Dual WAN 3G Failover

Web, e-mail and other business applications depend on a working Internet connection. Your business can grind to a complete halt if the Broadband connection goes down, even if it is just for a short period of time. Some people believe that installing a secondary ADSL connection is a good solution, but this is not true. If road works sever the BT cable between your business and the BT exchange, both ADSL connections will fail and your business will suffer.

We have BT Total Care - do we really need 3G Failover?

If you have BT Broadband, the ADSL service depends on a working telephone line. BT Total Care provides an extra layer of protection on your telephone line with a 4 hour response time from BT, but can your business continue to operate efficiently with no Internet for up to 4 hours? It is possible that BT will fix your line within 4 hours, but it's also possible that it could take longer. If that digger severs your telephone line, it is unlikely your telephone line will be running for several days.

Our Broadband failed today, can you help?

We have a number of 3G SIMs with static IP's on standby that we can loan on a short-term basis to get you up and running (and a good stock of 3G routers). We will confirm the static IP address before SIM dispatch so you can modify your MX records and start the DNS propagation process. Call 0800 3277 923 and select option 2 to resolve your loss of connectivity...fast. We can even arrange a same day courier service in some cases.

Dual WAN 3G Failover Solution

We can advise on high availability dual WAN Internet router solutions that use 3G Broadband as the secondary connection. This is a far more robust solution as 3G Broadband provides a diverse path to the Internet, compared to a secondary ADSL connection that shares cables in the same road and potentially the same ATM DSLAM in the exchange.

Dual WAN Internet

Dual WAN 3G failover is completely automated - you won't need to re-configure your computers to use the 3G Broadband connection if your ADSL connection fails. The connection can be configured to auto-failback, when the ADSL connection is restored.

With reasonable costs, why risk downtime with staff unable to work efficiently - implement a dual WAN Internet connection and be safe in the knowledge that your business can continue to operate if your ADSL Broadband fails.

What do I need to implement a Dual WAN solution and how much will it cost?

Our first question is whether you require a public static IP address for your 3G failover connection, or whether a standard private dynamic IP will suffice. To help answer that question, please read the following section on 3G failover and the implications with e-mail.

Dual WAN 3G Failover DNS and SMTP e-mail Implications

One of the most common questions we are asked are the implications of 3G failover on the ability to send and receive e-mail. We will cover the three most popular e-mail configurations:

A) POP3 e-mail using 3rd Party Hosting

If you don't have an internal e-mail server and use POP3 e-mail supplied as part of a web hosting or domain package, you will need to enable SMTP roaming on your mailboxes (also known as SMTP authentication and sometimes called an 'advanced' mailbox), otherwise any e-mail sent during 3G failover will be rejected by your ISP with a '550 - no relay allowed' error.

You will also need to re-configure your e-mail client software to enable SMTP authentication. We recommend contacting your e-mail host to confirm if they support SMTP authentication.

B) MS Exchange Server using POP3 connector

If you have an Exchange server collecting e-mail using the POP3 connector, you will need to enable SMTP authentication on the outbound connection to your ISP's SMTP server to avoid relay errors during dual WAN 3G failover.

For options A and B above, a 3G connection with private dynamic IP address will serve your requirements.

C) MS Exchange Server using SMTP connector

If you have an Exchange server with SMTP delivery direct to your server, you will need a 3G connection with public static IP address and configure a secondary DNS MX record pointing towards the 3G static IP address. The 3G router will need to have port forwarding set up on Port 25 (SMTP) to your Exchange servers IP address. Note: The authoritative DNS server for your e-mail domain should be hosted on the Internet, not on your internal network.

Now that we have established whether your e-mail configuration requires a static IP, we can ask if there any other reasons for having a static IP? The most obvious one from an IT Manager's perspective, is the ability to perform remote management through the 3G connection. If your 3G connection has a private and dynamic IP, you will not be able to connect to the WAN interface on the 3G router, or other management facilities such as the Remote Web Workplace on a Small Business Server. A public static IP will allow an end-to-end connection, so bear that in mind.

For more applications of static IP addresses, please look on the 3G with static IP page.

Essentially there two options to choose from: public static IP address, or standard private dynamic IP. Follow the steps below to order your dual WAN failover solution.

Dual WAN 3G failover with private dynamic IP

1) Please check 3G Coverage in your area before you buy.

2) Purchase the BiPAC 7800GZ router, our current recommendation for 3G failover. This model of router includes IPSEC VPN support, 802.11b/g WiFi and is supplied with twin 3G antennas as standard, helping boost signal over 3G modem based 3G Failover solutions.

We can provide 3G SIMs for a complete solution. Remember to check 3G coverage, or call our office on 020 8819 8550 option 2 and ask for our recommendations for your site. Some popular tariffs are listed below:

Inclusive Monthly	Contract	Monthly	Out of bundle
Data	Length	Tariff + VAT	Data Charges + VAT

3GB Vodafone	12 months	£12.77	£14 / GB
5GB Vodafone	12 months	£20.00	£14 / GB

5GB T-Mobile	24 months	£20.00	£14 / GB

1GB Orange	24 months	£15.00	£14 / GB
2GB Orange	24 months	£18.00	£14 / GB

Dual WAN 3G failover with public static IP

1) Please check 3G Coverage in your area.

2) We can provide a 3G SIM with public static IP address assignment for £22.50 + VAT / month with 3GB data allowance (additional data charged at £14 + VAT per GB). Contact us and we will organise the necessary contract for your static IP. Your static IP SIM will be despatched within 72 hours, once you have passed credit checks.

Please note: We recommend you apply for the data contract before you buy any hardware from us, in case of any issues during data contract credit checks.

3) Purchase the BiPAC 7800GZ from our online shop - approx £309.75 + VAT. Order from us and we will send you a step-by-step guide on 3G failover configuration. If you run in to problems we can talk you through it, or connect to your router remotely to help diagnose any configuration issues.

Please call 0800 3277 923 and select option 2 if you have any further questions on our dual WAN 3G failover solutions.