WiMAX

The WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) system provides users mobile broadband Internet using the 2g and 3g networks. This article explains the setup of WiMAX USB dongles.

General
Most USB WiMAX dongles have a double mode. If you would insert the modem in a windows system, it will first be recognized as a storage device and the provider's software and drivers will be installed by means of auto-play. After this software is installed, the software performs a mode-switch of the dongle, to make it available as a modem. After this the dialer will establish a connection for you.

Because this software is not compatible with any form of linux we will have to perform the steps ourselves, or better by means of opensource tools available from the tree.

Supported hardware
This workflow is tested on the following hardware:

usb_modeswitch
usb_modeswitch is a mode switching tool for controlling "flip flop" (multiple device) USB gear. Most mobile broadband modems act as a storage device when connected. This is to install their drivers under MS Windows. We do not need the driver, nor we need the modem to be in storage mode. Hence we use this tool to switch to modem mode.

usb_modeswitch comes with it's own udev rules. If your device is supported, it should be mode switched when inserted. You can check /var/log/messages if it indeed switched.