4G failover options for pfSense?
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I have set up such a thing for Starbucks. In addition to ADSL for the main connection, they used a cell network modem for the fall back. They also used a Juniper router to manage the fall back. As I recall, they had to test the main connection periodically to ensure it was still up or fall back to the cell network.
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@JKnott said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
I'm looking to use a 4G connection for failover on a pfSense and I need to ask what hardware should I get (in Europe)
The way this is generally done is with a cell network modem, that provides an Internet connection. Then you need some means to detect failure of the main connection and then switch over. If you can manage to get OSPF going over a cell connection, then you can use that to switch to the cell backup. However, I don't know that the cell networks support that.
Detecting a failover shouldnt be that difficult; Even if pfSense itself cant do it, Im willing to bet someone will script it for me.
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@stephenw10 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Well if you do hosting it on one of those tiny OpenWRT boxes such as the GL-iNET linked above is a good idea.
If you connect it directly in pfSense and it gets unplugged or goes to sleep or just fails then pfSense no longer boot without assistance.
Steve
Those look ideal but Im not too keen on the idea of putting a 100 Mb device on my network...
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@akuma1x said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Yeah, no
Yeah, no, what? This is how 4G failover/backup network connections are done.
Have you ever tethered your phone to a computer or router like this, to get internet in a pinch? It works very well, if you have somewhat decent cell service.
Ok, so the only other way I didn't talk about is a USB dongle. It first has to work with pfsense and/or your VM host. There might be 1 or 2 of them tested in the real world and working, maybe. Then it still has to have some kind of data plan attached to it to get cell service.
What kind of budget do you have for this?
Jeff
Noone in their right mind attaches a smartphone to a router and uses that as backup. NOONE.
SIM and/or USB dongle to router and work from there...
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@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Those look ideal but Im not too keen on the idea of putting a 100 Mb device on my network...
It's on a backup/fallback WAN port, what's the big deal?
And, since we're arguing about how to get that box connected to the internet, here's how GL-INET suggests you do it.
https://docs.gl-inet.com/en/2/setup/internet_setting/
Jeff
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@akuma1x said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Those look ideal but Im not too keen on the idea of putting a 100 Mb device on my network...
It's on a backup/fallback WAN port, what's the big deal?
And, since we're arguing about how to get that box connected to the internet, here's how GL-INET suggests you do it.
https://docs.gl-inet.com/en/2/setup/internet_setting/
Jeff
Like I mention I am not a big fan at all of putting any 100 Mb device on my network.
Plus, correct me if I am wrong, but LTE hits over 100 Mb correct? Which would be limited then...
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@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Plus, correct me if I am wrong, but LTE hits over 100 Mb correct? Which would be limited then...
You're in Europe, so you'd have to check with your carrier. Here's some US 4G LTE data. That's why I said it's no big deal.
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-mobile-network,review-2942.html
Jeff
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@akuma1x said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Plus, correct me if I am wrong, but LTE hits over 100 Mb correct? Which would be limited then...
You're in Europe, so you'd have to check with your carrier. Here's some US 4G LTE data. That's why I said it's no big deal.
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-mobile-network,review-2942.html
Jeff
Data that means nothing to me.
So now I need a 4G device (dongle/router/etc) that can do 1 Gb
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Where do you think your going to get such speeds on LTE? While EU is ahead of much of the world.. Sorry but not close to 100mbps yet..
https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2018/02/state-of-lte
Its a bit over a year old - but 1 year has not tripled LTE speeds.
but LTE hits over 100 Mb correct?
There is a big difference between theory limit and what actually real world..
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@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
So now I need a 4G device (dongle/router/etc) that can do 1 Gb
LOL
Jeff
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I assume you mean 'has Gigagbit Ethernet' there? Otherwise wait for 5G!
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The LTE modems from netgear have gig interfaces
https://www.netgear.com/home/products/mobile-broadband/lte-modems/LB1120.aspx#tab-techspecs -
@johnpoz said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
but LTE hits over 100 Mb correct?
There is a big difference between theory limit and what actually real world..
I just did a test running Speedtest on my Pixel 2 phone. I got 117 Mb down and 43.5 up, with clear line of sight to the nearest cell site, a few blocks away. This compares with the low 90s down & 11 up on my 75/10 package at home over cable.
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@riahc3 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
So now I need a 4G device (dongle/router/etc) that can do 1 Gb
Not likely.
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@JKnott said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Pixel 2 phone
Yeah that is great phone for LTE speed.. All comes down to your carrier and your device and who else is on the tower.. The numbers are average.. In theory sure you can get 150 - there is a big difference between that and real world, etc. etc.
The modem I linked to can do max 150.. in its specs.. Find a current speed map.. Not like that was for 5g or LTE.. you see the speeds are given as "average" etc..
Test that in say a urban setup where you have 100's of other devices all on the same tower. And your not line of site to it ;)
Guess you should go with LTE for your main speed then ;) Mine is 500/50 at home, where my cell can do 30-40.. Guess which one I use ;)
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@johnpoz said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Guess you should go with LTE for your main speed then ;) Mine is 500/50 at home, where my cell can do 30-40.. Guess which one I use ;)
The problem is in my condo, my signal is so poor, the phone is almost unusable at my desk. Also, my cell plan only has 6 GB of data, vs 500 GB via cable.
I rely on WiFi calling for cell phone calls at home.
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The only network able to provide any useable speed for an emergency 4G connection in our building is Sprint. If I get 10 Mbps on that connection, I'm happy, because the three other major players were only able to give me a fraction of that. Sprint is supposedly the worst network out of the four major networks in the US. So don't base your decisions on what others claim to be the best network. All data is based on an averages. Averages don't tell you what's good for your specific scenario. Do you own testing and find out. You can install roof top antennas pointing at towers and really go overkill with the 4G setup if you like. It all comes down to what you need.
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Just as a reference here's what I see using a ppp connection via an internal Sierra modem:
[2.4.4-RELEASE][admin@3100.stevew.lan]/root: speedtest-cli --source 187.30.105.169 Retrieving speedtest.net configuration... Testing from Three (187.30.105.169)... Retrieving speedtest.net server list... Selecting best server based on ping... Hosted by Structured Communications (London) [2.56 km]: 49.696 ms Testing download speed................................................................................ Download: 39.69 Mbit/s Testing upload speed............................................................................................... .Upload: 18.08 Mbit/sTechnically it's an LTE device, EM7305, but the PPP connection limits it.
Steve
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@stephenw10 said in 4G failover options for pfSense?:
Technically it's an LTE device, EM7305, but the PPP connection limits it.
Why would PPP limit it? PPP is the standard way of sending packets over a serial connection. Years ago, we used to use it for dial up connections and more recently I've configured it on T1 & fractional T1 as well as ISDN. In fact, routers from Cisco, etc., can be configured to use PPP over that sort of situation. PPP is also used with ADSL, as PPPoE. PPP is just another protocol that can be used to carry IP. It has no bandwidth limit.
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As far as I know it's not possible to connect over LTE with PPP, you are limited to DC-HSPA at a max of 42MBps. However if that is the case then that 40Mbps result looks pretty good! Also I think there was another user reported a higher value awhile back.
Anyway it would be far better of we could connect using QMI or MBIM but FreeBSD/pfSense doesn't support that. Yet.Edit: Actually that doesn't appear to be true, can connect over LTE but using PPP does limit the speed. Unclear where the limit is though.
Steve
