Mageia forum

Having read some glowing reports, I tried Mageia and was so disappointed. I have two 3G modems and neither is recognised which is unusual since one of them at least (Sony Ericsson MD300) works with all the other KDE distros I have tried. I've looked at various threads covering this subject but nothing in them means very much. As a recent Windows migrant I need some simple guidance if I am going to configure this thing successfully. It also needs to be achievable via a live session as I don't want to make a full install and find I'm still unable to connect.

If someone can help it would be great.

It also needs to be achievable via a live session as I don't want to make a full install and find I'm still unable to connect.

the normal way to configure modems in mageia is:

- connect in some way to internet
- enable nonfree repos
- open MCC and configure the hardware

don't you have the possibility to connect via ethernet for at least the time necessary to setup the modem?

Unfortunately these modems are the only connection source I have. Using the Sony now to post this via Korora Linux.
It shows as a "mass storage device" if that's any help.

No chance to establish a wired internet connection somewhere temporarily?

If that would be your only connection, you'd need to get some packages via your working installation, but first please
tell from which medium you installed Mageia, was it the DVD or a LiveCD? The latter should have all packages available
which are needed, and to my knowledge there's no 3G modem which needs a dedicated firmware.

Just try to start Mageia Control Center -> Network -> Set up a new network interface (LAN, ISDN, ADSL, ...)
What error message do you get there when selecting to setup a GPRS/EDGE/3G connection?

This is from a live CD.
From memory, it said "no device of this type was found, or is available", or wording similar. as per my previous post it only shows as a mass storage device.

Then please do the following: open a terminal, and as root please do:

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tailf /var/log/messages

then wait a few seconds, and plugin the 3g modem, wait again ten secons or so, until no new output appears,
and post everything here using code-tags: ftp://ftp.mandrivauser.de/rpm/rpm/extra/test/code_tags.ogv

Thank you for responding. This was the output:

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[live@localhost ~]$ su
[root@localhost live]# tailf /var/log/messages
Sep 30 09:18:41 localhost zcip[4383]: claiming ownership of address 169.254.125.229
Sep 30 09:18:45 localhost zcip[4383]: Stored address 169.254.125.229 for eth0:9
Sep 30 09:18:45 localhost zcip[4394]: watching for collisions
Sep 30 09:18:45 localhost ifplugd(eth0)[3950]: client: Determining IP information for eth0... done.
Sep 30 09:18:45 localhost ifplugd(eth0)[3950]: Program executed successfully.
Sep 30 09:20:21 localhost systemd-logind[962]: New session 1 of user live.
Sep 30 09:20:32 localhost dbus-daemon[1038]: dbus[1038]: [system] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.PackageKit' (using servicehelper)
Sep 30 09:20:32 localhost dbus[1038]: [system] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.PackageKit' (using servicehelper)
Sep 30 09:20:32 localhost dbus-daemon[1038]: dbus[1038]: [system] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.PackageKit'
Sep 30 09:20:32 localhost dbus[1038]: [system] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.PackageKit'
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost kernel: [  548.281148] usb 6-3.2: new full-speed USB device number 7 using ehci_hcd
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost kernel: [  548.401025] usb 6-3.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0fce, idProduct=d0cf
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost kernel: [  548.401032] usb 6-3.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost kernel: [  548.401037] usb 6-3.2: Product: Sony Ericsson MD300
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost kernel: [  548.401040] usb 6-3.2: Manufacturer: Sony Ericsson
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost kernel: [  548.401043] usb 6-3.2: SerialNumber: 3534460206761590
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost kernel: [  548.404148] scsi8 : usb-storage 6-3.2:1.0
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost mtp-probe: checking bus 6, device 7: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:13.5/usb6/6-3/6-3.2"
Sep 30 09:21:13 localhost mtp-probe: bus: 6, device: 7 was not an MTP device
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.407941] scsi 8:0:0:0: Direct-Access     SEMC     MMC Flash Card      0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.409297] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] 348161 512-byte logical blocks: (178 MB/170 MiB)
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.410806] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.412174] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Asking for cache data failed
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.412179] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.415544] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.416670] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Asking for cache data failed
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.416675] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.426348]  sdc: sdc1
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.426356] sdc: p1 size 348161 extends beyond EOD, enabling native capacity
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.429043] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.430046] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Asking for cache data failed
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.430050] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.439310]  sdc: sdc1
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.439316] sdc: p1 size 348161 extends beyond EOD, truncated
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.441926] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.443048] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Asking for cache data failed
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.443053] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Sep 30 09:21:14 localhost kernel: [  549.443057] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI removable disk
Sep 30 09:21:15 localhost logger: usb_modeswitch: adding device ID 0fce:d0cf to driver "option"
Sep 30 09:21:15 localhost logger: usb_modeswitch: please report the device ID to the Linux USB developers!

This is the same output for the second modem that I have which also returns a "no device of this type was found" message.

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ive@localhost ~]$ tailf /var/log/messages
tailf: cannot open "/var/log/messages" for read: Permission denied
[live@localhost ~]$ su
[root@localhost live]# tailf /var/log/messages
Sep 30 09:27:33 localhost drakconf.real[5548]: ### Program is starting ###
Sep 30 09:27:41 localhost drakconnect[5582]: ### Program is starting ###
Sep 30 09:27:53 localhost drakconnect[5582]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}
Sep 30 09:28:12 localhost drakconnect[5582]: modified file /etc/modprobe.conf
Sep 30 09:28:12 localhost drakconnect[5582]: running: dmidecode
Sep 30 09:28:12 localhost drakconnect[5582]: to put in /etc/modprobe.preload evdev
Sep 30 09:28:12 localhost drakconnect[5582]: modified file /etc/modprobe.preload
Sep 30 09:28:12 localhost drakconnect[5582]: ### Program is exiting ###
Sep 30 09:28:14 localhost drakconf.real[5548]: modified file /etc/mcc.conf
Sep 30 09:28:17 localhost kernel: [  972.620211] usb 6-3.2: USB disconnect, device number 8
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost kernel: [ 1004.790151] usb 6-3.2: new high-speed USB device number 9 using ehci_hcd
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost kernel: [ 1004.866769] usb 6-3.2: New USB device found, idVendor=2020, idProduct=f00e
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost kernel: [ 1004.866774] usb 6-3.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=4
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost kernel: [ 1004.866779] usb 6-3.2: Product: USB Modem Device
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost kernel: [ 1004.866782] usb 6-3.2: Manufacturer: USB Modem
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost kernel: [ 1004.866785] usb 6-3.2: SerialNumber: 1234567890ABCDEF
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost kernel: [ 1004.868780] scsi10 : usb-storage 6-3.2:1.0
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost mtp-probe: checking bus 6, device 9: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:13.5/usb6/6-3/6-3.2"
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost mtp-probe: bus: 6, device: 9 was not an MTP device
Sep 30 09:28:50 localhost usb_modeswitch: switching device 2020:f00e on 006/009

BigFoot wrote:

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Sep 30 09:21:15 localhost logger: usb_modeswitch: adding device ID 0fce:d0cf to driver "option"
Sep 30 09:21:15 localhost logger: usb_modeswitch: please report the device ID to the Linux USB developers!

Seems the usb_modeswitch-data package which contains the devices database is not as up-to-date as it should be to support the first modem.
You may want to try sakis3g: http://www.sakis3g.org/ which brings its own bundled version of usb-modeswitch.

I don't wish to sound ungrateful, but you have to be kidding. All this complication just to get something connected that works out of the box with every other distro I have tried. No wonder new Windows migrants like myself get so frustrated when something that is listed as number two on Distrowatch can't even connect to the internet using what is the most common 3G modem in my country. I really liked Mageia but guess I'll have to stick with Korora instead. Thank you at least for trying.