Virtual CD-ROM switching utility: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Programs to disable the virtual CD-ROM drive}}

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{{self-published|date=August 2024}}

{{Expert needed|technology|reason=Very little found on this topic, not finding any good sources.|date=August 2024}}

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'''Virtual CD-ROM switching utilities''' are programs to disable the [[RAM drive|virtual [[CD-ROM]] drive found on manysome devices like [[mobile broadband modem|mobile broadband modems]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pharscape.org/usb_modeswitch.html |title=USB_modeswitch Virtual CD-ROM switching utility |access-date=2010-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212225215/http://www.pharscape.org/usb_modeswitch.html |archive-date=2010-02-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}}{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}} A virtual CD-ROM switching utility is a mode switching tool for controlling "flip flop" (multiple device) [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] gear. Several new USB devices (especially high-speed wireless [[Wide area network|WAN]] equipment, there seems to be a [[chipset]] from [[Qualcomm]] offering that feature) have their [[Microsoft Windows]] device drivers on board; when plugged in for the first time they act like a [[USB flash drive]] and start installing the device driver from there.

Several USB devices including high-speed wireless [[Wide area network|WAN]] equipment offer a feature where they have their device drivers onboard; when plugged in for the first time they act like a [[USB flash drive]] and start installing the device drivers. The device will then receive a command from the installed device driver and switch mode, resulting in the virtual CD-ROM drive or [[USB mass storage device class]] disappearing and being replaced with the actual device itself. The [[Wireless WAN]] (WWAN) gear maker [[Option N.V.|Option]] calls that feature "ZeroCD (TM)".{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} The device can only be used on OS that support the device driver, as else the driver will never be able to send the command. {{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

'''Virtual CD-ROM switching utilities''' are programs to disable the [[RAM drive|virtual CD-ROM]] drive found on many devices.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pharscape.org/usb_modeswitch.html |title=USB_modeswitch Virtual CD-ROM switching utility |access-date=2010-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212225215/http://www.pharscape.org/usb_modeswitch.html |archive-date=2010-02-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A virtual CD-ROM switching utility is a mode switching tool for controlling "flip flop" (multiple device) [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] gear. Several new USB devices (especially high-speed wireless [[Wide area network|WAN]] equipment, there seems to be a [[chipset]] from [[Qualcomm]] offering that feature) have their [[Microsoft Windows]] device drivers on board; when plugged in for the first time they act like a [[USB flash drive]] and start installing the device driver from there.

After that (and on every consecutive plugging) this device driver switches the mode internally, the storage device vanishes (in most cases), and a new device (like a USB [[modem]]) shows up. The [[Wireless WAN]] (WWAN) gear maker Option calls that feature "ZeroCD (TM)". With USB sniffing programs and [[libusb]] it is possible to eavesdrop the communication of the MS Windows device driver, to isolate the [[Command (computing)|command]] or action that does the switching and to reproduce the same thing under the rule of Linux or the [[BSD]] variants.<ref name="usb_modeswitch">{{Cite web|url=http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/|title=USB_ModeSwitch - Activating Switchable USB Devices on Linux}}</ref>

After that (and on every consecutive plugging) this device driver switches the mode internally, the storage device vanishes (in most cases), and a new device (like a USB [[modem]]) shows up. The [[Wireless WAN]] (WWAN) gear maker Option calls that feature "ZeroCD (TM)". With USB sniffing programs and [[libusb]] it is possible to eavesdrop the communication of the MS Windows device driver, toand isolate the [[Command (computing)|command]] or action that does the switching and to reproduce the same thingevent under thean rule of Linux or the [[BSD]]unsupported variantsenvironment.<ref name="usb_modeswitch">{{Cite web|url=http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/|title=USB_ModeSwitch - Activating Switchable USB Devices on Linux}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}}{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}}

The problem with most USB [[3G]] modems is they have two modes. In one mode they are a USB flash drive and in the other mode they are a modem. Typically they only ship with Windows device drivers, sometimes [[Macintosh|Mac]] device drivers as well. In any case, they seemingly seldom, if ever, ship with Linux device drivers. What normally happens with Windows is the device starts up as a USB flash drive, the [[Computer hardware|hardware]] drivers are installed and then they are responsible for "switching" the device in to modem mode so you can use it. This "switch" is done via some codes, specific to the device, which controlling software can pass as a command to switch from disk to modem mode. The virtual CD-ROM switching utility manages the switch of mode from disk to modem, the latter disconnects any mounted disk containing software we don't care about that won't work anyway and, crucially, creates a modem port/serial device (usually {{mono|/dev/ttyUSB0}}) for the networkmanager.<ref name="3g_usb_modems ">{{Cite web|url=http://www.drupaler.co.uk/blog/installing-3g-usb-modems-linux/497|author=greg.harvey|title=Installing 3G USB Modems On Linux|date=28 April 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421021905/http://www.drupaler.co.uk/blog/installing-3g-usb-modems-linux/497|archive-date=2012-04-21|accessdate=2019-02-10}}</ref>

The virtual CD-ROM switching utility can act replicate the command, managing the switch of mode from flash drive to modem, the latter disconnects any mounted disk containing software, and crucially, creates a modem port/serial device (usually {{mono|/dev/ttyUSB0}}) for the networkmanager.<ref name="3g_usb_modems">{{Cite web|url=http://www.drupaler.co.uk/blog/installing-3g-usb-modems-linux/497|author=greg.harvey|title=Installing 3G USB Modems On Linux|date=28 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421021905/http://www.drupaler.co.uk/blog/installing-3g-usb-modems-linux/497|archive-date=2012-04-21|access-date=2019-02-10}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}}{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}}

The approach of adding Virtual CD-ROM with software drivers on 3G or storage devices has two problems: it presumably raises the cost of the device, and it may ship outdated software or even viruses. Most of the times, up-to-date drivers are anyway built into the operating systems (after all, on systems implementing the USB standard like GNU/Linux, any 3G device is a USB serial port, and any storage device is a ... USB storage device). Virtual CD-ROM on U3-compatible devices can be removed by the [http://u3-tool.sourceforge.net/ u3-tool utility]. Some 3G devices such as the Huawei support [http://www.techytalk.info/disable-virtual-cd-rom-drive-with-built-in-software-on-huawei-and-zte-gsm-modem-devices/ complete disabling] of the Virtual CD-ROM.

Drivers are built into the operating systems as on systems implementing the USB standard like Linux, any 3G device is a USB serial port, and any storage device are really USB storage device, so devices that can't run their own driver may be able to use the built in one instead.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} Virtual CD-ROM on U3-compatible devices can be removed by a software tool.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://u3-tool.sourceforge.net/|title=u3_tool - Tool for controlling U3 drives|access-date=2021-01-04|website=[[SourceForge]]}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}}{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}} Some 3G devices such as the Huawei support complete disabling of the Virtual CD-ROM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techytalk.info/disable-virtual-cd-rom-drive-with-built-in-software-on-huawei-and-zte-gsm-modem-devices/|last=Martinović|first=Marko|title=Disable virtual CD-ROM drive with built in software on Huawei and ZTE GSM modem devices|website=TechyTalk.info|access-date=2021-01-04}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}}{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}}

==ZeroCD==

When a device uses the ZeroCD method means that it behaves as a USB CD-ROM when first connected, with a virtual CD-ROM inserted with the Windows device drivers and related Cosmote control program. Once the Windows device drivers are installed, a special USB command is sent to the device to “switch” it to modem mode.<ref>{{cite web|title=ZTE MF636 (Cosmote 3G USB Modem in Greece) & Linux|date=5 November 2009|accessdate=2019-02-10|url=http://stoilis.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/zte-mf636-cosmote-3g-usb-modem-in-greece-linux/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109115532/http://stoilis.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/zte-mf636-cosmote-3g-usb-modem-in-greece-linux/|archive-date=2010-01-09}}</ref>

Available software utilities include the following:

==Ozerocdoff==

Ozerocdoff temporarily disables ZeroCD for USB Option WWAN modem. The new USB Option WWAN modem devices support a CD-ROM device, which holds the needed Windows device driver to use the WWAN modem.

Therefore, the firmware of the WWAN modem announces during the USB enumeration process to work as a virtual CD-ROM device with its vendor name "ZOPTION". This device is now called ZERO-CD. Ozerocdoff is a solution to switch off the ZERO-CD and allow the modem to be a used as a modem.<ref>[http://packages.debian.org/sid/ozerocdoff Debian package ozerocdoff in sid]</ref>

* ZeroCD: When a device uses the ZeroCD method means that it behaves as a USB CD-ROM when first connected, with a virtual CD-ROM inserted with the Windows device drivers and related Cosmote control program. Once the Windows device drivers are installed, a special USB command is sent to the device to “switch” it to modem mode.<ref>{{cite web|title=ZTE MF636 (Cosmote 3G USB Modem in Greece) & Linux|date=5 November 2009|accessdateaccess-date=2019-02-10|url=http://stoilis.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/zte-mf636-cosmote-3g-usb-modem-in-greece-linux/|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109115532/http://stoilis.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/zte-mf636-cosmote-3g-usb-modem-in-greece-linux/|archive-date=2010-01-09}}</ref>{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}}

==USB_ModeSwitch==

* Ozerocdoff: It temporarily disables ZeroCD for USB Option WWAN modem. The new USB Option WWAN modem devices support a CD-ROM device, which holds the needed Windows device driver to use the WWAN modem. Therefore, the firmware of the WWAN modem announces during the USB enumeration process to work as a virtual CD-ROM device with its vendor name "ZOPTION". This device is now called ZERO-CD. Ozerocdoff is a solution to switch off the ZERO-CD and allow the modem to be a used as a modem.<ref>[http://packages.debian.org/sid/ozerocdoff Debian package ozerocdoff in sid]</ref> {{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

* USB_ModeSwitch: It is a virtual CD-ROM switching utility. From version 1.0.3 upwards there is a simple framework for integrating the switching with [[udev]] (the device manager) to make it fully automatic.<ref name="usb_modeswitch"/>

* Switch2modem: It is designed{{by whom|date=May 2015}} for switching a 3G USB modem. The program works under [[OpenSolaris]].<ref>

==Switch2modem==

Switch2modem is designed{{by whom|date=May 2015}} for switching a 3G USB modem. The program works under [[OpenSolaris]].<ref>

[http://blog.linux.gen.nz/2009/01/getting-the-telecom-t-stick-working-under-opensolaris/ Getting the Telecom T-Stick working under OpenSolaris]

{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602152424/http://blog.linux.gen.nz/2009/01/getting-the-telecom-t-stick-working-under-opensolaris/ |date=June 2, 2010 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}}

* Fetch utility: huaweiAktBbo.c is a utility that can be [[Compiler|compiled]] and re-creates the USB communication which is used in Windows.<ref>[http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/HowTo/AddUsb3gModem NSLU2-Linux - HowTo / AddUsb3gModem browse]</ref>{{Unreliable source|1=|certain=y|date=August 2024}}

==Fetch utility==

huaweiAktBbo.c is a utility that can be [[Compiler|compiled]] and re-creates the USB communication which is used in Windows.<ref>[http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/HowTo/AddUsb3gModem NSLU2-Linux - HowTo / AddUsb3gModem browse]</ref>

== External links ==

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[[Category:Berkeley Software Distribution]]

[[Category:Linux]]

[[Category:Mobile broadband]]

[[Category:OpenSolaris]]

[[Category:USB]]