how install ZTE MF 821 GSM modem

Hello all. I’m new to the forum and to OpenSuSE.
Opensuse is my first linux system so please help me.

I have ZTE MF 821 GSM modem. I can’t configure broadband connection in Network Manager, because broadband TAB in NM is disabled (grayed).
I have opensuse 13.1.10
This is from lsusb:
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0718:0708 Imation Corp.
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 147e:2016 Upek Biometric Touchchip/Touchstrip Fingerprint Sensor
Bus 002 Device 015: ID 19d2:0167 ZTE WCDMA Technologies MSM MF820 4G LTE

Other connections in Network Manager (cable, wireless, vpn) works well and I use them.

Thanks in advance for all help.

I’m not familiar with this particular model, but I can see from your output that the modem device is active (ie usb-modeswitch has done its job)

Bus 002 Device 015: ID 19d2:0167 ZTE WCDMA Technologies MSM MF820 4G LTE

Please run the following command (its part of the usbutils package):

usb-devices

Look for the output block pertaining to your 4G device. I just want to make sure that the ‘option’ driver is loaded (which handles this modem device).

If the module is loaded, you should also see the the presence of /dev/ttyUSB0,1,…

ls -l /dev/ttyUSB*

If not, try loading it manually (as root)

modprobe option

If that works, then NM should also allow it to be configured. You may need to start NM first with

systemctl restart NetworkManager.service

See how that goes.

konrad@linux-7zeq:~> ls -l /dev/ttyUSB*
crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 0 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB0
crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 1 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB1
crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 2 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB2
crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 3 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB3

after “systemctl restart NetworkManager.service” broadband TAB in Network Manager is still grayed.

The above result shows that the modem is active. It is probably an issue with ModemManager.

FWIW, your device chipset is listed as supported
http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/ModemManager/SupportedDevices/

ZTE MF820D 0x19D2 0x0167 BD_ZTE_MF820DV1.0.0B33 ZTE 3GPP Runs with PPP

It may be that you need to submit a bug report for this.

As an alternative, you could use another connection tool for now. For KDE, there is a graphical utility called ‘qinternet’ available.

zypper in qinternet

I’ve used it before (even though my device works happily via NM), so I can assist further if required.

I’m not sure what exists for Gnome these days, but ‘wvdial’ can be used.

There is an old thread that may be helpful with getting wvdial working if you want to give it a try

https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/478373-ZTE-MF-192-fails-to-connect-under-gnome-network-manager-openSUSE-12-1

On 02/09/2014 02:06 PM, KonradCh wrote:
>
> konrad@linux-7zeq:~> ls -l /dev/ttyUSB*
> crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 0 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB0
> crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 1 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB1
> crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 2 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB2
> crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 3 02-09 20:55 /dev/ttyUSB3
>
> after “systemctl restart NetworkManager.service” broadband TAB in
> Network Manager is still grayed.

Is your user a member of the “dialout” group? If not, you have no access to
those TTYs. You can check using YaST => Security and Users => User and Group
Management. If you need to add that group, you will need to log out and back in
before the change takes effect.

No, that is not necessary for connection via the network manager. (NetworkManager and ModemManager both run as root.)

However, it will be necessary to be a member of the dialout group if a dialling utility is used instead.

what is going on when you insert the modem in the usb port?
the network manager should offer to create a new broadband connection.

other way it to configure the modem via yast–>> modem