ZTE ax326 4G Modem Drivers For Linux

 

Hi, there! Today i will talk about how to successfully setup and run WiMAX 4G network (Internet) using ZTE ax326 Modem on Debian GNU/Linux Operating System.



I have used to test it with MEZON (4G Internet provider in Lithuania), Debian Squeeze on iBook G4 (PPC) and of course the same on the x86/64 platforms.

First of all you will need to be logged as ROOT and install usb-modeswitch package:

root@localhost# apt-get install usb-modeswitch
root@localhost# nano /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules

Search for the line called: "BCSM25-250" and if it does not exist add it after line "LABEL="modeswitch_rules_begin""

ATTRS{idVendor}=="198f", ATTRS{idProduct}=="bccd", RUN+="usb_modeswitch '%b/%k'"

Restart udev by running:
root@localhost# /etc/init.d/udev restart

Please Download this: http://www.mediafire.com/?u49qt95e0et45q2 to /usr/src and unpack it:

root@localhost# tar xjvf mezon_ax326-debian-squeeze.tar.bz2

Now we need to compare and install the kernel module but first of all you need to have working compile tools and kernel headers:

root@localhost# apt-get install build-essential kernel-headers

Extract, compile and install kernel module with firmware:
root@localhost# cd mezon_ax326-debian-squeeze/kernel-driver/
root@localhost# tar xjvf zte_ax326_kernel_module.tar.bz2
root@localhost# cd zte_ax326_kernel_module
root@localhost# make&& make install
root@localhost# cd ../../lib/firmware/
root@localhost# cp * /lib/firmware/
root@localhost# echo "drxvi314" >> /etc/modules

Now you need to reboot to windows to extract the certificates from proprietary MEZON drivers.
Then "MEZON CM" Starts and connects to the internet, you need to dump a running process of it, you can do it by downloading process explorer                                                                                                                  
Then dump the process as shown in this picture

                                                                                                            
Then you need to download Notepad++ and open "cm.dmp" as you saved it.
Copy all text between (including) these lines:
 ----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY----

 ----END RSA PRIVATE KEY----

Seen in these pictures

Create new file and save this copied text to privatekey.pem
Open cm.dmp again, select from menu View->Show Symbol->Show All Characters
You can see it in this pic

In the file you need to find: "Modem mac address" ZTE Wimax, you can find your mac address from the main application "MEZON CM" under windows.
After find this line, as shown in the pic

Sixth line upper the text must contain with symbols "0,"
As shown in my pic

There was a 296055 line (in your way it can change).
Erase all content before "0," (more than 170000 lines),
There begins the "DEVICE CERTIFICATE", the file at beginning will look like in this picture

Save the file as cm.cer and open it, it the dialog should appear with your correct modem mac address and ZTE Wimax as shown in picture:

Install the certificate by clicking "Install Certificate"
Then "run" certmgr.msc (WinKey+R). Export certificate using "base 64 encoded x.509" as shown in these pictures:

Save it as device.cer and then rename it as device.pem.

Now lets go to do some fun things in the user space configuration ;-)
root@localhost# cd /usr/src/mezon_ax326-debian-squeeze/user-space
root@localhost# tar xjvf USB_350.tar.bz2
root@localhost# cd USB_350/Source/API
root@localhost# chmod +x build.sh
root@localhost# ./build_linux.sh
root@localhost# cp bin_linux/bin/libxvi020.so* /lib/
root@localhost# cd ../CSCM/ && chmod +x build.sh
root@localhost# ./build.sh pc_linux
root@localhost# cp -v bin_pc_linux/bin/wimax* /usr/local/bin/
root@localhost# cp -v bin_pc_linux/bin/libe* /lib/
root@localhost# cd ../../../../etc/
root@localhost# cp wimaxd.conf /etc/
root@localhost# cp -r mezon /etc/mezon
Also copy your device.pem and private.pem certificates to /etc/mezon and don't forget to copy proprietary windows drivers certificate from  /media/Windows/Program Files (x86)/MEZON CM/bin/ca.pem to /etc/mezon/

Edit file /etc/wimaxd.conf and change line:
UserIdentity                    'YOURMACADDRESS@mezon.lt'
Put your Modem Mac address before @mezon.lt

root@localhost# apt-get install udhcpc
copy wimax from archive init.d/wimax file to /etc/init.d/
and run:
root@localhost# update-rc.d wimax defaults

reboot and enjoy!

NOTE! You can always run wimaxd as foreground application to view connection status by running:
root@localhost# wimaxd -c /etc/wimaxd.conf -D
or you can restart wimax daemon by running /etc/init.d/wimax restart

If it does not work for some reasons you don't get ip address or address is incorrect you can install dhclient using apt-get and use my other script to start WiMAX.

#!/bin/sh
killall dhclient
killall -9 wimaxd
echo "Unloading previous module..."
rmmod -f drxvi314
echo "Loading WiMAX Kernel module..."
modprobe drxvi314
echo "Loading WiMAX User Space client..."
/usr/local/bin/wimaxd -c /etc/wimaxd.conf
echo "Loading DHCP Daemon..."
dhclient eth1
echo "All done.."

I have tested it on Gentoo and Ubuntu also. Software hacks and patches have been made by myself, other software/sources have licensed on their own licenses. This material provided "AS IS" i will not accept any responsibility for any damage...

 If you have a problem you can always post a comment with question!

Happy browsing! ;-)