Affix both antennas to the router and insert an activated SIM card before deploying the device. Be sure to select a location with optimal signal strength. For detailed instruction, refer to the tables that follow. Subsequent sections will outline site selection, powering options, and other device functionality.

If you are unsure of the available cellular signal strength, or are choosing between several locations, please follow the instructions to identify the ideal installation site.

The included Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) injector allows the device to be positioned away from power outlets to simplify its installation needs. The adaptor consolidates the DC power and Ethernet connections so that both can be run to the 6300-CX via a single Ethernet cable. Distances of 300 ft have been tested on CAT6 and 250 ft on CAT5e. Note that cable conditions and the number of splices will impact actual distance.

If you plan to collocate the 6300-CX with the MX device, you can directly power the 6300-CX without the PoE cable.

Once power has been established, your device will initialize and attempt to connect to the network. Device initialization may take 30-60 seconds. Indicator lights on the Wireless Strength Indicator show you the cellular network signal strength. The Network Status Light on the front left of the device displays connectivity information.

Please visit accelerated.com for additional information and troubleshooting tips.

Before designating the primary and secondary Internet connections, first identify the available ports on the dual-WAN appliance’s back panel. While most modern devices support multiple WAN interfaces, not all equipment contains a separate grouping specifically for WAN uplinks. Should this be the case, and there is no distinct labeling to differentiate between ports for Ethernet (LAN) and Internet (WAN), the best practice is best to start with the lowest available port (usually either 0 or 1 unless otherwise specified) for the primary uplink and to use its adjacent port for the secondary connection. Follow the same rule of thumb if the firewall features dedicated WAN interfaces, starting with the first port for the primary WAN before assigning the secondary line.

Network devices typically feature a local (or web) GUI to handle configuration settings. More often than not, this administration portal is accessed by navigating to the device’s IP address using a web browser. Administration portals may vary greatly, depending on the make and model of the appliance in question, though the overall process remains the same: enable (or confirm) multiple WAN support and establish failover prioritization. Additional settings will likely be available to offer further control over how the two interfaces cooperate, such as automatic failback/ reversion, load balancing, and traffic-shaping rules or exceptions. Please refer to the proprietary documentation included with the device for an in-depth walkthrough of its local GUI/ admin portal.

In most dual-WAN scenarios, the connection supplied by the 6300-CX is best leveraged as the backup WAN interface. Its embedded cellular modem allows network administrators to run an LTE backup via an Ethernet cable as opposed to a USB solution, which preserves the full security functionality of most firewalls. (DPI-SSL inspection, for example, is not guaranteed when failover connectivity is provided by a USB-connected modem.) It is important to note that IP Passthrough must be enabled on the 6300, which is the device’s default setting, to ensure that the dedicated firewall or router is able to properly control how Internet traffic is being routed. This configuration and other administrative settings can be handled remotely by logging into Accelerated View™, a centralized system for network administration that allows for web-based monitoring, management, reporting, and alerts on all Accelerated devices.

NOTE: When integrating cellular failover into existing infrastructure, it is critical to consider all factors in play. Business continuity solutions must be as reliable as they are cost-effective to mitigate the impact of network outages. Firewalls and similar appliances have many supplemental features that allow for advanced control over how data flows between the two WAN connections, but the nature of mobile data plans may not be conducive toward enabling all of these settings. Load balancing, for instance, would consume additional data so it is important to stay aware of any data caps or limitations (or at least assess the cost of exceeding them). Similarly, customizing the parameters for failback  the process of switching back to the primary WAN once its connectivity is restored  can optimize dual-WAN configurations by actively checking the status of both uplinks, minimizing the data usage and response time for failover while maximizing continuity. Please refer to your cellular or internet service provider for additional information about available data plans.