How do I get wireless modem to work?

[pocketrocket]

I need some help getting connected to internet via wireless device, please if you can help me out.

I have a Sony Vaio laptop. When I boot up in Vista, I connect to the internet wirelessly using a "Novatel Wireless Expedite EV-DO Modem". There's a little antenna on the right side of the laptop, mounted on the "hinge" where the lid opens & closes.

I've attached a log file for the modem (a .txt file from Vista).

My wireless service is already up and running from Vista. I recently installed and am learning & comparing Ubuntu, Mandriva, and Xandros. I've also been comparing Fedora, OpenSuse, PCLinuxOS, but only on the live distro discs.

I can already connect to WiFi networks from Linuxes; I need the other service because I'm not always near an unlocked WiFi network, however I'm usually within range of Sprint's wireless network.

What do I need to learn to get my wireless internet service working on Linux? Can these alterations be made to a live distro (e.g. I could put them in a .sh script file on a USB drive so I don't have to type them over and over), or do they only work on an installed Linux system?

Versions of installed linuxes: Ubuntu version 8.04, Mandriva Spring 2008 One, Xandros Desktop Pro). I don't have the versions of the live distro CDs handy, but I downloaded and burned live CDs within the last 30 days or so.

I searched on this forum for Novatel and wireless modem, but I didn't find much, so here goes:

I found 'Novatel' here (that person has a different situation than mine, I believe) and here (no replies to original post so no help there).

A reply in this thread said to show output of lsusb and lsmod. I don't know if this is a USB modem - it isn't plugged into a physical USB port, but I'll add that information anyway.

I've also read a little bit about "ndiswrapper", but it pretty much went over my head. I attempted to compile it when I had one of the live distros booted up, but it very quickly got out of hand with error messages. Maybe I'll try again on the installed Ubuntu... I just wish I understood better what ndiswrapper is and what it does and why it does it. I'll read the wiki page again; maybe it'll start making sense. It says something about ndiswrapper not working for Vista?

In the meantime, here's some additional data: From Vista, the driver files listed for the Novatel wireless EVDO modem are
(a) c:\windows\system32\drivers\modem.sys version 6.0.6000.16386 from Microsoft and
(b) c:\windows\system32\drivers\nwusbmdm.sys version 3.0.0.3 from Novatel Wireless Inc
Location of device in Vista is 0000.001a.0001.001.000.000.000.000.000

The Wiki page mentions a .inf file as well as .sys files. I guess I found the .sys files, but what are .inf files and where are they?

Would it be better for me to look at Novatel, Sprint, or Sony's web sites for additional help?

Here's lsusb output from Ubuntu:

Bus 007 Device 002: ID 054c:0281 Sony Corp.
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 006 Device 003: ID 05ca:183a Ricoh Co., Ltd
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1410:2120
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 147e:2016
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

Here's lsmod from Ubuntu:

Module                  Size  Used by
ipv6                  267780  10 
rfcomm                 41744  2 
l2cap                  25728  13 rfcomm
bluetooth              61156  4 rfcomm,l2cap
sonypi                 23192  0 
ppdev                  10372  0 
acpi_cpufreq           10796  2 
cpufreq_ondemand        9740  1 
cpufreq_userspace       5284  0 
cpufreq_stats           7104  0 
cpufreq_conservative     8712  0 
cpufreq_powersave       2688  0 
freq_table              5536  3 acpi_cpufreq,cpufreq_ondemand,cpufreq_stats
container               5632  0 
dock                   11280  0 
sbs                    15112  0 
sbshc                   7680  1 sbs
iptable_filter          3840  0 
ip_tables              14820  1 iptable_filter
x_tables               16132  1 ip_tables
nls_iso8859_1           4992  1 
nls_cp437               6656  1 
vfat                   14464  1 
fat                    54556  1 vfat
sbp2                   24072  0 
parport_pc             36260  0 
lp                     12324  0 
parport                37832  3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
snd_hda_intel         344728  2 
snd_pcm_oss            42144  0 
snd_mixer_oss          17920  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                78596  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
pcmcia                 40876  0 
snd_page_alloc         11400  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
snd_hwdep              10500  1 snd_hda_intel
joydev                 13120  0 
snd_seq_dummy           4868  0 
snd_seq_oss            35584  0 
snd_seq_midi            9376  0 
snd_rawmidi            25760  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event      8320  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
iwl4965               105844  0 
uvcvideo               58116  0 
snd_seq                54224  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
compat_ioctl32          2304  1 uvcvideo
iwlwifi_mac80211      219108  1 iwl4965
snd_timer              24836  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
videodev               29440  1 uvcvideo
battery                14212  0 
snd_seq_device          9612  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
v4l1_compat            15492  2 uvcvideo,videodev
v4l2_common            18304  2 uvcvideo,videodev
cfg80211               15112  1 iwlwifi_mac80211
ac                      6916  0 
serio_raw               7940  0 
sky2                   47492  0 
i2c_core               24832  0 
sony_laptop            35292  0 
tifm_7xx1               8576  0 
tifm_core              11012  1 tifm_7xx1
yenta_socket           27276  1 
rsrc_nonstatic         13696  1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core            40596  3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
tpm_infineon           10152  0 
video                  19856  0 
output                  4736  1 video
intel_agp              25492  0 
psmouse                40336  0 
button                  9232  0 
snd                    56996  15 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_hwdep,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
iTCO_wdt               13092  0 
iTCO_vendor_support     4868  1 iTCO_wdt
shpchp                 34452  0 
pci_hotplug            30880  1 shpchp
tpm                    16544  1 tpm_infineon
tpm_bios                8320  1 tpm
pcspkr                  4224  0 
agpgart                34760  1 intel_agp
evdev                  13056  7 
soundcore               8800  1 snd
ext3                  136712  2 
jbd                    48404  1 ext3
mbcache                 9600  1 ext3
usb_storage            73664  0 
libusual               19108  1 usb_storage
sg                     36880  0 
sd_mod                 30720  4 
sr_mod                 17956  0 
cdrom                  37408  1 sr_mod
ata_piix               19588  3 
pata_acpi               8320  0 
ata_generic             8324  0 
libata                159344  3 ata_piix,pata_acpi,ata_generic
ohci1394               33584  0 
scsi_mod              151436  6 sbp2,usb_storage,sg,sd_mod,sr_mod,libata
ieee1394               93752  2 sbp2,ohci1394
ehci_hcd               37900  0 
uhci_hcd               27024  0 
usbcore               146028  6 uvcvideo,usb_storage,libusual,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
thermal                16796  0 
processor              36872  4 acpi_cpufreq,thermal
fan                     5636  0 
fbcon                  42912  0 
tileblit                3456  1 fbcon
font                    9472  1 fbcon
bitblit                 6784  1 fbcon
softcursor              3072  1 bitblit
fuse                   50708  3

Is it possible to use my wireless EVDO modem in Linux, and if so, then what do I do?

thanks!

[waterhead]

I really don't think that this uses wireless technology (WiFi) to connect. I remember reading that some can connect using the dialup method. NDISwrapper is for WiFi, and uses a WinXP driver to connect in Linux.

I do see a WiFi driver loaded, the iwl4965 driver for Intel wireless chips.

It is possible that this device is a PCI device. It would then show in the output of this command

lspci -nn

Also, what type of PC is this in?
Edit: I see you said a Sony Vaio Laptop

I Googles EV-DO in Linux, and came up with some info:
Linux.com :: Get broadband wireless with Verizon EVDO and Linux
Just another Blog: How to get Reliance ZTE MG880 working with Ubuntu Linux 7.04
Crystal Networking » Blog Archive » Setting up EVDO in Linux

[waterhead]

I was checking the USB devices you listed, one I can't find any info on:

Bus 007 Device 002: ID 054c:0281 Sony Corp.  (A webcam?)
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 006 Device 003: ID 05ca:183a Ricoh Co., Ltd  (Another webcam?)
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1410:2120  (Modem?)
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 147e:2016  (Fingerprint reader)
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

There is a kernel module for GSM amd CDMA modems. From what I can tell, it is simply called "option". I don't know if your modem is supported, but Novatel Wireless is on the list of having cards that use this module.

config USB_SERIAL_OPTION
tristate "USB driver for GSM and CDMA modems"
depends on USB_SERIAL
help
Say Y here if you have a GSM or CDMA modem that's connected to USB.

This driver also supports several PCMCIA cards which have a
built-in OHCI-USB adapter and an internally-connected GSM modem.
The USB bus on these cards is not accessible externally.

Supported devices include (some of?) those made by:
Option, Huawei, Audiovox, Novatel Wireless, or Anydata.

To compile this driver as a module, choose M here: the
module will be called option.

If this driver doesn't recognize your device,
it might be accessible via the FTDI_SIO driver.

Try and load it, and see if your card shows up at /dev/ttyACM0.

sudo modprobe option

[pocketrocket]

Hello Paul,

Thanks for taking a look at my issue! I appreciate your assistance.

I can already connect using WiFi, in Ubuntu and Mandriva (but not in Xandros, but I intend to ask for support from the Xandros people to help me through that problem).

I cannot connect using the Novatel Wireless modem. That's what I'm trying to learn how to do.

I have a single webcam. I don't know how to use it from Linux. The laptop is a Sony, so the bus 7 device 2 no doubt is referring to some Sony device other than a camera.

>> There is a kernel module for GSM amd CDMA modems. From what I can tell, it is simply called "option". I don't know if your modem is supported, but Novatel Wireless is on the list of having cards that use this module.

Can you dumb this down just a wee bit. A kernel module = a chunk of software that manages some of the computer's resources. I don't know GSM, CDMA, but do I need to?

Are you saying the name of the kernel module for managing "gsm" and "cdma" modules is "option"? I don't see "option" on my original list of modules. Should I add the 'option' module and if so, how would I do so?

I don't know what you mean by
>>Novatel Wireless is on the list of having cards that use this module

I don't see a card on my computer, though it could be internal within the laptop. Where is this list you mention?

Everything from this point forward in your message made almost no sense to me, I'm sad to say. What is the difference between kernel modules and NDiswrapper? If NDiswrapper is not a good alternative for me, is the discussion of kernel modules relevant?

I'll try to find the doc which you are quoting. Is it here? Both that webpage and your quote are very confusing; it seems as though you (or the author of that doc) are combining instructions of things to type with additional comments. I don't understand the context in which these things have been written. I'm talking about the quote starting with:
config USB_SERIAL_OPTION

>>Try and load it, and see if your card shows up at /dev/ttyACM0
Try and load what? How? Sorry to be so DENSE!

>> NDISwrapper is for WiFi, and uses a WinXP driver
Since I'm not trying to connect via WiFi, and I have Vista & not WinXP, are you saying NDISwrapper won't be useful to me?


Thanks for the other 3 links :thumbsup:. I'll read them over the next few days and I hope I'll become more enlightened.

I'll also try the lspci -nn command and post it back here.

Again, thank you for your time and your help.

[waterhead]

First, in order to get your Novatel card working in Linux, you are going to have to use a terminal window. The terminal window is where you enter commands to the system. In Windows it is called the Command Line.

In the output of lsusb, the sequence of eight numbers and/or letters separated by a colon, are the hardware ID's of the chips for that card. And yes, the cards can be internal. I just Googled the ID number and name (if any was given) for my information.

Just Google this info and see what you get:
054c:0281 Sony Corp

The drivers in Linux are usually created as modules of the kernel. So a kernel module is usually some type of driver. You can find out more info on a module by using the "modinfo" command in a terminal:

modinfo option

The part I quoted came from my kernel source configuration files. You most likely don't have the kernel source, as it is not installed by default. It is saying how it can be compiled into the kernel, plus some info on the module. Your link looks to be the same thing (almost).

The list of cards I referred to is in the configuration file that I referred to above. Since the "option" driver module did not load automatically, there could be three reasons.

1) The Novatel does not use the "option" driver module.
2) The "option" module is not compiled into your kernel
3) Neither 1 or 2 are correct, but it just doesn't recognize the Novatel as needing the "option" module. So it doesn't load it.

Yes, you can manually load the driver module with the command that I posted before:

sudo modprobe option

If you don't get any errors, check the output of lsmod again to see if it loaded. Your system won't be able to "see" the Novatel until a driver module is loaded for it.

As for NDISwrapper, it too is a kernel module. It is only for WinXP WiFi drivers, no Vista drivers. It was developed back when the Linux WiFi drivers were not yet fully developed and dependable. There are still some WiFi cards that don't have Linux drivers, so NDISwrapper is the only method to use them. You have a Linux driver module already loading for your WiFI, so NDISwrapper is not needed.

I think I covered all your questions. let me know if I missed any.