Modem manager looses connection to Huawei MS2372 Cellular Modem

Product support balenaOS
1

Hi!

I am trying to connect a Huawei MS2372 Cellular Modem to my RPi 3B.

This works to some extent, as I have been able to ping 8.8.8.8 and connect to the device from the dashboard. However, after a few minutes (or seconds), it brakes, network manager reports no modem found:

root@44ca790:~# mmcli -L
No modems were found

Why doesn’t my modem work consistently?

The usb device is found, and it appears to not be a mode switching issue
since this command root@44ca790:~# usb-devices lists the modem:

T:  Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=02 Cnt=02 Dev#=  6 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D:  Ver= 2.10 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=12d1 ProdID=1506 Rev=01.02
S:  Manufacturer=HUAWEI_MOBILE
S:  Product=HUAWEI_MOBILE
C:  #Ifs= 4 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=2mA
I:  If#=0x0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=01 Driver=option
I:  If#=0x1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=03 Driver=option
I:  If#=0x2 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=12 Driver=option
I:  If#=0x3 Alt= 1 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=16 Driver=huawei_cdc_ncm

Here is a snippet from journalctl -u ModemManager:

Sep 17 13:13:03 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't find associated cdc-wdm port for 'net/wwan0'
Sep 17 13:13:03 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/1: 3GPP Registration state changed (registering -> home)
Sep 17 13:13:03 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/1: state changed (connecting -> connected)
Sep 17 13:13:03 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Simple connect state (8/8): All done
Sep 17 13:13:10 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (net/wlan0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1'
Sep 17 13:13:10 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1': Operation was cancelled
Sep 17 13:13:10 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (usbmisc/cdc-wdm0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Sep 17 13:13:10 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (net/wwan0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Sep 17 13:13:10 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (tty/ttyUSB0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:03:16 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1.1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:03:16 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (tty/ttyUSB2): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:03:16 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (tty/ttyUSB1): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:04:29 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:04:29 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1.1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:04:42 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (net/wlan0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1'
Jan 06 13:04:42 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1': Operation was cancelled
Jan 06 13:04:44 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1.1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:04:47 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: [device /sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3] creating modem with plugin 'Huawei' and '5' ports
Jan 06 13:04:47 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Could not grab port (tty/ttyUSB1): 'Cannot add port 'tty/ttyUSB1', unhandled serial type'
Jan 06 13:04:47 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Could not grab port (usbmisc/cdc-wdm0): 'Cannot add port 'usbmisc/cdc-wdm0', unsupported'
Jan 06 13:04:47 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3' successfully created
Jan 06 13:04:51 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: couldn't load list of Own Numbers: 'Not found'
Jan 06 13:04:51 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem: state changed (unknown -> disabled)
Jan 06 13:04:51 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/2: state changed (disabled -> enabling)
Jan 06 13:04:51 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Simple connect started...
Jan 06 13:04:51 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Simple connect state (4/8): Wait to get fully enabled
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/2: state changed (enabling -> enabled)
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Simple connect state (5/8): Register
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/2: 3GPP Registration state changed (unknown -> registering)
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Simple connect state (6/8): Bearer
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Simple connect state (7/8): Connect
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/2: state changed (enabled -> connecting)
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't find associated cdc-wdm port for 'net/wwan0'
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/2: 3GPP Registration state changed (registering -> home)
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/2: state changed (connecting -> connected)
Jan 06 13:04:52 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Simple connect state (8/8): All done
Jan 06 13:04:59 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (net/wlan0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1'
Jan 06 13:04:59 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1': Operation was cancelled
Jan 06 13:05:01 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1.1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:05:02 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (usbmisc/cdc-wdm0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:05:02 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (net/wwan0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:05:02 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (tty/ttyUSB0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:05:02 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (tty/ttyUSB1): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:05:02 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (tty/ttyUSB2): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3'
Jan 06 13:06:14 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:06:14 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1.1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:06:30 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: (net/wlan0): released by device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1'
Jan 06 13:06:30 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f300000.mmcnr/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:0001/mmc1:0001:1': Operation was cancelled
Jan 06 13:06:31 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Couldn't check support for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1.1': not supported by any plugin
Jan 06 13:06:33 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: [device /sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3] creating modem with plugin 'Huawei' and '5' ports
Jan 06 13:06:33 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Could not grab port (tty/ttyUSB1): 'Cannot add port 'tty/ttyUSB1', unhandled serial type'
Jan 06 13:06:33 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Could not grab port (usbmisc/cdc-wdm0): 'Cannot add port 'usbmisc/cdc-wdm0', unsupported'
Jan 06 13:06:33 44ca790 ModemManager[838]: Modem for device '/sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3' successfully created

The system connection file:

$ cat system-config/my_cellular        
[connection]
id=cellular
type=gsm
autoconnect=true

[gsm]
apn=telia
pin=1234

[serial]
baud=115200

[ipv4]
method=auto

[ipv6]
addr-gen-mode=stable-privacy
method=auto

Is there anything I can try or check to resolve this issue?

2

Hi, I have the same modem with me here and will check it out and get back to you.
Thanks,
Zahari

3

Hi, I checked the modem but I do not see any problems with it.

The output of usb-devices is exactly the same so it is the same modem model and revision.

Installed balenaOS 2.43.0+rev1 on a RPi 3B+ device from an empty application. I did not push any Dockerfile/container to it.

I used the following minimal connection profile:

[connection]
id=cellular
type=gsm
autoconnect=true

[ipv4]
method=auto

[ipv6]
method=ignore

I did not specify APN as it is retrieved automatically.

As a side note you may disable your PIN with mmcli -m 0 --pin="1234" --disable-pin.

A few things you may try:
It is possible that the RPi is not powered well enough/bad USB power cable. You may also try to connect it to other USB ports. Also you may check whether the modem is working correctly from another device/computer. And also you may check whether you will have better results with another SIM card.

Please let us know if any of those solves the issue for you.

Thanks,
Zahari

5

Thanks for looking into this Zahari.

My issue went away when I disabled udev in my application container. As described here Cellular not connecting on boot.

You may want to update the docs.