Hi everyone. I found the culprit responsible for the wonky behaviour of ModemManager not connecting when auto-launched but working okay when launched manually. It's SELinux, which is per default set to enforcing on OpenSuse. When set to permissive, the modem now works flawlessly with the build. Obviously disarming SELinux is not ideal so I'll have to learn to write a custom SELinux policy to enable the DW5825e with the enforcing mode. I can't promise any immediate results in this regard as this is something completely new to me - but I'm on it.
Here are the working building instructions for enabling the DW5825e on OpenSuse Tumbleweed (tested with snapshots 20250513 and 20250501): --- Fibocom FM101 / Dell DW5825e OpenSUSE Build: ### Source: ### https://github.com/fibocom-pc/linux_apps_opensource ### How it works ### ModemManager calls fibo_ma (via the fcc unlock script corresponding to the modem's hardware id) which performs the necessary magic for a FCC unlock. The closed-source fibo_ma calls fibo_helper_service which provides a dbus interface for comms with the modem. ### SELinux not working ### The modem fails to connect if SELinux is set to enforcing in /etc/selinux/config. For now, set it to permissive. !!! This is dangerous and ugly !!! fibo_flash.service is used to flash the firmware to the modem -> needs the OEM FwFlashSrv firmware file from Dell. The firmware flashed is persistent though, so I think a once successfully flashed modem should continue working successfully. fibo_config.service applies config settings from a provided fbwwanConfig.ini to the modem. The file provided by Dell is the same one as the one in the Fibocom Github repo. fibo_ma seems to check via dmidecode whether the modem and chassis are Dell devices and refuses to fcc unlock the modem if this check fails. ### Files needed from Dell Ubuntu 22.04 OEM Install ### /opt/fibocom/fibo_flash_service/FwFlashSrv (Firmware) /opt/fibocom/fibo_ma_service/fcc-unlock.d (ModemManager FCCUnlock files) --> only 413c:8213 is needed but copy the other hw ids for future use as well --> needs to be made available to ModemManager in OpenSuse: Should be linked to /usr/lib64/ModemManager/fcc-unlock.d ### Libraries & Tools: ### cmake dmidecode gcc gcc-c++ pkgconf-pkg-config glib2 glib2-devel libxml2 libxml2-devel libmbim libmbim-devel libqmi-glib5 libqmi-tools libdbus-glib-1-2 ModemManager ModemManager-devel systemd-devel libdbus-glib-1-2 --> create symlink from libdbus-1.so.3 to /usr/lib64/libdbus-1.so !!!messy!!! ---> sudo ln -s /usr/lib64/libdbus-1.so.3 /usr/lib64/libdbus-1.so ### Build ### cd to linux_apps_opensource directory cmake -S . -B build cmake --build build --> Create dbus config for fibocom helper: /usr/share/dbus-1/system.d/com.fibocom.helper.conf <!DOCTYPE busconfig PUBLIC "-//freedesktop//DTD D-BUS Bus Configuration 1.0//EN" "http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/dbus/1.0/busconfig.dtd";> <busconfig> <!-- This config allows anyone to control mcdm --> <policy context="default"> <allow send_destination="com.fibocom.helper"/> </policy> <policy user="root"> <allow own="com.fibocom.helper"/> </policy> </busconfig> --> Create dbus service file: /usr/share/dbus-1/system-services/com.fibocom.helper.service [D-BUS Service] Name=com.fibocom.helper Exec=/bin/false User=root SystemdService=fibo_helper.service --> Create fibo_config service /etc/systemd/system/fibo_config.service [Unit] Description=Firmware Config Service After=ModemManager.service fibo_helper.service [Service] EnvironmentFile=/lib/systemd/system/fibo_config.d/env.conf ExecStart=/opt/fibocom/fibo_config_service/fibo_config ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID Restart=on-abort Type=simple Restart=on-abort User=root [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target --> Create fibo_flash service /etc/systemd/system/fibo_flash.service [Unit] Description=Firmware Flash Service After=ModemManager.service fibo_helper.service [Service] EnvironmentFile=/lib/systemd/system/fibo_flash.d/env.conf ExecStart=/opt/fibocom/fibo_flash_service/fibo_flash ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID Restart=on-abort Type=simple Restart=on-abort User=root [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target --> Create fibo_helper service /etc/systemd/system/fibo_helper.service [Unit] Description=Firmware Helper Service After=ModemManager.service [Service] EnvironmentFile=/lib/systemd/system/fibo_helper.d/env.conf ExecStart=/opt/fibocom/fibo_helper_service/fibo_helperd ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID Restart=on-abort Type=simple Restart=on-abort User=root [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target --> Create fibo_helper_mbim service /etc/systemd/system/fibo_helper_mbim.service [Unit] Description=Firmware Helper Service After=ModemManager.service fibo_helper.service [Service] EnvironmentFile=/lib/systemd/system/fibo_helper.d/env.conf ExecStart=/opt/fibocom/fibo_helper_service/fibo_helperm ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID Restart=on-abort Type=simple Restart=on-abort User=root [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target --> Create systemd directories for environment files sudo mkdir /lib/systemd/system/fibo_config.d/ sudo mkdir /lib/systemd/system/fibo_flash.d/ sudo mkdir /lib/systemd/system/fibo_helper.d/ --> Create environment files (as root) echo "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=\$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/lib64" > /lib/systemd/system/fibo_config.d/env.conf echo "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=\$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/lib64" > /lib/systemd/system/fibo_flash.d/env.conf echo "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=\$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/lib64" > /lib/systemd/system/fibo_helper.d/env.conf --> Create the following udev rule: /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/76-mm-fibocom-linux-apps-port-types.rules # do not edit this file, it will be overwritten on update ACTION!="add|change|move|bind", GOTO="mm_fibocom_linux_apps_port_types_end" SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{bInterfaceNumber}=="?*", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}="$attr{bInterfaceNumber}" ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="02", SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="03", SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="04", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="05", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" ATTRS{idVendor}=="413c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="8213", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="02", SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" ATTRS{idVendor}=="413c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="8215", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="02", SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" LABEL="mm_fibocom_linux_apps_port_types_end" --> Create the following udev rule: /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/77-mm-fibocom.rules ACTION!="add|change|move|bind", GOTO="mm_fibocom_end" ENV{SUBSYSTEM}=="pci", ENV{PCI_ID}=="14C3:4D75", ATTR{power/wakeup}="disabled", GOTO="mm_fibocom_end" ENV{SUBSYSTEM}=="pci", ENV{PCI_ID}=="8086:7560", ATTR{power/wakeup}="disabled", GOTO="mm_fibocom_end" LABEL="mm_fibocom_end" --> Edit the ExecStart line in /usr/lib/systemd/system/ModemManager.service: ExecStart=/usr/sbin/ModemManager --test-quick-suspend-resume --> Create fcc unlock script for the DW5825e (413c:8213) as /usr/share/ModemManager/fcc-unlock.available.d/413c:8213 #!/bin/sh # SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0 # 2023 Nero zhang <sin...@sinaro.es> # # Fibocom FM101 FCC unlock mechanism # # run fcc-unlock binary /opt/fibocom/fibo_ma_service/fibo_ma exit $? --> Tell ModemManager to automatically activate available fcc unlocks ln -sft /usr/lib64/ModemManager/fcc-unlock.d /usr/share/ModemManager/fcc-unlock.available.d/* --> reload systemd to make fibocom services available systemctl daemon-reload --> activate fibocom services sudo systemctl enable fibo_helper.service sudo systemctl enable fibo_helper_mbim.service sudo systemctl enable fibo_flash.service sudo systemctl enable fibo_config.service --> reboot --> add connection profile / APN via NetworkManager. --> Success! Best, Jo. 9. Mai 2025, 15:35 von johanngerbh...@tutamail.com: > Hi Dan, thank you for taking the time to respond! > >> Does the modem actually get registered with the network, or does it >> completely fail to communicate with it? By "connecting" I'm not sure if >> you mean a data connection or just registering. >> > It didn't get registered at all with the initial setup instructions I posted > as I missed a few crucial steps. I actually got the modem to connect now via > doing the following: > > --> libudev0-shim is NOT needed: Analyzing the package for ubuntu, I found > out that Fibocom's tools are actually built against libudev1 but they expect > it to be called libudev - so I now linked libudev.so.1.7.10 to libudev.so > > --> The path for 76-mm-fibocom-linux-apps-port-types.rules should be > /usr/lib/udev/rules.d. The content is as follows: > # do not edit this file, it will be overwritten on update > ACTION!="add|change|move|bind", GOTO="mm_fibocom_linux_apps_port_types_end" > SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{bInterfaceNumber}=="?*", > ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}="$attr{bInterfaceNumber}" > > ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="02", > SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" > ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="03", > SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" > ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="04", > ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" > ATTRS{idVendor}=="2cb7", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01a2", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="05", > ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" > > ATTRS{idVendor}=="413c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="8213", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="02", > SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" > ATTRS{idVendor}=="413c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="8215", ENV{.MM_USBIFNUM}=="02", > SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_MM_PORT_IGNORE}="1" > > LABEL="mm_fibocom_linux_apps_port_types_end" > > --> There is an additional udev rule that I missed to copy: > /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/77-mm-fibocom.rules. Content as follows: > ACTION!="add|change|move|bind", GOTO="mm_fibocom_end" > ENV{SUBSYSTEM}=="pci", ENV{PCI_ID}=="14C3:4D75", > ATTR{power/wakeup}="disabled", GOTO="mm_fibocom_end" > ENV{SUBSYSTEM}=="pci", ENV{PCI_ID}=="8086:7560", > ATTR{power/wakeup}="disabled", GOTO="mm_fibocom_end" > > LABEL="mm_fibocom_end" > > --> ModemManager's ExecStart line in > /usr/lib/systemd/system/ModemManager.service is modified with a switch: > ExecStart=/usr/sbin/ModemManager --test-quick-suspend-resume > > --> a dbus service file needs to be created as > /usr/share/dbus-1/system-services/com.fibocom.helper.service. > Contents: > [D-BUS Service] > Name=com.fibocom.helper > Exec=/bin/false > User=root > SystemdService=fibo_helper.service > > > And here's where it gets interesting: I am now able to successfully connect > to the LTE network and surf the internet when manually running ModemManager. > When trying to launch ModemManager automatically on startup though, > ModemManager seems to fail creating a process group and can't access the > cdc_mbim port for some reason. Both logs attached as follows: > > --> Successful connection via manual ModemManager launch as root. After about > 10 minutes the modem resets but reconnects immediately (visible at the end of > the log). > localhost:~ #> /usr/sbin/ModemManager --test-quick-suspend-resume > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> ModemManager (version 1.22.0) starting in system > bus... > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [cdc-wdm0/mbim] MBIM device is not QMI capable > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [device > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1] creating modem with plugin > 'dell' and '3' ports > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [base-manager] modem for device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1' successfully created > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [base-manager] couldn't check support for device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.3': not supported by any plugin > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [base-manager] couldn't check support for device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.6': not supported by any plugin > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0/cdc-wdm0/mbim] MBIM device is QMI capable > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (unknown -> disabled) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (disabled -> enabling) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect started... > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (4/10): wait to get > fully enabled > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0] Cannot power-up: hardware radio switch is > OFF > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0] Cannot power-up: hardware radio switch is > OFF > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0] couldn't enable interface: 'Invalid > transition' > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0] failed enabling modem: Invalid transition > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (enabling -> disabled) > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0] failed waiting for enabled state: disabled > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect started... > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (3/10): enable > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (disabled -> enabling) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect started... > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (4/10): wait to get > fully enabled > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0] couldn't reload extended signal > information: No signal details given > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] power state updated: on > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] 3GPP packet service state changed (unknown > -> attached) > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0] connection attempt cancelled > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (enabling -> enabled) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (5/10): wait after > enabled > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] 3GPP registration state changed (unknown > -> registering) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] 3GPP registration state changed > (registering -> home) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (enabled -> registered) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (6/10): register > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (7/10): wait to get > packet service state attached > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (8/10): bearer > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (9/10): connect > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (registered -> connecting) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (connecting -> connected) > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (10/10): all done > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0/bearer1] reloading stats failed: > Transaction timed out > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem0] port 'cdc-wdm0' no longer controllable, > reprobing > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [base-manager] port cdc-wdm0 released by device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1' > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [/dev/cdc-wdm0] MBIM error: Device must be open to > send commands > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [/dev/cdc-wdm0] MBIM error: Device must be open to > send commands > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [/dev/cdc-wdm0] MBIM error: Device must be open to > send commands > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [/dev/cdc-wdm0] MBIM error: Device must be open to > send commands > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [/dev/cdc-wdm0] MBIM error: Device must be open to > send commands > ModemManager[4324]: <wrn> [modem0/cdc-wdm0/mbim] Couldn't properly close QMI > device: Device must be open to send commands > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [base-manager] port ttyUSB0 released by device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1' > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [base-manager] port wwp0s20f0u1 released by device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1' > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [cdc-wdm0/mbim] MBIM device is not QMI capable > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [device > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1] creating modem with plugin > 'dell' and '3' ports > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [base-manager] modem for device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1' successfully created > ModemManager[4324]: <msg> [modem1/cdc-wdm0/mbim] MBIM device is QMI capable > --> failed connection when launching ModemManager via systemd: > localhost:~ #> systemctl start ModemManager > localhost:~ #> systemctl status ModemManager > ●> ModemManager.service - Modem Manager > Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/ModemManager.service; > enabled> > ; preset: > enabled> ) > Active: > active (running)> since Fri 2025-05-09 15:20:52 CEST; 14s ago > Invocation: 1c378c21a150400d8bf3664cb2a40cd8 > Main PID: 14659 (ModemManager) > Tasks: 6> (limit: 18296)> > CPU: 118ms > CGroup: /> system.slice/ModemManager.service > <http://system.slice/ModemManager.service>> > └─> 14659 /usr/sbin/ModemManager --test-quick-suspend-resume> > > May 09 15:20:55 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14739]: > <wrn> couldn't > setup proxy specific process group> > May 09 15:20:55 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14742]: > <wrn> couldn't > setup proxy specific process group> > May 09 15:20:55 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14745]: > <wrn> couldn't > setup proxy specific process group> > May 09 15:20:55 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14748]: > <wrn> couldn't > setup proxy specific process group> > May 09 15:20:55 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14751]: > <wrn> couldn't > setup proxy specific process group> > May 09 15:20:56 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14659]: > <msg> [device > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1] creating modem with plugin > 'dell' and '3' ports> > May 09 15:20:56 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14659]: > <wrn> > [plugin/dell] could not grab port cdc-wdm0: Cannot add port > 'usbmisc/cdc-wdm0', unhandled port type> > May 09 15:20:56 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14659]: > <wrn> > [base-manager] couldn't create modem for device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb4/4-1': Failed to find primary AT > port> > May 09 15:20:56 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14659]: > <msg> > [base-manager] couldn't check support for device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.3': not supported by any plugin> > May 09 15:20:56 localhost.localdomain ModemManager[14659]: > <msg> > [base-manager] couldn't check support for device > '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.6': not supported by any plugin > I have no clue why ModemManager can't access the cdc-wdm0 port - perhaps it > isn't given enough privileges when launched via systemd? The service file > does however look like any other ModemManager service I've ever encountered: > > --> Contents of /usr/lib/systemd/system/ModemManager.service: > [Unit] > Description=Modem Manager > After=polkit.service > Requires=polkit.service > ConditionVirtualization=!container > > [Service] > Type=dbus > BusName=org.freedesktop.ModemManager1 > ExecStart=/usr/sbin/ModemManager --test-quick-suspend-resume > StandardError=null > Restart=on-abort > CapabilityBoundingSet=CAP_SYS_ADMIN CAP_NET_ADMIN > ProtectSystem=true > ProtectHome=true > PrivateTmp=true > RestrictAddressFamilies=AF_NETLINK AF_UNIX AF_QIPCRTR > NoNewPrivileges=true > User=root > > [Install] > WantedBy=multi-user.target > Alias=dbus-org.freedesktop.ModemManager1.service > >> It may not even use AT commands; it might be running through an MBIM >> service instead. At the moment I'm not sure of any unlock procedure for >> the Fibcom Qualcomm-based devices other than their binary tools. >> > The ModemManager log indicates that MBIM / QMI are present but that's also > the only clue I have, sadly. > > Once again, sorry for maybe not following the most methodical approach - > feels like throwing things on a wall and hope that something sticks. > Maybe someone could help with solving that systemd ModemManager startup > issue? I can also provide the Dell-specific firmware file if someone would > like to investigate further. > > Best, Jo. > >
