NM prompts for password but doesn't configure the mobile broadband interface -- Huawei E172

Hi
I had the same problem with my Huawei e176 modem.
There is a solution or patch for it?

Thanks

Nicolas

I'm experiencing this issue with Ubuntu 10.04 and an Onda MW833UP dongle on the Italian "Wind" network. It seems not to be specific to Huawei modems.

Today I received over 200 messages from network manager .Will you please
unsubscribe me from your mailing list and cancel any further
messages.Failing this I will have to enter your address under blacklist.You
have virtually rendered my email as useless.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bug Watch Updater" <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 9:52 PM
Subject: [Bug 518480] Re: NM prompts for password,doesn't accept it - Huawei
E172 3G

** Changed in: network-manager
   Importance: Unknown => Medium

--
NM prompts for password, doesn't accept it - Huawei E172 3G
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/518480
You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to
NetworkManager.

Status in NetworkManager: Invalid
Status in “network-manager” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed

Bug description:
Binary package hint: network-manager

I use a Huawei E172 3G USB dongle for my mobile braoadband internet
connection (on Vodafone).

What happens:

Approximately 40% of the times where I boot my machine and load my Desktop,
Network Manager throws up a password box that says "A password is required
to connect to "Vodafone Contract" HUAWEI Technologies HUAWEI Mobile" (see
screenshot). However, it does not accept my password. There appears to be
no pattern to this. This happens when no changes have been made to my
system - no recently installed updates etc. On one occasion it didn't
happen for as long as five days, on another occasion it happened on four
reboots in a row - it really does seem completely random. The only option
is to open network-manager-applet, delete my mobile broadband connection
settings, then run the connection wizard again to re-apply them from the
beginning

What should happen:

Network Manager should not prompt me for a password for my 3G dongle when I
load my Desktop. I should not have to delete my 3G mobile broadband settings
in network-manager-applet, and then go through the wizard again to re-apply
the settings.

Technical details:

Distro Version - Ubuntu Karmic 9.10, 32-bit, default fresh install with
latest updates
Desktop Environment - GNOME 2.28.1 (Ubuntu 2009-11-03)
Kernel - Linux 2.6.31-19-generic
System - Athlon 64 3400 2.2GHz processor, NVidia 6800LE graphics, 1.5MB RAM
Network Manager Applet Version - 0.7.996
Modem - Huawei E172 USB stick on Vodafone with latest firmware

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun Feb 7 18:07:50 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: network-manager 0.8~a~git.20091013t193206.679d548-0ubuntu1
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-19.56-generic
SourcePackage: network-manager
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-19-generic i686

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3134 - Release Date: 09/14/10
07:35:00

I was affected by and resolved this bug in my system. The cause was that I hadn't done the 15E-per-month top-up that the contract required.

The fix was to pay the 15E, then I had to delete the network connection and recreate it before it went back to working.

The error message is confusing, yes.

I attach the syslog extract from an unsuccessful attempt yesterday to connect exhibiting thid behaviour. In the next comment I will attach an extract from a successful one today. Each extract runs from insertion of the device to me prodding it to connect, to the session failure or successful connection.

The Password window seems to be triggered by the provider failing the CHAP negotiation - see line 103 of the "unsuccessful" log.
However, it may not be possible to do anything different, other than simply drop the "password" window completely. Tha would fix this bug (simply failing the connection without giving a bogus reason why) but may cause breakage for people who don't want to store passwords and prefer to type them in every time.

Syslog output for successful connection after topping up the SIM and deleting/recreating the network connection

Ideally NM would tell the user she needs more credit.

No, this isn't specific to credit status -- MM will ask for a password in some cases when the connection fails to be established; regardless of anything on the ISP network; the password it's asking may be the PIN, or the password for the APN user.

Is this reproducible on 12.04?

@ itsjustarumour: Can you reproduce this in Ubuntu 12.04?

Original Reporter -> https://launchpad.net/~itsjustarumour-gmail-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount