Can not connect Huawei e3372 modem on Ubuntu 15.10. Please help

Question

I got a new Huawei E3372 modem for my 4G data connection. I have not been able to make it work, since it does not show up in my Network Manager. Can some one point me to the correct direction on how to make it work. Here are the details of my hardware:

Machine: Lenovo X220

OS: Ubuntu 15.10

Modem: Huawei E3372

Output of command lsusb

Bus 002 Device 016: ID 12d1:14dc Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Output of command dmesg

[ 6751.613272] usb 2-1.1: Product: HUAWEI_MOBILE
[ 6751.613276] usb 2-1.1: Manufacturer: HUAWEI_MOBILE
[ 6751.796901] cdc_ether 2-1.1:1.0 eth1: register 'cdc_ether' at usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.1, CDC Ethernet Device, 0c:5b:8f:27:9a:64
[ 6751.798113] usb-storage 2-1.1:1.2: USB Mass Storage device detected
[ 6751.798961] scsi host19: usb-storage 2-1.1:1.2
[ 6751.850055] cdc_ether 2-1.1:1.0 enx0c5b8f279a64: renamed from eth1
[ 6751.903291] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): enx0c5b8f279a64: link is not ready
[ 6751.903578] cdc_ether 2-1.1:1.0 enx0c5b8f279a64: kevent 12 may have been dropped
[ 6752.806483] scsi 19:0:0:0: Direct-Access     HUAWEI   TF CARD Storage  2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
[ 6752.807718] sd 19:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
[ 6752.815155] sd 19:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk

Answer 1

I first had to switch from mass storage to network mode (Ubuntu 16.04)

add the following to /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf

 # Huawei E353 (3.se) and others
 TargetVendor=0x12d1
 TargetProductList="14db,14dc"
 HuaweiNewMode=1
 NoDriverLoading=1

then run the actual modeswitching command

sudo usb_modeswitch -v 12d1 -p 1f01 -c /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf 

I sometimes have to run the modeswitch several times

Answer 2

Since no one was helping here, I figured it our myself how to make it work. Its actually quite easy. When this device it connected run lsusb to check for the device id. It should be 12d1:14dc Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.. If you see this device id on our machine that mean the modem has been registered successfully and can be used.

Add a new network connection using Network Manager panel. The connection type is 'Ethernet'. In Device Mac Address, select the mac address of your modem and click 'Save'. This new connection should come up in your Network Manager now. I hope this answer helps others.

Answer 3

Tojo's answer works! The USB dongle works directly as a "wired connection". However, I have to set the correct APN in the web interface on http://192.168.8.1/ Hope this small tips will help someone else.

Answer 4

Simon's answer helped me.
Additionally, I had to visit web interface, and click "Connect".
In case of my operator (Play (P4), Poland), I didn't have to configure other settings (APN was already correct: internet).