HowtTo: Install Wireless Broadband Internet using an EVDO CDMA usb modem Model MM 5500SU in Suse 10.1 Linux via a VMware Server Windows guest – specifically for Bigpond Australia. The notebook auto senses whether it is in the field or back at the base LAN and seamlessly connects to the appropriate network/internet feed.

The EVDO network discussed here has been discontinued. This page is no longer maintained.

Note: This method is used when your EVDO CDMA usb modem Model MM 5500SU won't connect natively through your Linux operating system. Many have succeded with installing their modems in their distro's with a range of tweaks published on the Internet. But some distros simply won't play. When faced with that, the method in this HowTo provides a good alternative. My everyday distro is Suse OSS. With Suse 10.0 I had to use VMware server as a conduit to the Internet. My current distro is Suse 10.1 and my modem connects pretty much oob. If you're using Suse 10.1 then check my other HowTo.

Note added after release of Suse 10.1: I no longer use this method because Suse 10.1, which I now use, connects natively. But I leave the document here for others whose Linux distro's cannot install this modem natively.

Background: I subscribed to BigPond wireless broadband because I am away from home a lot. I take a notebook/laptop computer with me which runs Windows and Suse Linux. At home I work on Suse Linux from a desktop box, no Windows involved. Windows is on my laptop because I couldn't connect to the Internet via the EVDO modem in Suse. NOW I CAN thanks to VMware. VMware Server is free. Don't be confused by the term Server. Workstations are what you install for this application using VMware Server. Here's how you do it:

About VMware as a path to the Internet: VMware runs in Linux (and Windows – not relevant here) and gives the Linux user a way to operate Windows from within Linux. Here Windows is a Virtual Machine, a guest operating system running in the Linux host. The guest and host machines form a simple network, a workgroup, whereby:

When the physical computer is itself connected to a LAN both the host Linux os [and incidentally the guest os] can access the Internet via the LAN [good for small office & home office use]

When the physical computer is moved off the LAN, say for fieldwork with a notebook/laptop, the Linux host operating system automatically routes to the Internet using the EVDO CDMA wireless broadband modem, and the Laptop has achieved full functionality as a Linux portable workstation! Windows is only there as an interface, a go-between if you like, or in the jargon – as a Linux wrapper for the Microsoft modem driver code.

When used in this way, the Windows guest can be a cut-down installation using minimal resources.

Install VMware Server in Linux: Well I won't go over much travelled ground. Here's a HowTo on installing VMware in Suse. Suse is my favourite Linux distro. See that HowTo for setting up VMware. The HowTo you are reading now is not about Suse. This HowTo is about those Linux OSs that don't yet support the EVDO CDMA modem.

After VMware is installed you need to install a guest Windows, which is a pretty uneventful procedure. Windows 2000-SP4 through XP all flavours work very well in this role. Even Vista RC1 installs nicely but it's too bug riddled to cope with this sort of advanced application. Don't try Win 98 as an Internet pathway – the technology for EVDO/CDMA needs minimum Win2000 with SP4.

To install a virtual Windows: As I said, I use a Suse host os. I chose Win2000 to hold the modem on my laptop because it's stronger and simpler than its offspring, but what I say here is generally applicable.

First have ready your malware protection software. I use ZoneAlarm, SpyBot Search & Destroy, AdAware, SpywreBlaster and AVG. They're good and they're free for non-business. I use them all together in an overlapping mode. Have them ready because Windows infectability is so enormous. I lost my first Win-in-VM install within in 30 minutes to viruses while I was downloading the above virus packages from the Internet. It blew me away. Fascinating! I thank God I use Linux, and for the susceptibility of Windows, which earns me good money.

Start VM in Linux and connect to local host on the options window that opens up. Then click create a virtual machine. Select default Typical and then select your choice of Windows from the drop-down box, then next choose a location for the virtual hard drive on the next screen, choose bridged networking for this application. When setting the size of the virtual hard disk, look on microsoft.com for the installation system requirements and use an appropriate hard disk size. Win2000 needs 650Mb spare on a 2Gb partition. I selected 2Gb. When you click Finish, the disk is created. Like so:

pic: drive creation

After that Windows installation can begin. Put the install disk in the CD drive and select to power on this virtual machine. Then it's just like an install on a tangible computer. Everyone reading this can do that sleeping! During this install, don't have any usb devices connected. VMware's usb is 1.1 and usb2 devices can cause a freeze during installation. Later, Vmware's usb easily copes with the EVDO modem. Also, specify a workgroup name when asked, that makes the vitrual machine a member of the home or workplace LAN. Use the default option for installation of network components.

Install VMware tools and enable usb functionality: After the installation has finished you can install VMware's special drivers to improve the guest os's display and other interfaces. But first mount Linux's usb file system by entering this command as root in a console: [linux-suse:/home/ethel #] mount -t usbfs /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb. After the usb mount the following line should appear in the file /etc/mtab: /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb usbfs rw 0 0. OK, still with no usb devices attached you install VMware tools while the guest os is running. Select from the top bar VM --> Install VMware tools. Accept the defaults and go with the flow until you are asked whether you wish to reboot now or later. Select reboot.

After reboot if you look in device manager there's no icon for a usb controller. And VMware isn't aware of the need for one. If you goto VM --> settings, or just press Ctrl+d you'll see what I mean from the list of installed devices:

Image: list of devices To install a usb controller: Power off windows and you'll see the VMware server console: Pic: VMware server console

Proceeding from here requires that you have mounted the usb file system in Linux with the command discussed earlier [ mount -t usbfs /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb ]. If that is still in force the following line will appear in /etc/mtab: /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb usbfs rw 0 0

Note there's still no usb device [see the right hand list]. To get a controller click Edit virtual machine settings. This screen opens:

Pic: list of installable options Click add and the options screen opens Pic: List of installable hardware

Highlight USB controller and install it by clicking next etc.

Now you power on the VM guest and windows detects and installs a USB root hub. You can now see USB controllers in Windows device manager.

Somewhere along the way you should install malware protection, before you expose Windows vulnerabilities to the Internet. And install any SP service packs required. If you need the Internet you can go through your alternate wired cable/adsl/dsl etc connection.

It's also a good idea if this is an install on a portable to hand code IP addresses in the Linux server and the Windows guest. These addresses should be consistent with your LAN

Attach & Install Modem: Connect the power to the EVDO modem etc etc and plug it's usb connector to a port on the computer. If you goto VM – Removable Devices --> USB devices you should see an entry like CMOTECH CO LTD CMOTECH CDMA Technologies.

If you're using Bigpond: Don't click on it to attach it to the guest virtual machine yet, you must install some software first. If all is going well so far there will be two of the three red lights activated on the top of the modem. If you're not using BigPond, use your ISP's install/driver disk and proceed appropriately. Now insert the Bigpond modem driver disk. Navigate to the folder Connection Manager and copy it to the c:\ root of c: and put a shortcut on the desktop to BPconnect.exe which you'll find in that folder. This is the "connection manager" for use later. Now autoplay the install CD. Remember that even though the MM 5500SU EVDO modem is connected to the Linux notebook, it's not yet linked to the Windows host until you activate VM – Removable Devices --> USB --> CMOTECH CO LTD CMOTECH CDMA Technologies. Leave it disconnected for now. Here's the install screen:

Pic: Bigpond install screen

If your Linux notebook/desktop is connected to the Internet, perhaps by Lan, then disconnect it. Launch Auto Set-up and answer the questions appropriately until you are told to connect the modem. It's already powered on and has it's usb connection to the Linux host. Connect it to the Windows guest by using VM --> Removable devices --> --> usb --> Cmotech technologies etc. If it's connected to the guest there will be a three-bar icon beside the name. If false then click.

OK click next and the modem detection sequence begins: something like this:

Pic: Modem detection

Note you should see a green signal strength graphic top right. Then the login screen will appear and you can connect after entering you usename and password.

However it's likely the installation will break down before that and you'll get some sort of error message. So long as there are three light on top of the modem you are actually connected to BigPond, but perhaps not logged in. Dispose of any error screens, exit the installation and come back to the Connection Manage icon on the desktop. Activate that and you'll get the connection screen, and can log in from there.

This is an experimental method at this time. For me it works with W2000 & WXP on one computer but I only succeed with XP on my second computer. I don't know why. Also, while the procedure seems quite straightforward, it actually gets difficult with annoying glitches when I go past the last pic above. However I find that once installation succeeds and I gat connected, the connection manager works consistently from there on provided I don't change things.

If you have feedback I'd be glad to receive it on the email contained in the graphic below. That way I can maybe incorporate some more advice in this HowTo – Thanks.

Graphic of Email address

Good luck
Swerdna