Configuring WAN Failover with a Cisco 881 Router and an AirLink Device

Jan 18, 2016 - Author: Sierra Wireless - 5562 Views

The following information relates to the AirLink GX400, GX/ES440, GX/ES450, LS300, LX60 or RV50/RV50X.

When the AirLink device is combined with a third-party router, the combined solution supports business continuity by providing primary and backup Internet access to one or more computers or other devices.

This guide provides instructions for configuring an AirLink device and a Cisco 881 router for WAN Failover. Figure 1 shows the network topology. This guide also applies to customers subscribed to the AirLink Enterprise Connect service.

Figure 1: Hardware Configuration for Enterprise Business Community.

 

Configure the Cisco 881 Router for WAN Failover

Configure the Cisco router’s IP SLA feature to support WAN failover. Figure 2 shows the router ports used in this sample configuration.

 

Figure 2: Sample Fast Ethernet Port Configuration for Cisco 881

 

The following instructions provide a sample Cisco 881 configuration.

1. Connect the router to a laptop, using the serial cable supplied with the router. If you are asked to enter an initial configuration, choose No.

 

2. Open a terminal connection on the serial interface, using a terminal emulator application such as TeraTerm, PuTTY, etc. Configure the terminal speed to 9600 baud.

 

3. Type “enable” to enter root mode, and then type “configure terminal” to enter configuration mode.

 

4. Configure the internal VLAN: 192.168.1.1 using DHCP.

 

 

5. Configure the connection to the AirLink device as an independent VLAN.

 

 

6. Configure the WAN interface IP.

 

 

7. Configure the NAT rules to allow access to the Internet.

 

Note: If desired, you can add new criteria for the access list.

 

8. Configure the failover mechanism.

 

9. Configure failover routes.

 

 

10. Save the configuration.

 

 

11. Key commands to monitor the router state. 

 

Configure Reliable Static Routing on the AirLink Device

Configuring Reliable Static Route (RSR) on the AirLink device reduces airtime usage by directing traffic between the AirLink Device and AirVantage Management Service over the wired network when the primary Internet connection is active and over the wireless connection when it becomes inactive.

AirVantage Management Service can track the status of RSR and indicate on the Failover Status dashboard widget whether your Internet connection is using the primary or failover WAN link.

If the AirLink device is not already configured for Reliable Static Routing, you can use either AVMS or ACEmanager to configure it.

 

Configure the AirLink Device using AVMS

The following instructions provide a sample configuration for Reliable Static Routing. You may need to tweak the values for your particular configuration. For more information, refer to the AVMS user documentation.

Create or Update a Template

Using templates makes it easier to apply the same configuration to several devices.

Note: These instructions assume that some initial configuration, such as the cellular credentials (APN, username, etc) and settings for AirVantage Management Service (URL, frequency, etc.) has already been done (typically by the distributor or mobile network operator).

 

1. Log into your AVMS account and select Configure > Templates.

 

2. If you already have a template to Set up RSR on the AirLink device, select Actions > Edit and make any changes to the template that are required for your specific configuration.

 

 

3. If you do not already have a template, click the + sign drop-down menu and select Brand new.

 

 

4. In the Application / Firmware window, select (or enter) the AirLink device (e.g. ALEOS ES440 (4.3.6c.004)):

 

 

5. Enter the following sample parameters, or values for your particular configuration:

  -WAN/Cellular > Reliable Static Route (RSR) > Reliable Static Route (RSR)

      Primary Interface = Ethernet 1
      Gateway for Primary Interface = 192.168.13.101
      Backup Interface = Cellular
      Destination IP/Network = 84.14.252.0
      Destination Subnet Mask = 255.255.255.192
      Tracking Object = Tracking Object 1

   -WAN/Cellular > Reliable Static Route (RSR) > Tracking Object

      Test IP Address = 8.8.8.8
      Test Interface = Ethernet 1
      Test Interval (seconds) = 20
      Test Timeout (seconds) = 4
      Maximum number of Test Retries = 2
      Tracking Object = Enable

   -WAN/Cellular > Reliable Static Route (RSR) > Reliable Static Route (RSR)  

      Reliable Static Routing = Enable


   -LAN > Ethernet > General

      DHCP Server Mode = 0   

   -LAN > Host Port Routing

      Primary Gateway = enable
      Host Network 2 = 192.168.1.0
      Host Network Subnet Mask 2 = 255.255.255.0
      Host Network 2 Route = Ethernet port
      Host Network 2 Gateway = 192.168.13.101


   -Optional (Helps when checking that your setup is correct)

      -Services > Telnet/SSH

         Remote Login Server Telnet/SSH Port Timeout (minutes) = 40 

 

 

6. Click Save to create a new template or overwrite an existing one. 

 

 

Apply the Template

1. Go to your system detail page and apply the template.

Note: Using an AVMS template is not mandatory. You can change settings directly on the System Configuration page. However, if you have multiple devices to configure, it’s a good idea to create an AVMS template.

 

Configure the AirLink Device using ACEmanager

 

To use ACEmanager to configure the AirLink Device:


1. Connect your PC to AirLink device using an Ethernet cable.

 

2. Save the template file attached to this PDF (SWIApplyTemplate_cisco_4.3.6c.004.xml).

   a. In Adobe Reader, click the Attachments icon on the left side of the screen. ().
   b. Right-click the template file, select Save Attachment, and save it as a .xml file.

 

 

Note: This template assumes that some initial configuration, such as the cellular credentials (APN, username, etc) and settings for AirVantage Management Service (URL, frequency, etc.) has already been done (typically by the distributor or mobile network operator).

 

3. Launch your browser and go to http://192.168.13.31:9191 and enter the user name (default is user).

 

4. Click the Template button (at the right of the screen).

 

 

5. Click Browse....





6. Navigate to the template file saved in Step 2.

 

 

7. Click Upload.

 

8. Click Reboot.

 

The template provides a sample configuration. You may need to tweak the settings for your particular configuration on the following ACEmanager screens:


• WAN/Cellular > Reliable Static Routing (RSR)
• LAN > Ethernet
• LAN > Host Port Routing

 

For more information refer to the ALEOS Software Configuration User Guide. 

 

 

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