FS#31054 - Request: Add usb_modeswitch and wvdial for those w/ USB 3G modems to net install

Attached to Project: Release Engineering
Opened by Mike (Caliburn) - Wednesday, 08 August 2012, 00:59 GMT
Last edited by Eric Belanger (Snowman) - Saturday, 25 August 2012, 13:11 GMT
Task Type Feature Request
Category Packages
Status Closed
Assigned To No-one
Architecture All
Severity Medium
Priority Normal
Reported Version 2011.08.19
Due in Version Undecided
Due Date Undecided
Percent Complete 100%
Votes 0
Private No

Details

While most people can use the newly released net-only install (those with cable and DSL setups), those with USB 3G modems like myself cannot. In order to install these modems from the prompt, usb_modeswitch and wvdial must be made available to the system via a manual install.

This was easy enough using the core install and I had no complaints, however now that Arch has switched to a net only install the process cannot be taken care of without significant effort. The list of "to be installed" packages must be available in the pacman cache, including all of those within the 'base' group and usb_modeswitch/wvdial (+dependencies).

Without usb_modeswitch and wvdial, having no other form of internet access available, installing Arch Linux is nearly impossible.

I'm asking if these packages (usb_modeswitch + wvdial) and their dependencies or another workable way to enable a 3G modem can be added to the net install.

It's also worth noting the system needs a reboot (once the necessary text is added to /lib/udev/rules.d and /usr/share/usb_modeswitch) to make active the modem for wvdial.. no idea how to get around that currently, either.
This task depends upon

Closed by  Eric Belanger (Snowman)
Saturday, 25 August 2012, 13:11 GMT
Reason for closing:  Implemented
Additional comments about closing:  Implemented. https://projects.archlinux.org/archiso.g it/commit/?id=a76324ceb6795eb322a79e1a40 6ac094fe4600ca
Comment by Ionut Biru (wonder) - Wednesday, 08 August 2012, 01:11 GMT
usb_modeswitch is not needed for all times of usb 3g modems.
with this said, usb_modeswitch is an optional dependency rather than a dependency.
Comment by Mike (Caliburn) - Wednesday, 08 August 2012, 07:17 GMT
Unfortunately for my situation it is a mandatory dependency. Without usb_modeswitch installed and no other method to use the internet, Arch Linux via net-only install cannot be installed on this system.
Comment by Florian Pritz (bluewind) - Wednesday, 08 August 2012, 08:31 GMT
This has nothing do to with wvdial packaging so I'm moving it to releng.
Comment by Gerardo Exequiel Pozzi (djgera) - Wednesday, 08 August 2012, 23:17 GMT
reboot is not needed, and you can have persistent changes in installation media. Anyway I will add these two packages to the live-enviroment. Thanks for your report.

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