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aliicex/e3372_openwrt_setup.md

Last active July 1, 2023 10:13
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Using the Huawei E3372 4G Dongle with OpenWRT
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e3372_openwrt_setup.md

Hardware requirements:

USB modem - Huawei E3372h-153/E3372s-153 (in StickMode; non-HiLink)

Firmware versions beginning with 21.xxx.xx.xx.xx NOT 22.xxx.xx.xx.xx

Router running OpenWRT; I use:

  • GL.iNet AR750S firmware v3.022
  • OpenWrt 18.06.1 r7258-5eb055306f / LuCI openwrt-18.06 branch (git-18.196.56128-9112198)

Ensure the following are installed:

  • usbutils
  • usb-modeswitch
  • kmod-usb-net-huawei-cdc-ncm
  • kmod-usb-net-cdc-ncm
  • kmod-usb-net-cdc-ether
  • comgt-ncm
  • kmod-usb-serial
  • kmod-usb-serial-option
  • kmod-usb-serial-wwan
  • luci-proto-ncm
  • luci-proto-3g

Verifying the modem:

Confirm the modem is recognised. Note that 12d1:1506 is the USB ID after mode switching has taken place, and indicates that the net interfaces are driven by the Linux huawei_cdc_ncm driver.

root@GL-AR750S:~# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 019: ID 12d1:1506 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Modem/Networkcard

Confirm there are two interfaces:

root@GL-AR750S:~# dmesg | grep tty
[ 1160.409071] usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[ 1160.423206] usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1

Check the current mode by sending AT commands (the GL-iNet firmware has a nice UI for sending AT commands manually. I had to send the commands to port /dev/ttyUSB0). The list of all modes is:

^SETPORT:3: 3G DIAG
^SETPORT:10: 4G MODEM
^SETPORT:1: 3G MODEM
^SETPORT:12: 4G PCUI
^SETPORT:13: 4G DIAG
^SETPORT:5: 3G GPS
^SETPORT:14: 4G GPS
^SETPORT:A: BLUE TOOTH
^SETPORT:16: NCM
^SETPORT:A1: CDROM
^SETPORT:A2: SD

For this guide, we need at least 1, 12 and 16 (note, 12 is always required, or you will brick the modem)

AT^SETPORT?
^SETPORT:“A1,A2;12,1,16,A1,A2
OK

Setting it up:

Add the following entry to /etc/config/network; substituting the APN and dialnumber for that of your mobile provider (and adding username/password if required)

config interface 'modem_1_1'
        option mode 'preferlte'
        option apn 'three.co.uk'
        option dialnum '*99#'
        option proto 'ncm'
        option ifname 'wwan0'
        option device '/dev/ttyUSB0'
        option ipv6 'auto'
        option metric '40'
        option delegate '0'
        option disabled '0'

Note, for 3G only, the following works:

config interface 'modem_1_1'
    option ifname '3g-modem'
    option service 'umts'
    option apn 'three.co.uk'
    option proto '3g'
    option device '/dev/ttyUSB1'
    option dialnumber '*99#'
    option metric '40'
    option disabled '0'

After adding one of these entries; do:

root@GL-AR750S:~# uci commit /etc/config/network
root@GL-AR750S:~# service network restart

With NCM, logs should show something like. You'll know it's up if there are no errors and a DHCP lease is obtained

Fri May 31 07:47:54 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1_4' is disabled
Fri May 31 07:47:54 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (5878): Stopping network modem_1_1
Fri May 31 07:47:55 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (5878): sending -> AT^NDISDUP=1,0
Fri May 31 07:47:55 2019 daemon.warn odhcpd[1856]: DHCPV6 SOLICIT IA_NA from 00010001221705213c15c2c0fd64 on br-lan: ok fd56:3f5a:232e:10::2fb/128
Fri May 31 07:47:55 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (5878): Command failed: Permission denied
Fri May 31 07:47:55 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1' is now down
Fri May 31 07:47:55 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1' is setting up now
Fri May 31 07:47:56 2019 daemon.warn odhcpd[1856]: DHCPV6 REQUEST IA_NA from 00010001221705213c15c2c0fd64 on br-lan: ok fd56:3f5a:232e:10::2fb/128
Fri May 31 07:47:59 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> AT
Fri May 31 07:47:59 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> ATZ
Fri May 31 07:48:00 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> ATQ0
Fri May 31 07:48:01 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> ATV1
Fri May 31 07:48:01 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> ATE1
Fri May 31 07:48:02 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> ATS0=0
Fri May 31 07:48:03 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","three.co.uk"
Fri May 31 07:48:03 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): Configuring modem
Fri May 31 07:48:03 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): Setting mode
Fri May 31 07:48:04 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> AT^SYSCFGEX="030201",3fffffff,2,4,7fffffffffffffff,,
Fri May 31 07:48:05 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): Starting network modem_1_1
Fri May 31 07:48:05 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): Connecting modem
Fri May 31 07:48:06 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): sending -> AT^NDISDUP=1,1,"three.co.uk"
Fri May 31 07:48:06 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (6032): Setting up wwan0
Fri May 31 07:48:07 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1_4' is enabled
Fri May 31 07:48:07 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1' is now up
Fri May 31 07:48:07 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'wwan0' link is up
Fri May 31 07:48:07 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Network alias 'wwan0' link is up
Fri May 31 07:48:07 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1_4' has link connectivity
Fri May 31 07:48:07 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1_4' is setting up now
Fri May 31 07:48:07 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1_4 (6862): udhcpc: started, v1.28.3
Fri May 31 07:48:08 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1_4 (6862): udhcpc: sending discover
Fri May 31 07:48:08 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1_4 (6862): udhcpc: sending select for 100.93.141.179
Fri May 31 07:48:08 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1_4 (6862): udhcpc: lease of 100.93.141.179 obtained, lease time 518400
Fri May 31 07:48:09 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1_4' is now up
Fri May 31 07:48:19 2019 user.notice firewall: Reloading firewall due to ifup of modem_1_1 (wwan0)

With 3g, you'll see similar; again, look for an IP address being assigned:

Fri May 31 08:21:37 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1' is setting up now
Fri May 31 08:21:40 2019 daemon.notice netifd: modem_1_1 (22639): cat: can't open '/tmp/modem.1-1/signal': No such file or directory
Fri May 31 08:21:40 2019 daemon.notice pppd[22823]: pppd 2.4.7 started by root, uid 0
Fri May 31 08:21:41 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: abort on (BUSY)
Fri May 31 08:21:41 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: abort on (NO CARRIER)
Fri May 31 08:21:41 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: abort on (ERROR)
Fri May 31 08:21:41 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: report (CONNECT)
Fri May 31 08:21:41 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: timeout set to 10 seconds
Fri May 31 08:21:41 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: send (AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","three.co.uk"^M)
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: timeout set to 30 seconds
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: expect (OK)
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: ^M
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: OK
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]:  -- got it
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: send (ATD*99#^M)
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: expect (CONNECT)
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: ^M
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: ^M
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: CONNECT
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]:  -- got it
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 local2.info chat[22935]: send ( ^M)
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 daemon.info pppd[22823]: Serial connection established.
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 kern.info kernel: [67662.097799] 3g-modem_1_1: renamed from ppp0
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 daemon.info pppd[22823]: Using interface 3g-modem_1_1
Fri May 31 08:21:42 2019 daemon.notice pppd[22823]: Connect: 3g-modem_1_1 <--> /dev/ttyUSB1
Fri May 31 08:21:43 2019 daemon.warn pppd[22823]: Could not determine remote IP address: defaulting to 10.64.64.64
Fri May 31 08:21:43 2019 daemon.notice pppd[22823]: local  IP address 10.51.143.194
Fri May 31 08:21:43 2019 daemon.notice pppd[22823]: remote IP address 10.64.64.64
Fri May 31 08:21:43 2019 daemon.notice pppd[22823]: primary   DNS address 172.30.139.16
Fri May 31 08:21:43 2019 daemon.notice pppd[22823]: secondary DNS address 172.31.139.16
Fri May 31 08:21:43 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Network device '3g-modem_1_1' link is up
Fri May 31 08:21:43 2019 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'modem_1_1' is now up
@jfrogg
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jfrogg commented Jul 28, 2019 •
edited
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With ROOter firmware it is not even necessary to take care about modules, etc.
For me the standard modem composition is FF;10,12,16
^SETPORT availability depends on the modem firmware version
Additional configuration steps are required on the modem in order to enable IPv6, subject to fw version limitations; modified fw with unlocked commands is recommended.
dialnumber,username/password are not required for NCM

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