More details below, in short: I have the latest firmware and switched to mbim mode. The modem registers to the network, I can connect to it with network-manager, the icon and info shows a HSUPA connection, gnome-nettool shows a connection and a few packets trickling by — but I get no internet access.
On Windows 10 I got a working connection. With the live LMDE2 installer USB stick I do get a working connection (after setting up mbim mode), so the hardware and the SIM/provider is ok.
With my actual LMDE2 installation, no access. Huh?
I've noticed the following which may be the real problem: after disconnecting WLAN and having started the broadband connection, route shows nothing (except its headline) and hangs. What am I missing?
Some background, may help others: The EM7345 seems to be infamous for buggy firmware, one should install the latest. Unfortunately this needs Lenovo's Windows, Lenovo Service Bridge, some working connection, and having a working SIM card inserted! So… booting the live LMDE USB, saving the LMDE disk image (twice, for security), restoring the Win disk image. Pulling all Windows and Lenovo updates, including this firmware, BIOS, the infamous Intel Management Engine etc. Saving twice the changed Win image, restoring the LMDE image again — takes 1.5 TB transfer and a whole day all in all. Should have done a dual boot install…
Have now firmware FIH7160_V1.2_WW_01.1616.01 ; V1.2 seems essential.
On Linux, the EM7345 seems to need mbim mode. Manual one-shot:
Code: Select all
sudo rmmod cdc_mbim # uses
sudo rmmod cdc_ncm
sudo modprobe cdc_ncm prefer_mbim=Y # restart with this option
sudo modprobe cdc_mbim # restart
echo '1-4' | sudo tee /sys/bus/drivers/usb/unbind # power-cycle the modem
echo '1-4' | sudo tee /sys/bus/drivers/usb/bind # at USB bus 1 device 4
ls /dev # now must show a newly added cdc-wdm0
options cdc_ncm prefer_mbim=Y
All this was necessary to get the modem to connect at all.
Thanks to the following tips (caution, somewhat outdated)!
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-X ... -p/2046489
http://linux-thinkpad.10952.n7.nabble.c ... 21273.html
https://zukota.com/all-sierra-wireless-em7345-firmware/
https://thinkpad-forum.de/threads/19037 ... nter-linux