Background
After succesfully installed my new Linksys WRT160NL with OpenWrt, the next step is to configure it. As the summer is approaching and my need for Internet access in our summer cottage will arrise. The summer cottage is in the middle of nowhere so it would be handy to put a USB dongle and the Wlan router in the spot with best 3G field strength and use the WiFi to connect several computers to the router and Internet.
The 3G USB modem is a Huawei modem I bought for 20 EUR and unlocked using this guide.
I found an excellent guide describing excactly what I wanted todo but it did not work 100% in my environment so I will describe what I did to get it running. Read the guide to get background and deeper explanation of how things are done. This guide assumes that you have read the guide, basic knowledge of OpenWRT, howto edit files in a Linux environment and so on.
Installation
The USB hardware and the modem need some extra packages to be installed. I installed the following:
root@WRT160NL:~#opkg install kmod-ar9170 kmod-usb-acm kmod-usb-core kmod-usb-ohci kmod-usb-serial comgt kmod-usb-serial-option kmod-usb-storage kmod-usb-uhci kmod-usb2 usb-switch
Probably not all of them are necessery but during my tests and fiddeling these are the ones I installed.
Configuration
Create /etc/modules.d/60-usb-serial:
usbserial vendor=0x12d1 product=0x1446
The vendor and product parameters can be found by attaching the 3G modem and run:
root@WRT160NL:~# cat /proc/bus/usb/devices
T: Bus=01 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=480 MxCh= 1
B: Alloc= 0/800 us ( 0%), #Int= 0, #Iso= 0
D: Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=01 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0002 Rev= 2.06
S: Manufacturer=Linux 2.6.32.10 ehci_hcd
S: Product=Atheros AR91xx built-in EHCI controller
S: SerialNumber=ar71xx-ehci
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr= 0mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 4 Ivl=256ms
T: Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=12d1 ProdID=1446 Rev= 0.00
S: Manufacturer=HUAWEI Technology
S: Product=HUAWEI Mobile
C:* #Ifs= 2 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=500mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50 Driver=usbserial_generic
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50 Driver=usbserial_generic
E: Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
The parameters are marked in yellow above.
The next step is to configure usb switch. Create /etc/usb-modeswitch.conf
######################################################## # Huawei E270+ (HSPA+ modem) DefaultVendor= 0x12d1 DefaultProduct=0x1446 TargetVendor= 0x12d1 TargetProductList="1001,1406,140c,14ac" CheckSuccess=20 MessageContent="55534243123456780000000000000011060000000000000000000000000000"
I have no clue of the syntax but I copied it from my Ubuntu machine /etc/usb_modeswitch.d/12d1:1446 and it works:-)
Add the following to /etc/config/network
config 'interface' 'ppp0'
option 'ifname' 'ppp0'
option 'proto' '3g'
option 'device' '/dev/ttyUSB0'
option 'apn' 'internet.tele2.se'
option 'pincode' '1234'
The pincode is obvious, the apn is local and given by your local operator. It is handy to configure it to work in Ubuntu and then look at the configuration Ubuntu creates.
The firewall rules need to be updated and I added ppp0 to the wan section in /etc/config/firewall
config 'zone'
option 'name' 'wan'
option 'input' 'REJECT'
option 'output' 'ACCEPT'
option 'forward' 'REJECT'
option 'masq' '1'
option 'mtu_fix' '1'
option 'network' 'wan ppp0'
To make the change to take effect run:
root@WRT160NL:~# /etc/init.d/firewall restart
Start it
Attach the modem and run:
root@WRT160NL:~# usb_modeswitch
Looking for target devices ...
No devices in target mode or class found
Looking for default devices ...
Found default devices (1)
Accessing device 002 on bus 001 ...
Using endpoints 0x01 (out) and 0x81 (in)
Inquiring device details; driver will be detached ...
Looking for active driver ...
OK, driver found ("usbserial_generic")
OK, driver "usbserial_generic" detached
SCSI inquiry data (for identification)
-------------------------
Vendor String: HUAWEI
Model String: Mass Storage
Revision String: 2.31
-------------------------
USB description data (for identification)
-------------------------
Manufacturer: HUAWEI Technology
Product: HUAWEI Mobile
Serial No.: not provided
-------------------------
Setting up communication with interface 0 ...
Trying to send the message to endpoint 0x01 ...
OK, message successfully sent
Device is gone, skipping any further commands
Checking for mode switch (max. 20 times, once per second) ...
Original device is gone already, not checking
Searching for target devices ...
Searching for target devices ...
Searching for target devices ...
Searching for target devices ...
Searching for target devices ...
Found correct target device
Mode switch succeeded. Bye.
logread should now give something similiar to:
Jun 12 17:29:11 WRT160NL user.info kernel: generic ttyUSB0: generic converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0 Jun 12 17:29:11 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usbserial_generic 1-1:1.0: device disconnected Jun 12 17:29:11 WRT160NL user.warn kernel: usb 1-1: usbfs: process 1345 (usb_modeswitch) did not claim interface 0 before use Jun 12 17:29:11 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usb 1-1: USB disconnect, address 2 Jun 12 17:29:11 WRT160NL user.info kernel: generic ttyUSB1: generic converter now disconnected from ttyUSB1 Jun 12 17:29:11 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usbserial_generic 1-1:1.1: device disconnected Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usb 1-1: new high speed USB device using ar71xx-ehci and address 3 Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: option 1-1:1.0: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0 Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: option 1-1:1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1 Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: option 1-1:1.2: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2 Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: scsi3 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.debug kernel: usb-storage: device found at 3 Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.debug kernel: usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.info kernel: scsi4 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.debug kernel: usb-storage: device found at 3 Jun 12 17:29:16 WRT160NL user.debug kernel: usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning Jun 12 17:29:21 WRT160NL user.notice kernel: scsi 3:0:0:0: CD-ROM HUAWEI Mass Storage 2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2 Jun 12 17:29:21 WRT160NL user.debug kernel: usb-storage: device scan complete Jun 12 17:29:21 WRT160NL user.notice kernel: scsi 4:0:0:0: Direct-Access HUAWEI SD Storage 2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2 Jun 12 17:29:21 WRT160NL user.notice kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk Jun 12 17:29:21 WRT160NL user.debug kernel: usb-storage: device scan complete
Using it
To start using your new configuration:
root@WRT160NL:~# ifup ppp0 SIM ready PIN set successfully
And now ping a host on Internet
root@WRT160NL:~# ping ftp.sunet.se PING ftp.sunet.se (194.71.11.69): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 194.71.11.69: seq=0 ttl=55 time=119.351 ms 64 bytes from 194.71.11.69: seq=1 ttl=55 time=88.978 ms 64 bytes from 194.71.11.69: seq=2 ttl=55 time=88.751 ms 64 bytes from 194.71.11.69: seq=3 ttl=55 time=88.484 ms 64 bytes from 194.71.11.69: seq=4 ttl=55 time=128.257 ms ^C --- ftp.sunet.se ping statistics --- 5 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 0% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 88.484/102.764/128.257 ms
Stop your connection:
root@WRT160NL:~# ifdown ppp0
Useful links
- http://josefsson.org/openwrt/dongle.html The excellent guide that I used as a platform, read it!
- OpenWrt, Linuxbased firmware for routers
September 7th, 2010 at 07:20
I can’t download usb-switch.
I have tried to update oplg with no success. Any ideas?
September 7th, 2010 at 10:23
I do not understand “update oplg”?
You must have a working internet connection for yor OpenWrt router and must be able to run:
opkg update
If that does not work, google is your friend.
September 7th, 2010 at 13:54
Hi
.
Sorry about the miss-spelling, my keyboard must have a virus
My Router have a working internet connection. But there is no usb-switch download. Do you have any other link?
Log:
root@OpenWrt:~# opkg update
Downloading http://downloads.openwrt.org/backfire/10.03/brcm47xx/packages/Packages.gz.
Inflating http://downloads.openwrt.org/backfire/10.03/brcm47xx/packages/Packages.gz.
Updated list of available packages in /var/opkg-lists/packages.
root@OpenWrt:~# opkg install usb-swtitch
Collected errors:
* opkg_install_cmd: Cannot install package usb-swtitch.
root@OpenWrt:~#
/Mutte
September 7th, 2010 at 14:51
try:
opkg install usb-switch
Not
opkg install usb-swtitch
September 7th, 2010 at 15:33
Sorry, but it give me the same problem. Now I have double-checked the spelling.
Do you have any binary package link?
Log:
root@OpenWrt:~# opkg update
Downloading http://downloads.openwrt.org/backfire/10.03/brcm47xx/packages/Packages.gz.
Inflating http://downloads.openwrt.org/backfire/10.03/brcm47xx/packages/Packages.gz.
Updated list of available packages in /var/opkg-lists/packages.
root@OpenWrt:~# opkg install usb-switch
Collected errors:
* opkg_install_cmd: Cannot install package usb-switch.
September 7th, 2010 at 17:26
oups, try
opkg install usb-modeswitch
September 8th, 2010 at 09:49
I have a problem. Everything works fine but every time I reboot the device a have to type usb_modeswitch and ifup ppp0 to enable the Internet connection. Is there any way to avoid this and enable this commands automatticly? Please help me.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:00
Well, It is linux and very flexible so please feel free to implement it. I have not done it because it has not been painfull enough to not have this feature. But a simple startup script should fix it.
September 8th, 2010 at 11:14
I’m pretty much linux noob so how I can make this startup script? Can You provide me any examples?
September 8th, 2010 at 13:43
usb-modeswitch is working.
Thanks!
September 8th, 2010 at 16:50
@qrqq: Yes, my consultant fee is 100 EUR/h and estimate it to be approx 1 hour dev, including test and documentation.
September 8th, 2010 at 16:50
@Mutte: No problem, sorry about the typo.
September 8th, 2010 at 20:55
Everything is working now, but I will be back with a automatically start-up script (I hope).
September 9th, 2010 at 07:06
To create a start-up script (I prefer nano):
Simply edit /etc/rc.local
# Put your custom commands here that should be executed once
# the system init finished. By default this file does nothing.
usb_modeswitch
sleep 30
ifup ppp0
exit 0
September 10th, 2010 at 07:58
Thanks everything is working fine now.