USB modem converter detected
[ 1305.753369] usb 5-2: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB3
[ 1305.754014] sierra 5-2:1.4: Sierra USB modem converter detected
[ 1305.757778] usb 5-2: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB4
[ 1305.758459] sierra 5-2:1.5: Sierra USB modem converter detected
[ 1305.762459] usb 5-2: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB5
[ 1305.763121] sierra 5-2:1.6: Sierra USB modem converter detected
[ 1305.766654] usb 5-2: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB6
The data port for this modem is /dev/ttyUSB4. Unfortunately this is a problem for your standard ppp management interfaces (i.e. kppp). You can get around this by creating a link to /dev/ttyUSB4 from /dev/modem or any other interface that appears in the drop-down list, but this is cumbersome and ugly at best.
The best/easiest method I have found so far is to install the latest version of Network Manager (>= 0.7) (already there in Ibex) and use the broadband configuration assistant feature.
You can get the latest version of Network Manager by adding the following sources to apt in the /etc/apt/sources.list file:
deb
http://ppa.launchpad.net/network-manager/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src
http://ppa.launchpad.net/network-manager/ubuntu hardy main
and then upgrading network-manager.
The current kernels do not recognize the C885 as a modem, so you must also create a HAL fdi file to append the information.
I did this by creating the file /etc/hal/fdi/information/modems.fdi with the following contents:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!-- -*- xml -*- -->
<deviceinfo version="0.2">
<device>
<!-- Sierra Modems -->
<match key="@info.parent:usb.vendor_id" int="0x1199">
<!-- GSM/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA modems
In left-to-right order of product ID:
C885 0x6880
-->
<match key="@info.parent:usb.product_id" int_outof="0x6880">
<match key="@info.parent:usb.interface.number" int="4">
<append key="info.capabilities" type="strlist">modem</append>
<append key="modem.command_sets" type="strlist">GSM-07.07</append>
<append key="modem.command_sets" type="strlist">GSM-07.05</append>
</match>
</match>
</match>
</device>
</deviceinfo>
After this change, restart your system (you should be able to do a /etc/init.d/hal restart , but this didn't work for me).
After your system is restarted, you should be able to just plug in your device, left click on the network manager applet, and select "auto gsm" entry, and it should connect for you. You will probably want to set it to auto connect on plugin, you can do this by right clicking and select Edit Connections->Mobile Broadband->Auto GSM Network Connection->Edit->Connect Automatically.
Happy Surfing
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