Verizon MiFi U620L Quick setup guide

MIU620L-IG001
MiFi 4G LTE Global
USB Modem U620L
Linux Integration Guide
Version 1.0 July10, 2015

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©2015 Novatel Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained in this document is subject
to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Novatel Wireless, Inc.
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MiFi® and the MiFi logo are registered trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc.

iii
General Disclaimer
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of such New Materials is subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, and may be subject to
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Version Verification
To ensure you have the latest version of this document, visit the Novatel Wireless IoT Technical
Documentation site at documentation.nvtl.com.

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Contents
Introduction 1
Overview 2
Prerequisites 3
Known Issues 4
End User Mode 5
Enumerating CDC-ECMInterface 6
Enterprise Mode 7
Enumerating CDC-ECM + Modem Interfaces 8

Introduction
Overview
Prerequisites
Known Issues
1
1

Overview
The MiFi U620L implements the Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (RNDIS) network
interface based on Microsoft RNDIS 6.0. Although this integration may not be supported in the Linux
environment, the MiFi U620L does support Linux configurations.
This guide outlines the basic information needed to successfully integrate the MiFi U620L into a Linux
platform. The two main sections in the guide are:
lEnd-User Mode: Enumerating CDC-ECM interface
In this mode, the device is used for a WWAN connection to the Internet for such activities as
browsing or connecting to a VPN.
lEnterprise Mode: Enumerating CDC-ECM and Modem interfaces (Optional)
In this mode, the Modem interface allows users to send AT commands to the device to
configure, query, or manage the Internet connection.
NOTE: The information included in this guide is based on Ubuntu running a Kernel version 3.16.0-
30.generic and these instructions can be extended to other kernel versions with no or minimum
changes (as appropriate).
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U620L Linux Integration Guide 3
Prerequisites
The following items are prerequisites for the Linux integrations:
lusb_modeswitch—Utility used for switching USB configurations. This utility should be installed
on the Linux machine.
NOTE: An Internet connection is required for this installation.
To install the utility:
4Enter the following command:
# sudo apt-get install usb_modeswitch
lLinux Kernel source files—Files required to enable the MiFi U620Lto enumerate the Modem
interface. Download the files from this site: https://www.kernel.org/.

Known Issues
The usb_modeswitch utility has crashed on some Linux distributions presenting the following error
message.
Despite receiving this message, the Ethernet Interface gets enumerated correctly and the laptop gets an
IP address from the device. This is a tool-related issue and you can safely ignore this error.
U620L Linux Integration Guide 4

End User Mode
Enumerating CDC-ECM Interface
2
5

Enumerating CDC-ECMInterface
By default, the MiFi U620L device is in End-User Mode. This means that only the RNDIS configuration is
exposed. For the device to get a WWAN IPAddress assignment, you must switch the configuration to
CDC-ECM.
To switch the configuration and initiate the DHCPrequest:
1. Verify that your device is in End-User Mode by issuing the following command:
# lsusb
If the device is in End-User Mode, the response is:
ID 1410:9020 Novatel Wireless
2. If the device is in End-User Mode, uninstall the RNDISdriver by issuing the following command:
# sudo rmmod rndis_host
3. Switch the device to CDC-ECM configuration by issuing the following command:
# sudo usb_modeswitch –v 0x1410 –p 0x9020 –u 2
Once these steps are complete, the CDC-ECM interface is enabled on the device and the device
expects a DHCP Request from the Linux server.
4. Initiate the DHCP Request to the U620L to get the WWAN IP Addresses assigned to Linux by
issuing the following command:
# sudo dhclient eth1
NOTE: Replace eth1 with the appropriate Ethernet interface enumeration on your setup.
U620L Linux Integration Guide 6

Enterprise Mode
Enumerating CDC-ECM + Modem Interfaces
3
7

Enumerating CDC-ECM + Modem Interfaces
To add support for the MiFi U620L, you must modify the kernel source on your Linux server by adding
the Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID) of the MiFi U620L.
NOTE: The following instructions assume that your kernel version is 3.16.0-x-generic (To verify the
kernel version, run the command uname –r.)
To modify the kernel source:
1. Download the Linux distribution-specific kernel sources with patches into your working
directory by issuing the following command:
# sudo apt-get source linux-image-$(uname –r)
NOTE: You can find files option.c and usb-wwan.h under “Linux-<distro>-3.16.0
/drivers/usb/serial”.
2. Modify the option.c file:
a. [Optional] Back up the original option.c file.
b. [Optional] Add "#define DRIVER_VERSION "v0.7.2.xx"" to differentiate from the
official version.
c. Under the /* NOVATEL WIRELESS PRODUCTS */ section, add:
“#define NOVATELWIRELESS_PRODUCT_ENTERPRISE_U620L 0x9022”
d. Find "static const struct usb_device_id option_ids[]" structure, and add:
“{USB_DEVICE_AND_INTERFACE_INFO(NOVATELWIRELESS_VENDOR_ID,
NOVATELWIRELESS_PRODUCT_ENTERPRISE_U620L, 0xff, 0x0, 0x0)}“
3. Generate the option.ko driver:
a. Copy the modified option.c and (unmodified/original) usb-wwan.h files to /usr/src/linux-
headers-3.16.0-x-generic/drivers/usb/serial/
b. Change the directory:
# cd /lib/modules/3.16.0-x-generic
c. Make sure the build folder under /lib/modules/3.16.0-x-generic points to /usr/src/linux-
headers-3.16.0-x-generic.
If not, create a link from the build to /usr/src/linux-headers-3.16.0-x-generic.
d. Change the directory:
# cd /lib/modules/3.16.0-x-generic/build/drivers/usb/serial
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e. Save the original Makefile and create a new Makefile that contains the only rule for
option.o:
obj-m += option.o
f. Change the directory:
# cd /lib/modules/3.16.0-x-generic/build
g. Build the driver by issuing the following command:
# sudo make -C /lib/modules/3.16.0-x-generic/build/
M=/usr/src/linux-headers-3.16.0-x-generic/drivers/usb/serial/
4. Add or replace option.ko in system modules directory:
a. Check if option.ko is loaded by issuing the following command:
# lsmod | grep option.ko
b. If the output shows "option" loaded, then remove or unload it by issuing the following
command:
# sudo modprobe -r option
c. Copy the build by issuing the following command:
# sudo cp /usr/src/ linux-headers-3.16.0-x-
generic/drivers/usb/serial/option.ko /lib/modules/3.16.0-
x.generic/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/
d. Deploy the build by issuing the following command:
# sudo depmod -a
To enable the Modem Interface:
1. Verify that your device is in End-User Mode by issuing the following command:
# lsusb
If the device is in End-User Mode, the response is:
ID 1410:9020 Novatel Wireless
2. If the device is in End-User Mode, uninstall the RNDISdriver by issuing the following command:
# sudo rmmod rndis_host
3. Switch the device to Enterprise Mode configuration by issuing the following command:
# sudo usb_modeswitch –v 0x1410 –p 0x9020 –u 4

4. Wait a few minutes for the device to switch to Enterprise Mode and then verify again that your
device is in Enterprise Mode by issuing the following command:
# lsusb
If the device is in Enterprise Mode, the response is:
ID 1410:9022 Novatel Wireless
Once these steps are complete, the CDC-ECM interface is enabled on the device and the device
expects a DHCP Request from the Linux server.
5. Initiate the DHCP Request to the U620L to get the WWAN IP Addresses assigned to Linux by
issuing the following command:
# sudo dhclient eth1
NOTE: Replace eth1 with the appropriate Ethernet interface enumeration on your setup.
6. Verify that option.ko is loaded by issuing the following command:
# lsmod | grep option
If it is already loaded, skip to step 8.
7. If the option.ko driver is not loaded, follow these steps to load the driver:
a. Load the USB serial driver module with the VID and PID parameters corresponding to the
MiFi U620L by issuing the following command:
# sudo modprobe usbserial vendor=0x1410 product=0x9022
b. If necessary, load usb_wwan by issuing the following command:
NOTE: This is applicable in case the kernel version is later than 3.xx since option.c uses
functions from the usb_wwan module.
# sudo insmod usb_wwan.ko
c. Load the option driver by issuing the following command:
# sudo insmod option.ko
8. Check for the Novatel Modem ports by issuing the following command:
# ls –l /dev/ttyUSB*
The modem port should be /dev/ttyUSB0.
NOTE: You can use PuTTY or a similar tool to open the modem port and use the AT commands.
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