Mobile network configuration
This page describes the configuration of mobile network in DFN camera systems. For modem module installation in DFNEXT observatories with blue PCB modem adaptor board please refer to DFNEXT Modem Installation. For modem module installation in DFNSMALL/DFNEXT observatories with green PCB modem adaptor board please refer to DFN Modem Installation - Green card.
In case of DFNSMALL camera systems with Commell LE-37D PC boards and modem mPCIe card in the slot on-board the PC (no USB adopter used), please make sure the BIOS is configured accordingly - please refer to DFNSMALL observatories BIOS configuration how to enable the WLAN card support.
There are sevaral modem/operator combinations pre-defined in the DFN observatory operating system. These are those we use in Australia. For use with other operators or overseas, a specific configuration needs to be added.
Here is example configuration - please note the bold part of the text - that is identifier of the specific modem/operator setup, that need to match in both configuration files.
Sierra MC8705 3G modem, all DFN camera system types
For Sierra MC8705 3G modem with Telstra M2M plan is the configuration as shown on a corresponding section of file /etc/network/interfaces.
### Optus/Telstra mobile data GSM/3G/4G ### with modem/ppp interface ### primary network interface in the field, default route auto ppp0 allow-hotplug ppp0 iface ppp0 inet wvdial #provider optus_multitech #provider optus_sierra_MC8705 #provider telstra_multitech provider telstra_sierra_MC8705 #provider telstra_sierra_MC7430
Please notice the uncommented line with provider telstra_sierra_MC8705. All lines with "#" at the beginning are comments.
There are a few more configurations pre-set in file /etc/wvdial.conf. The corresponding detailed section for our case looks like:
[Dialer telstra_sierra_MC8705] Stupid Mode = 1 Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","telstra.m2m" Modem = /dev/ttyUSB4 Password = guest Username = guest Phone = *99#
Sierra MC7430 or MC7455 3G/4G modem, all DFNEXT camera systems
Make sure following packages are installed:
sudo apt-get install libqmi-utils udhcpc
Make sure following script is installed - should be done by regular auto matic DFN SW updates
/usr/local/bin/qmi-network-raw-dfn
Configure APN, username and password in file
/etc/qmi-network.conf
This is specific for each operator. Examples below - only one should be uncommented:
### COMMON FOR ALL OR MOST OPARTORS ### USER & PASS usually not needed APN_USER=guest APN_PASS=guest PROXY=yes ###----------------------- ### Australia Telstra APN=telstra.m2m ###----------------------- ### Australia Optus # APN=connect ###----------------------- ### Canada Telus #APN=isp.telus.com ###----------------------- ### Oman Omantel # APN=taif # APN_USER=taif # APN_PASS=taif ###-----------------------
Modify /etc/networks/interfaces accordingly.
Comment out the ppp0 interface start lines:
#auto ppp0 #allow-hotplug ppp0
Make sure there is wwan0 section as below, with interface start lines uncommented:
### alternative config for 3G/4G Sierra MC 7430/7455 via qmi lib
### needs wwan0 interface rather than ppp0
### in grub, pass kernel param net.ifnames=0
### configure operator APN in /etc/qmi-network.conf
### depends on script /usr/local/bin/qmi-network-raw-dfn
### >>>> uncomment also 'allow-hotplug line <<<<
### >>>> not only 'auto' when enabling wwan0 <<<<
auto wwan0
allow-hotplug wwan0
iface wwan0 inet manual
pre-up ifconfig wwan0 down
pre-up ifconfig wwan1 down # only needed if the modem presents two wwan interfaces
pre-up /usr/local/bin/qmi-network-raw-dfn printsignal
pre-up /usr/local/bin/qmi-network-raw-dfn forcerestart
pre-up udhcpc -p /var/run/udhcpc.wwan0.pid -S -t 5 -b -i wwan0
post-up grep "nameserver 4.2.2.1" || echo "nameserver 4.2.2.1" >> /etc/resolv.conf
post-down /usr/local/bin/qmi-network-raw-dfn stop
post-down kill -TERM `head -1 /var/run/udhcpc.wwan0.pid`
Add following line to crontab to make sure the wwan0 is restarted when it goes down
*/5 * * * * /usr/local/bin/check_restart_wwan0.sh
Note: script /usr/local/bin/check_restart_wwan0.sh should be installed automatically by all on-line DFNEXT camera systems in frame of auto updates.
Sierra MC7430 or MC7455 3G/4G modem in DFNSMALL camera systems
Note: this may work also with some DFNEXT camera systems where the LE-37G PC is used and is running earlier BIOS version (Not sure, probably 2016 build).
The BIOS version can be printed using the following linux command:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
Which prints eg:
SKLU_4.0.0.362 09/19/2016
The following box is wvdial.conf config section for Sierra MC7430 3G/4G modem in Australia. Please mind to uncomment the appropriate line telstra_sierra_MC7430 in /etc/network/interfaces.
[Dialer telstra_sierra_MC7430] Stupid Mode = 1 Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","telstra.m2m" Modem = /dev/ttyUSB2 Password = guest Username = guest Phone = *99#
Please contact your service provider for details like AP name (here "telstra.m2m"), Password, Username and Phone (number) to dial. The "Modem" field is a virtual port - this parameter is specific for a modem type. If you are using the modem MC7455 (for the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa), we believe that it can use the same configuration as MC7430 (for Australia, Asia and Oceania). The only lines that need to be changed are AP name (here "telstra.m2m"), Password, Username and Phone (number) to dial. If your service provider/operator does not have specific requirement for Password, Username and Phone (number) to dial or if not sure, just leave these fields as they are (guest, guest, *99#) - please refer to the telstra_sierra_MC8705 example above.
WARNING: recently we found that some operators, eg Telus in Canada, do not support wvdial style (PPP protcol) connection. We are working on alternative connection method that involves Qualcom chipset proprietary protocol & opensource qmi toolkit.
Then for both MC7430 and MC7455 you would need to add another section to /etc/wvdial.conf, copying some existing one, give it a unique name and modify those lines:
[Dialer YOUR_OPERATOR_sierra_MC7455] Stupid Mode = 1 Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","AP_NAME" Modem = /dev/ttyUSB2 Password = YOUR_PASSWORD Username = YOUR_USERNAME Phone = YOUR_OPERATOR_DIALUP_PHONE_NUMBER
and then you open /etc/network/interfaces, comment out all the 'provider' lines and add your one:
### Optus/Telstra mobile data GSM/3G/4G ### with modem/ppp interface ### primary network interface in the field, default route auto ppp0 allow-hotplug ppp0 iface ppp0 inet wvdial #provider optus_multitech #provider optus_sierra_MC8705 #provider telstra_multitech #provider telstra_sierra_MC8705 #provider telstra_sierra_MC7430 provider YOUR_OPERATOR_sierra_MC7455
