Huawei E3131 on Wheezy

[rcw]

I've managed to get a Huawei E3131 3G dongle working on the Pi and thought some might like the benefit of my experiences:

Firstly, beware that the device can take more power than the Pi's USB port can deliver and so should always be attached via an external powered hub.

When first plugged in, the E3131 presents as a CD drive with USB id 12d1:1f01 and "udev" will typically assign it the first optical disc id: "/dev/sr0". The device can be mounted read-only to inspect the installation software. Use the command "lsusb" to display the USB id.

To make the device useful, it must be switched from CD mode into Network mode. Switching can be achieved by sending the device a USB SCSI command using the utility "sg_raw" which is a part of the "sg3-utils" package. To install it, enter the command "apt-get install sg3-utils".

The command to perform the mode switch is:

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/usr/bin/sg_raw /dev/sr0 11 06 20 00 00 00 00 00 01 00

When in network mode, the device will present as a cdc_ether USB network controller with USB id 12d1:14db. The driver will load automatically and a new network interface "eth1" can be seen on entering the command "ifconfig -a".

The E3131 is now available at one end of a point-to-point network having a default IP address of 192.168.1.1/24. To connect to it, we must configure "eth1" to have an address on that same network.

Beware that 192.168.1.* is a very commonly used network which may already be in use on your wired Ethernet. If so, you will need to disconnect the network lead before continuing.

The command to configure the network interface is:

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ifconfig eth1 192.168.123.100

If all goes well, you can now test the link using the command:

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ping 192.168.1.1

Any response will be from the Huawei dongle.

It's possible to automate the whole procedure; we need to automatically switch from storage device to network mode and to automatically assign an IP address. This can be done by editing 2 files:

To automate the mode switch, create a new file "/etc/udev/rules.d/10-HuaweiFlashCard.rules" with the following content:

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SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{modalias}=="usb:v12D1p1F01*", SYMLINK+="hwcdrom", RUN+="/usr/bin/sg_raw /dev/hwcdrom 11 06 20 00 00 00 00 00 01 00"

To automate interface address assignment using the Huawei E3131 built-in DHCP server, edit the exiting file "/etc/network/interfaces" to add the following lines at the end of the existing data:

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allow-hotplug eth1
iface eth1 inet dhcp

Next, test connectivity to the E3131's built-in web server by loading a browser and visiting the address "http://192.168.1.1", This will allow 3G network configuration to be adjusted to suit your SIM card (not always necessary). Most importantly, it will show you whether or not you're connected to a phone network.

Finally, try browsing the Internet. Make sure that you disconnect any existing hard-wired or WiFi interface to ensure you're really connected through the E3131!

Good luck and hope this helps.

Richard White

[saif]

Looks cool...so let me get this...
You have an IP address of 192.168.123.100 for eth1..is that right?
Which device are you pinging or connecting to with 192.168.1.1 then?..this IP is usually the router on the network...

[rcw]

Sorry to be so late in replying.

Yes, the E3131 establishes a private point-to-point network using netmask 192.168.1.0/24. The connection to the Internet is behind this "in the device". And yes, this address is often used for routers. I guess the assumption is that if you're using a dongle, you won't have a separate LAN connection. Crazy in my opinion!

Richard

[creatron]

Thanks, I used this to connect an Huawei E303 (South Africa), and it works.
Regards

[max246]

Great it worked fine!
Do you know if the dongle consume more power when is connected? I'd like to disconnect it from internet to save the battery because my project will powered by a battery pack.

[cheeves]

thanks for this, worked perfectly with my e303

[nickajderian]

Works fine with a new Huawei E3231 Dongle.
Amazing knowledge, thank you very much for taking the time to share it!

[Spid]

Works fine with a new Huawei E3231 Dongle.
Amazing knowledge, thank you very much for taking the time to share it!

I used Sakis3g http://www.sakis3g.org

[Ur5uS]

Hi,

While in 12d1:14db mode, it is possible to execute http://192.168.1.1/html/switchProjectMode.html

And device will switch to 12d1:1442
after
modprobe
echo “12d1 1442″ > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id

device will available as /dev/ttyUSB0 and /dev/ttyUSB1

Is it possible to execute command similar to
/usr/bin/sg_raw /dev/sr0 11 06 20 00 00 00 00 00 01 00
so device be automatically avaialbe as 12d1:1442

[dcuzhang]

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ifconfig eth1 192.168.123.100

can be replaced by

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sudo dhclient eth1

this will dynamically assign an ip to eth1.

it may be better to put them on the same local network
e.g

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192.168.1.100

[notacake]

While in 12d1:14db mode, it is possible to execute http://192.168.1.1/html/switchProjectMode.html

This works in Windows, but it won't load any drivers for the serial modem interfaces. It doesn't seem to produce an effect on the Pi though, but that might be because I don't understand the rest of the instructions:

And device will switch to 12d1:1442
after
modprobe
echo “12d1 1442″ > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id

modprobe what exactly? I assume you mean the option driver, but while 'modprobe option' works, the second command produces 'permission denied' (even run as root).

Is it possible to execute command similar to
/usr/bin/sg_raw /dev/sr0 11 06 20 00 00 00 00 00 01 00
so device be automatically avaialbe as 12d1:1442

Did you find an answer to this? I don't particularly want to have it in 12d1:1442 mode, but I would like to get it in that mode to enter a AT^U2DIAG command to try and get it permanently in 12d1:14db mode without having to modeswitch.

[thetrew]

Hello.

I have an E3131 from Orange (UK) plugged into my Pi via a powered USB hub. I have installed Sakis. When I run Sakis, I select:

Connect with 3G > USB Device > HUAWEI HiLink > Failed to connect

What could I be doing wrong? Please could someone help me out before I go insane :0)

Thanks in advance.

[ace192]

any ideas on a huawei e585 on three? i tried this but didn't seem to work...

[wkaha]

I've had the problem to use my e303 with smsd - smstools.
I could not enable the ttyUSB's persistent. So I was looking for the way, the web switch the mode.

I found out that is is done with an http post performed in a javascript function.

The following script is working for me.
But before you have to switch with usb_modeswitch too 0x14db

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#!/bin/sh

url="http://192.168.1.1/api/device/mode"
xmlheader="<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>"
data="<request><mode>0</mode></request>"

ifconfig eth1 192.168.1.10 netmask 255.255.255.0
wget --post-data="$xmlheader$data" $url -qO-

[yorkyokel]

Fantastic guide to setting the E3131 up, there's no way I could have done it before I found this post! Clear and concise but with enough explanation so I could see WHY the various step were needed. The automation steps also worked a treat. Thanks a lot.

One thing that was critical for me however was using 'sudo dhclient eth1' to configure the network rather than 'ifconfig eth1 192.168.1.100'. With the latter I could ping but could not connect to the internet through the dongle.

[sadsatan]

Hi,

after i put in the code /usr/bin/sg_raw /dev/sr0 11 06 20 00 00 00 00 00 01 00

i get a message SCSI Status:good
Sense information: sense buffer empty

when i check with ifconfig -a i get no eth1
in desktop mode huawei is still a cdrom drv...when i try to eject it i get a error message

what can i do to make it right?
cheers

[wkaha]

when i check with ifconfig -a i get no eth1
in desktop mode huawei is still a cdrom drv...when i try to eject it i get a error message

When the stick isn't in 14db mode, then there is no way to get an ethx interface.
So find out with lsusb. When the modem is there with the id 12d1:1442 you are in
modem / serial mode.

12d1:1f01 - CD Mode
12d1:14db - Web Mode / HiLink
12d1:1442 - Serial Mode

[sadsatan]

hi,

ID: 12d1:1506

[katoen58]

Hi wkaha,

I was just planning a post on the same problem you solved, so thanks for your work!

I'm quite a newby to Linux, so what kind of script is it? Python (I know) or Java (I don't know, how do I get that to work in Linux; link to a site is OK for me)?

Thanks!
Bart.

[katoen58]

Hi wkaha and others,

with a little help from a friend I managed to get your script working and my E303 switched to "12d1:1442 - Serial Mode". But still Sakis3G "Failed to connect" like thetrew described above, although I have ttyUSB0 and ttyUSB1 working, but no eth*.....

In "12d1:14db - Web Mode / HiLink", it's working with cdc_ether as driver, eth2 is on with address 192.168.1.100, but I can't get ttyUSB0 and ttyUSB1 working. Though, I can connect to the internet through the E303's built-in web server, so that's the good thing.
Because I like to use the Raspi for a stand-alone project that will send me an email now and then, I like to connect via the commandline (i.e. a Python-script), not by loading a browser and visiting the address "http://192.168.1.1", fill in PIN and click on "Submit". Is that possible? Also when I use a PIN-code on the SIM? Good to know that the RasPi will be switched on and off every 6 hours to save power.

Thanks!

Bart.

[EasyViber]

Seems my Huawei E3131 is not as yours. Mine seems to be Huawei E3131s-2 and after switching mode it gets detected as USB id 12d1:1506 (Huawei E398 LTE/UMTS/GSM modem) instead USB id 12d1:14db

After that (ofc.) I don't get "eth1" and rest of your instructions fail.

Aparently there are at least 2 versions of E3131 (E3131s-2 and E3131s-h2) so look carefully what you get. First one supports serial & qmi while other supports serial & ncm & mbim.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/3G_/_3.5G#HUAWEI

And I went and bought stupid E3131 after I looked at this topic and after I've seen you got it working.

[faceless]

If you're using the E3131 as a backup network connection rather than your primary, rather than

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allow-hotplug eth1
ifconfig eth1 dhcp

in your /etc/network/interfaces file, try this:

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allow-hotplug eth1
iface eth1 inet static
        address 192.168.1.2
        netmask 255.255.255.0
        gateway 192.168.1.1
        metric 1000

This will keep the E3131 online, but the higher metric will ensure traffic isn't routed over it unless there is no other gateway.

[chorlton2080]

This works so well, especially given the Sakis3g link no longer works! I would rather download the tools from the official repository (i.e. the tool you describe) than install some code from a third party I really can't vouch for.

The latest Thee Huawei 3231 can even be powered directly from the Model B USB port (haven't tried on the Model A).

The only thing missing is the ability to open ports on the 3G connection so I can connect in to Motion or to Apache. There are no options on the dongle homepage to allow this: I wonder if you can using the 3G WiFi dongles?

This topic should be a "sticky" for everyone's easy reference.

[chorlton2080]

I've reposted this from another thread I've created, but it's relevant here too.

I needed a static IP on my home router with a 192.168.0.x address space (as my router didn't do MAC IP assignment reliably). I also needed to use DHCP on the 3G dongle, or add a static IP within the 192.168.1.x address space. The problem was that the namespace on each device is different, causing problems with /etc/resolv.conf as it is overwritten each time by DHCP.

To "cure" this problem of DHCP overwriting the resolve.conf, I simply did the following:

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sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

delete everything and add the following:

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nameserver x.x.x.x

Where "x.x.x.x" is your favourite free DNS service. It has to be outside the local network because of the 192.168.0.x/192.168.1.x namespace issues.

Importantly, then make the file unchangable by anyone - including by the DHCP service!

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sudo chattr +i /etc/resolv.conf

Once done I can freely sway the 3G dongle and wifi dongle. Happy Days.

[SButcher]

Thanks for the advice, but I had a slightly different approach.

I recompiled the kernel on my Pi, included USB networking and RNDIS. This may have been unneccessary, but I couldn't find the kernel modules.
Then installed usb_modeswitch

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sudo apt-get install usb-modeswitch

Then pulled the latest udev rules from the git repository

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wget https://github.com/digidietze/usb-modeswitch-data/raw/master/40-usb_modeswitch.rules
mv 40-usb_modeswitch.rules /lib/udev/rules.d/

Then I modified /etc/network/interfaces, eth0 as this was on a model A:

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allow-hotplug eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

Rebooted, and interface came up as expected.
Pi hot-spot fully functional.