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USB_MODESWITCH(1) General Commands Manual USB_MODESWITCH(1)
NAME
usb_modeswitch - control the mode of 'multi-state' USB devices
SYNOPSIS
usb_modeswitch [-heWQDIvpVPmM23rwKdHSOBGTNALnsRiuagft] [-c filename]
DESCRIPTION
Several new USB devices have their proprietary Windows drivers onboard, most of them WWAN
and WLAN dongles. When plugged in for the first time, they act like a flash storage and
start installing the Windows driver from there. If the driver is installed, it makes the
storage device disappear and a new device, mainly composite (e.g. with modem ports), shows
up.
On Linux, in most cases the drivers are available as kernel modules, such as "usbserial"
or "option". However, the device initially binds to "usb-storage" by default. usb_mod-
eswitch can then send a provided bulk message (most likely a mass storage command) to the
device; this message has to be determined by analyzing the actions of the Windows driver.
In some cases, USB control commands are used for switching. These cases are handled by
custom functions, and no bulk message needs to be provided.
Usually, the program is distributed with a set of configurations for many known devices,
which allows a fully automatic handling of a device upon insertion, made possible by com-
bining usb_modeswitch with the wrapper script usb_modeswitch_dispatcher which is launched
by the udev daemon. This requires a Linux-flavoured system though.
Note that usb_modeswitch itself has no specific Linux dependencies.
OPTIONS
This program follows the usual GNU command line syntax, with long options starting with
two dashes ('--'). A summary of options is included below.
-h --help Show summary of options.
-e --version
Print version information and exit
-v --default-vendor NUM
Vendor ID to look for (mandatory), usually given as hex number (example:
0x12d1). Each USB device is identified by a number officially assigned to the
vendor by the USB association and a number for the respective model (product ID)
chosen by the vendor
-p --default-product NUM
Product ID to look for (mandatory)
-V --target-vendor NUM
Target vendor ID. When given will be searched for and detected initially for in-
formation purposes. If success checking (option -s) is active, providing target
IDs (vendor/product) or target class is recommended
-j --find-mbim
Return configuration number with MBIM interface and exit.
-P --target-product NUM
Target product ID
-b --bus-num NUM
-g --device-num NUM
If bus and device number are provided, the handling of a specific device on a
specific USB port is guaranteed, in contrast to using only the USB ID. This is
important if there are multiple similar devices on a system
-C --target-class NUM
Target Device Class according to the USB specification. Some devices keep their
original vendor/product ID after successful switching. To prevent them from be-
ing treated again, the device class can be checked. For unswitched devices it
is always 8 (storage class), for switched modems it is often 0xff (vendor spe-
cific). In composite modes, the class of the first interface is watched
-m --message-endpoint NUM
A specific endpoint to use for data transfers. Only for testing purposes; usu-
ally endpoints are determined from the device attributes
-M --message-content STRING
A bulk message to send as a switching command. Provided as a hexadecimal string
-2 --message-content2 STRING
-3 --message-content3 STRING
Additional bulk messages to send as switching commands. Provided as hexadecimal
strings. When used with mass storage commands, setting --need-response is
strongly advised to comply with specifications and to avoid likely errors
-w --release-delay <milliseconds>
After issuing all bulk messages, wait for the given time before releasing the
interface. Required for some modems on older systems (especially after an EJECT
message)
-n --need-response
Obsolete. CSW is always attempted to being read after mass storage transfers. No
downside
-r --response-endpoint NUM
Try to read the response to a storage command from there. Only for testing pur-
poses; usually endpoints are determined from the device attributes
-K --std-eject
Apply the standard SCSI sequence of "Allow Medium Removal" and "Eject". Implies
-n. One 'Message' can be added with -M that will be transmitted after the eject
sequence. Used by many modems
-d --detach-only
Just detach the current driver. This is sufficient for some early devices to
switch successfully. Otherwise this feature can be used as a 'scalpel' for spe-
cial cases, like separating the driver from individual interfaces
-H --huawei-mode
Send a special control message used by older Huawei devices
-J --huawei-new-mode
Send a specific bulk message used by all newer Huawei devices
-X --huawei-alt-mode
Send an alternative bulk message to Huawei devices
-S --sierra-mode
Send a special control message used by Sierra devices
-G --gct-mode
Send a special control message used by GCT chipsets
-T --kobil-mode
Send a special control message used by Kobil devices
-N --sequans-mode
Send a special control message used by Sequans chipset
-A --mobileaction-mode
Send a special control message used by the MobileAction device
-B --qisda-mode
Send a special control message used by Qisda devices
-E --quanta-mode
Send a special control message used by Quanta devices
-F --pantech-mode NUM
Send a special control message used by Pantech devices. Value NUM will be used
in control message as 'wValue'
-Z --blackberry-mode
Send a special control message used by some newer Blackberry devices
-S --option-mode
Send a special control message used by all Option devices
-O --sony-mode
Apply a special sequence used by Sony Ericsson devices. Implies option --check-
success
-L --cisco-mode
Send a sequence of bulk messages used by Cisco devices
-R --reset-usb
Send a USB reset command to the device. Can be combined with any switching
method or stand alone. It is always done as the last step of all device interac-
tions. Few devices need it to complete the switching; apart from that it may be
useful during testing
-c --config-file FILENAME
Use a specific config file. If any ID or switching options are given as command
line parameters, this option is ignored. In that case all mandatory parameters
have to be provided on the command line
-f --long-config STRING
Provide device details in config file syntax as a multiline string on the com-
mand line
-t --stdinput
Read the device details in config file syntax from standard input, e.g. redi-
rected from a command pipe (multiline text)
-Q --quiet
Don't show progress or error messages
-W --verbose
Print all settings before running and show libusb debug messages
-D --sysmode
Changes the behaviour of the program slightly. A success message including the
effective target device ID is put out and a syslog notice is issued. Mainly for
integration with a wrapper script
-s --check-success <seconds>
After switching, keep checking for the result up to the given time. If target
IDs or target class were provided, their appearance indicates certain success.
Otherwise the disconnection of the original device is rated as likely proof
-I --inquire
Obsolete. Formerly obtained SCSI attributes, now ignored
-i --interface NUM
Select initial USB interface (default: 0). Only for testing purposes
-u --configuration NUM
Select USB configuration (applied after any other possible switching actions)
-a --altsetting NUM
Select alternative USB interface setting (applied after switching). Mainly for
testing
AUTHOR
This manual page was originally written by Didier Raboud (didier AT raboud.com) for the De-
bian system. Additions made by Josua Dietze. Permission is granted to copy, distribute
and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU General Public License, Version 2
or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.
The complete text of the current GNU General Public License can be found in
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.txt
USB_MODESWITCH(1)
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