How to use 3G Phone/Modem to connect to the Internet on Fedora 11 (Linux)

Its been awhile since I attempted to connect to the internet via 3g using my phone (SGH-i550). The last time I did was several months ago with the help of wvdial. Now that there is a power outage in our area; and I forgot to install wvdial; and I just upgraded to Fedora 11, now is the perfect time to test the new features of the updated NetworkManager into action.

The following are the set of simple steps I have taken to connect to the internet using SGH-i550 via 3g on Fedora 11. I would assume that these steps will also work with other brands/models and most 3g modems around.

1. Connect 3g phone/modem to the computer


2. Right-Click on the NetworkManager Applet and select "Edit Connections"
   
   
   
   
3. Select "Mobile Broadband" tab
   
   
   
   



4. Select the 3g Device from the drop down list and click "Forward"
   
   
   
   



5. Select the Country and click "Forward"
   
   
   
   



6. Select a Provider and click "Forward"
   
   
   
   



7. Select a Plan and click "Forward"
   
   
   
   



8. Confirm the details and click "Apply"
   
   
   
   



9. Leave the preset defaults and click "Apply"
   
   
   
   



10. Close the Connection Settings Dialogue
    
    
    
    



11. Right-Click on the NetworkManager Applet again and select the newly created connection
    
    
    
    



12. The NetworkManager Applet will change its icon indicating a successful connection has been established
    
    
    
    



13. And you are done.
    

How to use SmartBro Prepaid Kit on Linux (ZTE MF622 HSDPA USB MODEM)

Due to the typhoon that hit our area (Kalibo, Aklan), I was pushed offline, internetless for a week. As a recourse I was forced to purchase the SmartBro Prepaid Kit (ZTE MF622 HSDPA Modem).

Here's how I was able to use the SmartBro Prepaid Kit (ZTE MF622 HSDPA Modem) on my Linux dev machine (fedora 8) and should be applicable to other popular desktop linux distros.

I created two files as follows:

/etc/udev/rules.d/25-zte-mf622.rules containing:

ACTION!="add", GOTO="End"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idProduct}=="2000",
SYSFS{idVendor}=="19d2", GOTO="ZeroCD"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idProduct}=="0001",
SYSFS{idVendor}=="19d2", GOTO="Modem"
LABEL="ZeroCD"
RUN+="/sbin/rmmod usb_storage"
LABEL="Modem"
RUN+="/sbin/modprobe usbserial vendor=0x19d2 product=0x0001",
MODE="660", GROUP="dialout"
LABEL="End"

/etc/smartbro.conf containing:

[Dialer Defaults]
Init2 = ATZ
Init3 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Init5 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","smartbro"
Stupid Mode = 1
Modem Type = Analog Modem
ISDN = 0
Phone = *99#
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
Username = user
Password = pass
Dial Command = ATDT
Baud = 460800

To connect to the internet via the usb modem, simply invoke the following command on the terminal:

wvdial --config=/etc/smartbro.conf

To Disconnect, kill the process ID of the PPPD command called by wvdial or simply remove the USB HSDPA Modem.

How to Install VMWare Server 1.0.3 on Fedora 7

This will be a quick one.. im still very busy with work and somehow stumbled upon setting up VMware on my laptop.. I hope this could help someone.

1. Upgrade your kernel
   Invoke the following command in the console
   

   yum upgrade kernel

   Then edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and make sure that the "default" parameter is set to 0(zero) or is pointing to the latest kernel.
   
   Reboot the system.
   


2. Install the kernel headers and other necessary sources
   This can be done by invoking the following command in the console
   

   yum install kernel-headers

   and
   

   yum install kernel-devel

   then

   yum install xinetd

3. Download VMWare Server from http://www.vmware.com/download/server/, the Serial number can be obtained from the same page. Select the *.tar.gz instead of the RPM.
   


4. Uncompress the VMware-server-*.tar.gz file using the following command
   

   tar xvpf VMware-server-*.tar.gz

   then run
   

   vmware-install.pl

   Proceed until the install script halts on error
   


5. Download the installer patch from http://knihovny.cvut.cz/ftp/pub/vmware/vmware-any-any-update113.tar.gz
   
   Uncompress the archive and run
   

   runme.pl

6. You are set to run VMWare server. In Gnome, VMware is in the "Applications -> Other" Menu, in KDE, it can be found in "KDE Menu -> Lost and Found"
   

For any clarification, just post a comment..