Recommendations for failover internet providers?

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SumnerBoy

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#293024 22-Dec-2021 09:52

Hi,

I have BigPipe fibre (300/100) to my door with a Unifi UDM-Pro.

It is/has been very reliable but I am considering getting some sort of failover since the UDM-Pro supports a second WAN interface.

Anyone doing this and if so, what do you recommend?

I am not an expert by any means, but I am guessing you can't get a second fibre connection to a residential property? Or if you can it is very expensive?

So I am thinking it would need to be some sort of 4G/5G router/dongle?

TIA,

Ben

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#2836694 22-Dec-2021 09:59

Regarding getting a second fibre connection into a residential property, you could get a second port on your ONT activated with another fibre connection from the backup ISP, although not all ISPs do this though and I am unsure which ones do and which don't.

Linux

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#2836697 22-Dec-2021 10:01

Fail over should be to a 3G/4G/5G connection not to another Fibre connection

SumnerBoy

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#2836698 22-Dec-2021 10:02

Linux: Fail over should be to a 3G/4G/5G connection not to another Fibre connection

Yep ok - so any recommendations for who offers a good option for this?

Linux

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#2836704 22-Dec-2021 10:10

You need to look at all the carriers and work out which is best for your location

Really how often does your Fibre die? Sounds like you are throwing $$$ away

aseni

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#2836705 22-Dec-2021 10:10

If you are looking for redundancy, I'd suggest a 4G/5G router or maybe Starlink if you can wait for it. A second fibre connection won't protect you from LFC failures (unless you are willing to pay several thousands of dollars to get data-centre level fibre redundancy).

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#2836709 22-Dec-2021 10:12

Remember if it is a major Fibre outage then good chance the serving cell site is Fibre connected so your backup goes offline as well

SumnerBoy

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#2836710 22-Dec-2021 10:13

Linux: Really how often does your Fibre die? Sounds like you are throwing $$$ away

Not very often, as mentioned in my first post, but if you work from home like I do, and are effectively unable to work if your internet goes down, it seems prudent to at least investigate the options for a backup solution... which is all I am doing here.

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SumnerBoy

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#2836711 22-Dec-2021 10:14

aseni:

If you are looking for redundancy, I'd suggest a 4G/5G router or maybe Starlink if you can wait for it. A second fibre connection won't protect you from LFC failures (unless you are willing to pay several thousands of dollars to get data-centre level fibre redundancy).

Yeah I did wonder about Starlink. Probably a bit expensive for a failover service tho?

I will do some more digging, I just thought someone on here might have already done this and have some recommendations.

insane

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#2836712 22-Dec-2021 10:14

SumnerBoy:

Linux: Fail over should be to a 3G/4G/5G connection not to another Fibre connection

Yep ok - so any recommendations for who offers a good option for this?

Easiest would be to get a standalone 4G modem that has a ethernet port, and find the best mobile/data plan that suits your data needs. Hopefully the UDM can do active/failover and auto failback to primary so that you don't chew through your data too fast if the fibre blips.

Linux

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#2836713 22-Dec-2021 10:16

If you work from home and your Fibre connection dies then use PHS from your mobile phone or power off your work laptop and go out for a coffee

aseni

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#2836714 22-Dec-2021 10:16

SumnerBoy:

Not very often, as mentioned in my first post, but if you work from home like I do, and are effectively unable to work if your internet goes down, it seems prudent to at least investigate the options for a backup solution... which is all I am doing here.

Have you considered investing in a data plan for your mobile and using hotspot instead? If it's just for those rare occasions, it'll probably be cheaper than a new 4G connection...

SumnerBoy

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#2836715 22-Dec-2021 10:17

Yeah that is something I need to confirm - one YouTube video I just watched showed it failing back but a Reddit post seemed to suggest it did not...

Will look into 4G modems, thanks.

Wondered if some of the mobile/data plans came with modems included.

Linux

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#2836720 22-Dec-2021 10:18

In my job we work with in the health sector IT and primary is Fibre and fail over is to 4G on second WAN port and fail over is automatic inhappens with a tiny blip in the connection

SumnerBoy

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#2836721 22-Dec-2021 10:19

aseni:

Have you considered investing in a data plan for your mobile and using hotspot instead? If it's just for those rare occasions, it'll probably be cheaper than a new 4G connection...

Yeah, that is an option as a last resort, and one I currently use at a pinch. Just wanted to see what else was available for a more robust solution. If it works out to be too expensive then I won't be doing anything.

SumnerBoy

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#2836722 22-Dec-2021 10:20

Linux: In my job we work with in the health sector IT and primary is Fibre and fail over is to 4G on second WAN port and fail over is automatic inhappens with a tiny blip in the connection

Failover is fine on the UDM Pro, it is fail-back that we are talking about.

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