Slate AX and Huawai E3372h - tethering mode not working

pinus · July 9, 2022, 3:21pm

Hi there,

I just received my Slate AX and everything is working really well, I got what I hoped for.

The only issue is that I cannot successfully use the Huawei LTE dongle (E3372h-320) I just bought for my slate.
The dongle is working fine when connected to a computer, it’s in Hilink mode and the computer got an IP address from the dongle (192.168.8.x).

If I connect the dongle to the slate, the tethering option appears and shows the dongle as eth3 (iOS).
When I press connect, nothing is happening, I cannot get any connection.

If I go to the luci interface, I can see the eth3 interface appearing in the tether zone, but there’s no address assigned from DHCP nor any traffic sent or receive.

The LAN subnet of the slate has been changed from the default 192.168.8.0/24, so it’s not in conflict with the Huawei dongle.

Tethering is working fine if I plug my phone with a USB connection, but I would obviously want to use a dongle for that.

It seems that this Huawei dongle should be working in tethering mode without too many troubles, do you have any idea why that wouldn’t be ok with the slate?

Many thanks for your help.

alzhao · July 11, 2022, 10:42am

Do you have system log?

pinus · July 11, 2022, 5:05pm

Hello,

This is what we can see in the log when trying to connect tethering:

Mon Jul 11 14:50:32 2022 kern.info kernel: [  275.244474] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 2 using xhci-hcd
Mon Jul 11 14:50:32 2022 kern.info kernel: [  275.386768] usb-storage 1-1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
Mon Jul 11 14:50:32 2022 kern.info kernel: [  275.387061] scsi host0: usb-storage 1-1:1.0
Mon Jul 11 14:50:32 2022 kern.info kernel: [  275.467919] usb 1-1: USB disconnect, device number 2
Mon Jul 11 14:50:33 2022 kern.info kernel: [  275.914476] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 3 using xhci-hcd
Mon Jul 11 14:50:33 2022 kern.info kernel: [  276.125660] cdc_ether 1-1:1.0 eth3: register 'cdc_ether' at usb-xhci-hcd.0.auto-1, CDC Ethernet Device, 00:1e:10:1f:00:00
Mon Jul 11 14:50:36 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: url = https://gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz/gslb/getbucket?deviceType=1&mac=xxxxxxxx&sn=xxxxxxxx&ddns=xxxxxxxx&timestamp=1657543831&sign=7af8a1243f20ba9236d395f61d681c39
Mon Jul 11 14:50:36 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: utils_NLB failed!
Mon Jul 11 14:50:44 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: url = https://gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz/gslb/getbucket?deviceType=1&mac=xxxxxxxx&sn=xxxxxxxx&ddns=xxxxxxxx&timestamp=1657543839&sign=4f8d01bf422e28044db35afa364ec0bc
Mon Jul 11 14:50:44 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: utils_NLB failed!
Mon Jul 11 14:50:53 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: url = https://gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz/gslb/getbucket?deviceType=1&mac=xxxxxxxx&sn=xxxxxxxx&ddns=xxxxxxxx&timestamp=1657543848&sign=818546d2f9c03584dace85b96dd69d9f
Mon Jul 11 14:50:53 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: utils_NLB failed!
Mon Jul 11 14:51:01 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: url = https://gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz/gslb/getbucket?deviceType=1&mac=xxxxxxxx&sn=xxxxxxxx&ddns=xxxxxxxx&timestamp=1657543856&sign=a117b0c1025f52a83a85cfafe2dfb20e
Mon Jul 11 14:51:01 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: utils_NLB failed!
Mon Jul 11 14:51:05 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'tethering' is enabled
Mon Jul 11 14:51:05 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'eth3' link is up
Mon Jul 11 14:51:05 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'tethering' has link connectivity
Mon Jul 11 14:51:05 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'tethering' is setting up now
Mon Jul 11 14:51:05 2022 kern.info kernel: [  308.159173] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth3: link is not ready
Mon Jul 11 14:51:05 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (16066): udhcpc: started, v1.33.1
Mon Jul 11 14:51:05 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (16066): udhcpc: sending discover
Mon Jul 11 14:51:07 2022 daemon.info avahi-daemon[3704]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface eth3.IPv6 with address fe80::21e:10ff:fe1f:0.
Mon Jul 11 14:51:07 2022 daemon.info avahi-daemon[3704]: New relevant interface eth3.IPv6 for mDNS.
Mon Jul 11 14:51:07 2022 daemon.info avahi-daemon[3704]: Registering new address record for fe80::21e:10ff:fe1f:0 on eth3.*.
Mon Jul 11 14:51:08 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (16066): udhcpc: sending discover
Mon Jul 11 14:51:09 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: url = https://gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz/gslb/getbucket?deviceType=1&mac=xxxxxxxx&sn=xxxxxxxx&ddns=xxxxxxxx&timestamp=1657543864&sign=458f7e9178725eee9075ae67b95a9f31
Mon Jul 11 14:51:09 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: utils_NLB failed!
Mon Jul 11 14:51:11 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (16066): udhcpc: sending discover
Mon Jul 11 14:51:17 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: url = https://gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz/gslb/getbucket?

And no traffic at all on the eth3 interface:

I also tried to disable IPv6 and forced the link to be active on the tethering interface, but no more success:

Mon Jul 11 19:11:46 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq[20464]: read /etc/hosts - 4 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:46 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq[20464]: read /tmp/hosts/dhcp.cfg01411c - 7 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:46 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[20464]: read /etc/ethers - 0 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:48 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:11:49 2022 daemon.err mqtt[21592]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:11:49 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:11:50 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:11:50 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq[20464]: read /etc/hosts - 4 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:50 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq[20464]: read /tmp/hosts/dhcp.cfg01411c - 7 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:50 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[20464]: read /etc/ethers - 0 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:50 2022 daemon.info samba4-server: io_uring module found, enabling VFS io_uring. (also needs Kernel 5.4+ Support)
Mon Jul 11 19:11:51 2022 daemon.err mqtt[22003]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:11:51 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:11:52 2022 daemon.info samba4-server: io_uring module found, enabling VFS io_uring. (also needs Kernel 5.4+ Support)
Mon Jul 11 19:11:52 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq[20464]: read /etc/hosts - 4 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:52 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq[20464]: read /tmp/hosts/dhcp.cfg01411c - 7 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:52 2022 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[20464]: read /etc/ethers - 0 addresses
Mon Jul 11 19:11:54 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:11:55 2022 daemon.err mqtt[23240]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:11:55 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:11:55 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:11:57 2022 daemon.err mqtt[23552]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:11:57 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:07 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:07 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'tethering' is setting up now
Mon Jul 11 19:13:07 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (27055): udhcpc: started, v1.33.1
Mon Jul 11 19:13:07 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (27055): udhcpc: sending discover
Mon Jul 11 19:13:08 2022 daemon.err mqtt[27093]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:13:08 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:08 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:10 2022 daemon.err mqtt[27288]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:13:10 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:10 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (27055): udhcpc: sending discover
Mon Jul 11 19:13:13 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (27055): udhcpc: sending discover
Mon Jul 11 19:13:15 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:16 2022 daemon.err mqtt[27793]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:13:16 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:17 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:18 2022 daemon.err mqtt[28023]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:13:18 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:27 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:28 2022 daemon.err mqtt[28728]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:13:28 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:29 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:30 2022 daemon.err mqtt[28933]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:13:30 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:44 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (27055): udhcpc: received SIGTERM
Mon Jul 11 19:13:44 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (27055): udhcpc: entering released state
Mon Jul 11 19:13:44 2022 daemon.notice netifd: tethering (27055): Command failed: Permission denied
Mon Jul 11 19:13:44 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'tethering' is now down
Mon Jul 11 19:13:44 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'tethering' is disabled
Mon Jul 11 19:13:44 2022 user.notice mwan3[29602]: Execute ifdown event on interface tethering (unknown)
Mon Jul 11 19:13:46 2022 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'tethering' is enabled
Mon Jul 11 19:13:51 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:52 2022 daemon.err mqtt[30563]: output json = ["cloud-batch-manage", "bind_info", {}]
Mon Jul 11 19:13:52 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf
Mon Jul 11 19:13:53 2022 daemon.err mqtt[5889]: get mac = 94:83:c4:1c:51:bf

alzhao · July 12, 2022, 10:18am

The logs shows that the router cannot get DHCP address from the modem.

I have a E3276 and it works OK with Slate AX.

alzhao · July 12, 2022, 10:24am

Are you able to try change settings in the Huawei modem and check if there is anything related to dhcp and lan etc.? Maybe mac address lock or something.

pinus · July 12, 2022, 4:05pm

No, there’s no option at all for the DHCP server or any LAN parameter.

I’ve discovered a strange behaviour:

If I connect the dongle to the slate without a SIM card in it, I can activate the tethering option in the slate and I get an IP address from the DHCP server on the dongle. I can then reach the WebUI (192.168.8.1) from the stick.
If I insert the SIM card while the slate is connected to the dongle, the SIM card is not recognized, so I cannot activate the LTE connection.
If I unplug the stick and plug it back again in the slate, same behaviour as previously, I see some LTE activity on the stick, but I cannot get any IP address for the slate.

Really weird

alzhao · July 13, 2022, 6:20am

Is there any settings e.g. force the dongle works on 4G, not 3G and 2G?

pinus · July 14, 2022, 9:50am

No, there’s no setting for that.

I tried with the auto-connection to cellular network deactivated, but that didn’t change anything.

I’m gonna return the stick to the shop and buy an E3276, hoping it will be more plug&play.

alzhao · July 14, 2022, 9:56am

Pls ask them for hilink version.

pinus · July 23, 2022, 3:16pm

Hello,

I returned the E3372h and bought a 3276 instead.
I can confirm that it is now working with that dongle.

Is there any plan to make a device like the Slate AX with 4G/5G integrated?
That would become the perfect gear for me.

alzhao · July 25, 2022, 3:21am

Good suggestions. Thanks!