[Solved] Two Huawei 3372h simultaneous operation

orion777 · Last edited by orion777 on Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:50 am; edited 2 times in total

I'm a newbee in gentoo, so sorry for stupid questions if exist.
The problem what I want to solve is that 3G/4G modem works fine only if: 1) cell tower signal strength is sufficient 2) cell is not overloaded.
To overcome these problems I want to try to use 2 dongles Huawei 3372h simultaneously with different cellular network operators SIM cards.

Now I need tot use both dongles in parallel by sending similar packets thru both dongles. Google answer me that PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) actually do what I want. The software solution were found at zhaw university: they provide software based PRP Open Source Stack. It work under linux only, so here am. There are no problem to build it, but now I have a number of problems.

1. Problem.
Both Huawei 3372h works in HILINK mode and are reprogrammed manually. Both have same MAC. The MobileBrServ was successfully installed and works fine with one dongle inserted. Internet also is accessible. But when two dongles are inserted, one of them is left inactive. If I bring it up by choosing tham in Networkmanager Applet 1.4.2 under available, the second one goes down.

khayyam · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 12:54 pm Post subject:

orion777 ...

I expect NetworkManager is the issue here, it's designed with "usability" in mind (which equates to doing what it thinks needs to happen). I don't use it, so can't make any suggestions.

I don't know about PRP Open Source Stack, but you might be interested in MultipathTCP (a kernel patch).

best ... khay

orion777 · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 2:41 pm Post subject:

Thank You about MPTCP. After a brief reading its looks to me as something similar to bonding active-backup (from gentoo handbook) (as I understood from the webpage attached video: one network interface is disabled - then second goes on and so). Maybe I am wrong?..

What network manager do You suggest? I need some manager to work with wifi, or maybe nmtui is sufficient?

How to select desired interface what should to be used from already up interfaces? In windows I was modified IP tables by using command route https://technet.microsoft.com/ru-ru/library/bb490991.aspx : first delete all routes, than add route with wanted network card IP and it will use only this specified network card to transmit something (all cards still are capable to receive). Maybe same must be done in gentoo?

orion777 · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 3:19 pm Post subject:

Actually, I don't know what is happening... now I specify
fconfig eth2 hw ether 0c:5b:8f:27:7a:64
instead of hw ether 02:01:02:03:04:05 which was specified in the previous example..
and now both dongles (eth1 and eth2) are working!

But, when I enable PRP software emulation of the network card (prp1 in ifconfig), it cannot be added into NetworkManager 1.4.2. I was trying to use Edit connections - wired and so.. but there are no prp1 option.. Also I was trying to /etc/init.d/NetworkManager restart , but still no prp1 option

orion777 · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:47 am Post subject:

Problem is solved.
Both Huawei 3372H in HiLINK mode (default mode) operates as a NAT and DHCP servers.Both dongles has same settings. One dongle settings should be changed: different dongle IP address should be entered (NOT 192.168.8.1 because this IP will becomes gateway address, but two identical gateways is bad idea) and different DHCP range (to get different learned IP for both dongles). This allows both active dongles simultaneous operation.