Extra questions re: 'Cradlepoint MBR1000 EVDO Router'

alx.be · EVDO Newbie Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 4

Still got questions on 'Cradlepoint MBR1000 EVDO Router' (and eventually Kyocera KR2 twinbrother) although very complete product review (thks btw). Maybe some of you could highlight the following :

1/ Are the LAN/Ethernet connections Gigabit ones ?

2/ Is there a way to prevent firewall functionalities so all requests are forwarded as-is to a server taking this responsibility (linux-like with shorewall for instance : so in-coming ports can be matched to other ports (for instance on devices for which access port can't be changed), and for easier remote management/admin). Assuming the server is the only connected device to the router and that the server got a double LAN connection (one for Craddlepoint and one for local LAN) of course

3/ Is the failover mechanism applicable as soon as the listed connection is down or does it require to unplug or switch off the connected modem/communication device) to activate next priority connection ? My plan is to use this device for ADSL backup functionality, and place the device as well as modems, UPS, server, switch, hotspot,... into a locked, secured patchpanel.

Thanks for giving me some details on those questions.

Alex · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:17 am Post subject:

1) 10/100, not gigabit. no cellular router has gigabit (yet)

2) using "DMZ" yes

3) failover does not require physical disconnect, but it is not "instant" there is delay as it does testing to confirm link is down.
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alx.be · EVDO Newbie Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks Alex.
So I guess there is one extra connection for DMZ which I can connect to my "firewall" linux-based server, in 100Mbits (which is fair enough for what WAN connection is concerned), and forward all ports. Then connect my server to the LAN using then some gigabit ethernet connections.

Re failover, I understand there is no real way to insure no service disruption when current WAN connection fails, this is much due to the ISO layers management, I guess.

As it appears you know much of the in and out of the craddlepoint router, do you know if any load balancing feature exists, if for instance, I do want to have 2 permanent ADSL connections (let's say one static IP and a dynamic IP kind of ADSL subscription) ?

Thanks again for your quick reply.

PS Any idea if the Kyocera shares the same functionnalities as the one you just provided me ?

Alex · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:25 pm Post subject:

alx, maybe you are looking for a multi wan router, but not the MBR1000.

the MBR1000 (and KR2) are 3G / cellular routers, that can accept EVDO/HSPA devices as "internet source".

right now, the MBR1000 can load balance across multiple active cellular devices, but not WAN and WWAN. (KR2 will have load balancing, just don't know when)

and since there is only one WAN connection, neither MBR or KR2 can load balance multiple ADSL
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alx.be · EVDO Newbie Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 4

OK Alex,
I understand.
I was so excited I found 'the' solution to our IT ADSL issue, I forgot the basic rule 'the nicest lady can't give more than what she actually has' (freely translated from some local motto).
Maybe you could help on this, Alex.
Ideally we would like to
1. Connect to at least one ADSL WAN connection (sounds fair enough)
2. Provide if possible some load balancing with another permanent ADSL WAN connection (wired, no cellular; with static or dynamic ip; phone or cable) so we can have 2 different DSL providers, two separate data routes (iso transport layer)
3. Provide failover from one ADSL WAN to another, which *must* be a '3G' kind of connection

If any idea on existing product or existing solution (mix of HW and SW), I'll be glad to read.

Alex · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:11 am Post subject:

interesting you would want something like that. it sounds exactly like my setup at home. here's a photo of my setup:

To make it happen, you need at least two routers. I use the MBR1000 of course, and a PepLink Balance 30.

The PepLink is Triple-Wan router. It accepts ethernet input from my two DSL routers (they could have just been modems) and my MBR1000.
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alx.be · EVDO Newbie Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 4

This setup indeed looks like very promising for our SMO requirements.
I'll look closer to it and its vairous components early on.
Thanks again for the picture, btw.

gpfister · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 4

Alex - Can you tell me more about the PepLink. I've tried to get 2 modems to work reliably with the MBR1000 and find that it just is not reliable. A single modem on the MBR1000 works much better. I'm wondering if I should purchase a Peplink Balance 30 and a CTR500 and have the CTR500 & MBR1000 as the Internet feeds into the Peplink. What I want to do is take advantage of the 2 3G modems I have, support my ability to VPN out to my work, and just have a reliable 2 modem configuration. I'd probably also include my 802.11 AirPort Extreme to give me wireless access.

It is a bit more expensive to go this route. I'm just not sure that the MBR1000 firmware will get to where it needs to be.

Thanks for any insight!

Greg

Alex · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

i'm pretty sure your issues are caused by your use of two novatel modems on same carrier. at this time, i'd suggest using no novatel products, and having pipe come from two carriers. (in the future, i'm sure cradlepoint will find a way to play better with novatel products)

the peplink is a good product, and is likely to overcome issue of both evdo devices being from novatel, but the fact they are both on verizon pipe means you aren't getting any real benefit from load balancing. two verizon modems won't get you any better performance from one tower, than one verizon modem.
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gpfister · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks for the feedback.

Interesting. I originally tried 1 Verizon and 1 Sprint PCS, but the Sprint side performed poorly even though my tower is a Sprint PCS tower. Besides the two Novatel modem issue, I would think that if the router is load balancing, I should be able to support multiple sessions with better throughput than with a single modem. Are you saying that because it is 2 modems with the same carrier I'm just sharing a fixed amount of bandwidth anyway? Would switching modem brands make a difference with the MBR?

Alex · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject: