Tech Stuff

Optus Prepaid Mobile Broadband for Linux

Details

Last Updated on Sunday, 08 January 2012 16:40

Written by MrB

Optus Prepaid Mobile Broadband for Linux - NetworkManager (NM)

Fedora 15

Updated 20110611

Fedora 15 presented some new complications getting the Mobile Broadband wireless going. When plugging the USB stick modem into the computer NetworkManager stared blankly back at me. To setup the connection I had to run the following command in a terminal.

nm-connection-editor

Go to the "Mobile Broadband" tab and click add. You Modem should appear in the drop down list (assuming you've plugged it in). Follow the wizard as per your specific provider details.

The next time you boot up and/or connect the modem you may find it takes FOREVER for

it to be recognised by the desktop so be patient with it. However, it may still not work if you are running SELinux. There is a workaround. In a terminal window (as root) run:

grep pppd /var/log/audit/audit.log | audit2allow -M mypol
semodule -i mypol.pp

Fedora 14

I had issues getting my Optus Mobile Broadband service working on a Fedora 14 install. After a great deal of time on the phone to a number of Optus folk it turns out that the default Optus settings are wrong are wrong in NM.

The "APN" setting must be changed to "preconnect" otherwise it will not work.

Note that after first login I often have to disable "Mobile Broadband" check-box in NM and re-enable to get the modem to respond. After un-checking and re-checking try "Connecting" again. If that fails (or you have not "Mobile Broadband" check-box) unplug the USB modem and reconnect to different port. Give it 30 seconds and try again.