4g as a back up lan

Hello, im working on setting up 4g as a back up wan, I dont know how many other ppl would like to know this or would like me to build Mod, to set up from the web interface. i Think this would be a good selling point.

Anyone think it is a good ideal?

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I think 4G (or even 3G somewhere) connectivity would be a valuable addition.
Iā€™ve worked a bit on the matter, most of the underlying support is already in place, but a mandatory tool called usb-modeswicth was not up to date when I looked (maybe two years ago).
I will help you when and where I can.

Ehi @chcllc good point ideed! Do you have already tested something out? Any howto or tool?

I wonā€™t deal with 3G/4G connectivity on the server itselfā€¦ buy an external 3G/4G router with a nic port and configure it as a backup connection, just like any other router/modem

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@filippo_carletti @alefattorini ā€” i know usb-modesswitch is not updated i think it is 16mo back. Im working on it now in my test lab when i get free time.

@zamboni ā€” There is 2 ways of looking at Nethserver. One way is a replacement for windows server. what it can do very well :smile: The way we are looking at it is what we call a ā€œSBARSā€ What is a 1 U server and router built for small or field office. This is for ppl that dont want alot of ā€œthingā€ in there IT ROOM (That is what a lot of our customer call everything, ā€œthingsā€)

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wellā€¦ I wish you all the best, but IMHO, reliability and stability is far more important on a router than on a serverā€¦

sometimes you can survive a temporary server downtime (without data loss, obviously), but you canā€™t afford a connection downtimeā€¦

so, playing with unsupported and unmaintained code is not a smart choice, nowadays that you can buy and replace some applances in 5 minutes

about ā€œppl that dont want alot of ā€˜thingā€™ in there IT ROOMā€, youā€™re the technician (and likely the supplier) and YOU know what YOU need to satisfy their needsā€¦
think to yourself as a plumber: people usually doenā€™t tell plumber how he must do his job (and, even if, Iā€™m quite sure plumber will always install all the needed pieces to make things work)

all, as usual, IMHO

@zamboni ā€“ So what you are saying is that you will sell them a server with a Open source OS server and an 4g cradle point. If that is the case then y play with linux at all. Part of being a part of community is putting new things out there and making them work. Everything on Nethserver has been put in place by communities. If you want thing to work out of the box windows and cicso is the way to go. Everything is a dream to someone it takes a Team to build it.

@alefattorini @filippo_carletti

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sure, but NS is aimed to be secure, reliable, availableā€¦ I wonā€™t add any unsupported (by upstream) code to it that could make it weakyā€¦

in any case, youā€™re free do do as you prefer :wink:

about this part: if you meant ā€œIf that is the case then you play with linux at allā€ referring to me, well, youā€™re wrong, but it doesnā€™t matterā€¦

@zamboni ā€“ it was not meet to you, 4g is linux is not unsupported, it is unsupported in NS right now, what im trying to find out is would ppl like to see my time and other ppl time in putting in. There is so many uses to use a 3/4g in a server, as a wan back or a admin door to CLI (just incase your not onsite and your server is going nuts and not on the network.

As I said, go ahead and let us know your tests :wink:

I have no doubts about it, and thatā€™s why I wonā€™t deal adding 3G/4G connectivity features to the server itself but Iā€™ll use an applianceā€¦ ideally, I can connect to wan with any kind of linkā€¦ my server will find all of them on a eth interfaceā€¦ at the end, itā€™s just a route/gateway, no matter how I connect.

to be more specific: in some environments, we use an ADSL router, but we have backups on an ISDN line, a 3G router and finally on a satellite linkā€¦all of them are on a different eth interfaceā€¦ if tomorrow I want to upgrade my 3G router with a 4G one, itā€™s a matter of secondsā€¦ and all the system is reliable, stable, availableā€¦

if you need a wan backup, use the right tool in the right place at the right priceā€¦ reinventing the wheel is not a good idea

@zamboni @alefattorini

Thanks to Stefano, i was looking into useing PCIe over usb, we can fine drivers for them and dont need to use usb-switchboard. We just ordered both a new motherboard and a PCIe Card, hope to have by wed to play. i will keep everyone up to date.

Hello, so what is happening in i called my friends over at Sierra Wireless and got a AirPrimeĀ® EM card.

Features and Benefits

Global coverage on LTE-Advanced networks with only 2 module variants to easily expand into new markets (North America/Europe SKU; Asia Pacific SKU)
Switch networks anytime with up to three different certified firmware variants on board*
Comprehensive GNSS coverage with GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo satellite system support enabling tracking and location-based services
Secure boot and value-add firmware with FREE unlimited firmware over-the-air (FOTA) upgrades for the lifetime of the module to keep the connectivity optimized and secure**
Interfaces include SIM, USB, PCM/I2S, GPIO, flash LED output, and more

  • 74xx feature, 73xx can switch networks over-the-air via host server
    **native FOTA support for 74xx; 73xx supported via Linux SDK

Just a little up date on what is going on.

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Bump. 5 years later. Maybe for rasing the 5G monster into the courtyard.

Can Neth do failover WAN? Because thatā€™s really the core of the issue. If it can, plug in a cellular modem and use that as the failover WAN connection. If it canā€™t, thatā€™s the feature request.

AFAIK only on ethernet interfaceā€¦

Thatā€™s where the cellular modem comes inā€“it plugs into an Ethernet interface.

Edit: Hereā€™s what Iā€™m thinking of (and what I use):
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5ASNTE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Also called: Mifi router or LTE router.
There are several of these devices available. From cheapass TP-Link for less than EUR50,- to industry grade LTE routers.
If you really need such a router, you better have a reliable one. I would look for an LTE router that can pass through the IP address to another device on the LAN (IE your 2nd RED interface on your NethServer Firewall instance)

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Not in the normal sense, or at least in the sense Iā€™ve seen that term used. The products I see marketed that way include WiFi, switch ports, and a bunch of other nonsense that isnā€™t needed here. All you need is the cellular data and an Ethernet jack. I also donā€™t really see much value in being able to set it up in bridge mode, as you arenā€™t going to run a server over this connection anyway: (1) youā€™re going to be on a dynamic IP address, and (2) your DNS entries would presumably be pointing to your wired connection.