How to use the command mmcli (with examples)

The mmcli command is used to control and monitor the ModemManager on a Linux system. ModemManager is a service that abstracts modem hardware, making it easier to control and monitor modems through a high-level API. The mmcli command provides a command-line interface to interact with ModemManager.

Use case 1: List available modems

Code:

mmcli --list-modems

Motivation: The mmcli –list-modems command is used to list all the modems available on the system. This is useful when you need to check if a modem is connected and available for use.

Explanation:

• mmcli is the command to interact with ModemManager.
• --list-modems is the argument that instructs mmcli to list all the modems available on the system.

Example output:

Found 1 modems:
    /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0 [Sierra Wireless Inc.] MBIM [1199:68c0]

Use case 2: Print information about a modem

Code:

mmcli --modem=modem

Motivation: The mmcli –modem=modem command is used to print detailed information about a specific modem. This can be useful to get information about the modem’s capabilities, signal strength, and other parameters.

Explanation:

• mmcli is the command to interact with ModemManager.
• --modem=modem is the argument that specifies the modem for which information should be printed. Replace modem with the modem ID obtained from the --list-modems command.

Example output:

  -------------------------
  General  |       dbus path: /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0
           |       device id: 4G System PnP Device
  -------------------------
  Hardware |      manufacturer: Sierra Wireless Inc.
           |             model: MBIM [1199:68c0]
           | firmware revision: SWI9X50C_01.14.02.00 <uuid>
...

Use case 3: Enable a modem

Code:

mmcli --modem=modem --enable

Motivation: The mmcli –modem=modem –enable command is used to enable a specific modem. This can be useful when a modem is disabled and needs to be enabled before it can be used.

Explanation:

• mmcli is the command to interact with ModemManager.
• --modem=modem is the argument that specifies the modem to be enabled. Replace modem with the modem ID obtained from the --list-modems command.
• --enable is the argument that instructs mmcli to enable the specified modem.

Use case 4: List SMS messages available on the modem

Code:

sudo mmcli --modem=modem --messaging-list-sms

Motivation: The sudo mmcli –modem=modem –messaging-list-sms command is used to list all the SMS messages available on a specific modem. This can be useful when you need to check the messages stored on the modem.

Explanation:

• sudo is used to run the mmcli command with root privileges, as accessing SMS messages may require elevated permissions.
• mmcli is the command to interact with ModemManager.
• --modem=modem is the argument that specifies the modem for which SMS messages should be listed. Replace modem with the modem ID obtained from the --list-modems command.
• --messaging-list-sms is the argument that instructs mmcli to list the SMS messages.

Example output:

--------------------------------------
  |       index: 16
  |      storage: sim
  |   folder id: 0
  |     message: Your package has been delivered.
  |   alphabetical
  |      length: 50
  |     encoding: GSM 7-bit default alphabet (0x00)

Use case 5: Delete a message from the modem, specifying its path

Code:

sudo mmcli --modem=modem --messaging-delete-sms=path/to/message_file

Motivation: The sudo mmcli –modem=modem –messaging-delete-sms=path/to/message_file command is used to delete a specific SMS message from the modem. This can be useful to remove unnecessary messages or free up storage space on the modem.

Explanation:

• sudo is used to run the mmcli command with root privileges, as deleting SMS messages may require elevated permissions.
• mmcli is the command to interact with ModemManager.
• --modem=modem is the argument that specifies the modem from which the SMS message should be deleted. Replace modem with the modem ID obtained from the --list-modems command.
• --messaging-delete-sms=path/to/message_file is the argument that instructs mmcli to delete the SMS message located at the specified path.

Conclusion:

The mmcli command provides a convenient way to control and monitor modems through ModemManager. It allows users to list available modems, print detailed information about a modem, enable/disable modems, list SMS messages, and delete specific messages. By using the examples provided, users can effectively manage their modems and interact with SMS messages on their Linux systems.