Temporary Remote Warehouse - Need 4G Uplink
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We have a temporary remote warehouse location that doesn't have anything other than T1 and fixed wireless available. The cost and build out times don't make sense for those "options", so I need to figure out a way for that site to have access to our ERP system, most likely to via a tunnel.
I know of Cradlepoint for 4G routers, but I don't know how good they are. I shouldn't have a problem with carrier coverage. Are they good enough in this type of scenario or are there alternatives I should consider?
Thanks!
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What is the distance from this warehouse to the main network? Do you have line of sight?
Why would you not be able to use the T1?
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@gjacobse No line of site. It is about 5 miles away through the city. The T1 would be several hundred dollars with a 90 day build out and 3 year term.
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@wrx7m said in Temporary Remote Warehouse - Need 4G Uplink:
@gjacobse No line of site. It is about 5 miles away through the city. The T1 would be several hundred dollars with a 90 day build out and 3 year term.
Ah - so while there is T1 available, it's not there..
Yikes - yea,.. 4g likely - but wow.. -
Don't have much experience with solutions like this but when we needed it we used a 4G router with external antennas and then put it in bridge mode, essentially turning it into a 4G modem. And then used our regular firewall/router choice to make a VPN tunnel to the main office. Easier to configure and you're much less affected by the features of the 4G router.
I don't know how much bandwidth your ERP system needs and how much bandwidth you get over 4G but when having problems I have found that doing remote desktop over the link to a VM is a lot less demanding on bandwidth and gives a better user experience.
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@pete-s Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if that would be a better approach. Our ERP system will be using handheld scanners running android connecting via wifi. We will also have 1 or 2 laptops and some label printers there. I was already considering using external (not integrated with the router) APs at that location.
I guess I can also try searching for 4G modems.
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@wrx7m When we looked for 4G modems we only found the USB type which didn't feel solid enough for business use. In either case with a separate firewall it also easier to add another 4G link maybe using a different provider or other type of WAN connection if you want to.
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@pete-s said in Temporary Remote Warehouse - Need 4G Uplink:
@wrx7m When we looked for 4G modems we only found the USB type which didn't feel solid enough for business use. In either case with a separate firewall it also easier to add another 4G link maybe using a different provider or other type of WAN connection if you want to.
That is a good point. I will see what I can find.
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I am adding peplink to my consideration
https://www.peplink.com/products/max-cellular-router/multi-cellular/
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@wrx7m said in Temporary Remote Warehouse - Need 4G Uplink:
I am adding peplink to my consideration
https://www.peplink.com/products/max-cellular-router/multi-cellular/
The MAX HD2 mini looks awesome. How much are those things?
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I have a cradlepoint at ove client. worked great for a short term solution while fiber was being built out.
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@obsolesce I can't seem to find actual pricing. Once I get to a site, they don't show prices without login.
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I have cradlepoints at all my stores for backup internet and they work great. One of my stores has been having issues with Frontier so they have been running it 24/7. My ERP works just fine over the VPN.
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Whats a T1 ?
What about 3G/4G USB modem connected to TP link router
https://www.tp-link.com/ph/products/details/cat-14_TL-MR3220.htmlUsually that adds more reliability by keeping to dial and reconnect
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@emad-r said in Temporary Remote Warehouse - Need 4G Uplink:
Whats a T1 ?
A bunch of POTS lines. Can be used for voice, data, or split up between both. They're an anarchism in most places now, thankfully.
Thanks for making me feel old, now get of my lawn
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@emad-r said in Temporary Remote Warehouse - Need 4G Uplink:
Whats a T1 ?
What about 3G/4G USB modem connected to TP link router
https://www.tp-link.com/ph/products/details/cat-14_TL-MR3220.htmlUsually that adds more reliability by keeping to dial and reconnect
I've not been impressed with the TP-Link routers. Had a couple of them that would not fall back to the main connection when it came back up.
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Yeah, thanks, but no thanks for the TPLink. I want something that I don't have to touch after installing it. If it works well for that location, after we leave it, I will probably configure it for fail-over at our corporate offices.
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Cradlepoints are top of the line in my opinion. I have used several of them in the past and all work excellent. Might be worth a shot to reach out to your preferred cellular carrier and see what options they have.
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May shoot me for this idea but this is what we did. We have a demo Meraki Mx-65 that we put a Verizon USB 4G card on. Configured a VPN between that an our (at the time) Cisco ASA. For the 3 months we needed it worked flawlessly. We keep it around as the license hasn't expired yet and never know when we may need a temp connection again. @NetworkNerd has a post on here how to config a VPN between a Meraki device and an ASA. I do not remember the model of USB 4G card we used off the top of my head.
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@jt1001001 - Yeah, the only Meraki product I use is the free MDM. Thanks for your insight, though.
