Network Devices - Business Voice - 4G LTE Wireless Failover Router Installation Guide

This guide explains how to set up the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini router for Failover used on Business Voice’s Communications platform. The information in this guide applies to Business Voice's Administrators and Dealer Administrators.

Note: Administrator-level access to the Business Voice portal is required to configure the Customer’s Failover (Business Voice Administrator and Dealer Administrator).

The Peplink BR1 Mini is an affordable cellular router for large-scale deployments. It is a cellular enabled gateway that allows for 4G LTE connectivity. The metal case enclosure can withstand hard deployment conditions. The typical cellular throughput speed for the BR1 Mini is 300 Mbps.

To review the manufacturer’s information on the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini, select a link below to visit their website or download the datasheet:

The front of the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini has the following connections (image below):

• AC Power Input

• DC Terminal Block (for redundant or Primary power)

• Factory Reset Button

• Status Lights

• 2 Ethernet Ports

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The back of the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini has the following connections (image below):

• Power Terminal Block

• Reset Button

• LAN & Console Port

• LAN/WAN POE Port

• 12V-28V DC Jack

• SMA Cellular Antenna Connectors (not to be used for LTE Failover).

• SMS GPS Antenna Connector (not to be used for LTE Failover).

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The LAN/Console Port can be connected to a PC and used to change the device configuration (though this should not be required).

The LAN/WAN port is used to connect the Peplink BR1 Mini to the Business Voice switch.

Before setting up the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini, verify the following:

1. Cabling from the router to the Business Voice switch.

2. A Business Voice 24 or 48-port switch must be installed and connected to the StarBox  ^®  Voice Optimized SD-WAN . If a smaller switch is being used, a custom configuration is required.

3. Business Voice Administrator and Dealer Administrator-level rights.

Use the following steps to install a Peplink BR1 Mini router for Failover used in Business Voice’s Communications platform:

1. The location of the router must provide the router with a good Wi-Fi signal.

2. Plug the router into a power source, preferably a UPS, in case of a power failure.

3. Wait a few minutes for the Cellular light to show solid green.

4. Continue the configuration by following the steps in the "Configure the StarBox with Failover " section to set up Failover in the StarBox.

A Business Voice 24 or 48-port switch is recommended for installation and connection to the StarBox. The default setup is to connect the network cable from port 23 on a 24-port switch, or port 47 on a 48-port switch to the LAN/WAN PoE port on the MAX BR1 Mini.

Note: If a smaller switch is being used, contact Business Voice Support, as a custom configuration is required.

The physical connections of the StarBox  ^®  ports are as follows:

• Port 1 - LAN1 (WAN)

  • Connect to Broadband/Internet modem or a T1 router.

• Port 2 - LAN 2 (Data)

  • Connect to PC/Computer or LAN router (Internet/WAN port).

• Port 3 - (Voice)

  • Connect to the switch.

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The following information relates to the LAN1 Primary circuit Failover:

• Failover or offline:

  • Must be down for three polling cycles before Failover. A polling cycle is once every 5 minutes via a ping.

  • Inbound may take up to 15 minutes to be successful, due to the previous registration expiration.

  • Outbound is immediate when there is no connection on LAN1.

• Not Failover or back online:

  • Inbound calls will work if WAN2 is still online. The Primary circuit starts processing inbound calls after WAN2 registration expires.

  • Outbound works as usual.

Some things to consider with CCM 2.x are:

• Sangoma CX™ and StarScope™ ( Application Framework ) may take 15 to 20 minutes to transition between circuits while IP changes propagate through the system.

• Select CCM 2.5 locations use from the menu at the top of the page.

• Search and select the Location to be configured. (Consult the label on the StarBox for this information).

• In the left side menu, select System management, then select StarBox setting.

5. Click on [+]Failover.

6. Set the Enabled option to “ Yes ”.

7. Select each of the Settings icons ( ❁ ) to access either the Voice Primary (WAN), Voice Secondary (WAN2), Data Primary (WAN), or Data Secondary (WAN2) configuration option. Use the information in the next section to configure each option.

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1. Ping Check Sleep: The delay time the StarBox incurs between ping attempts. Select either 30, 60 or 90 (seconds) between pings for the system to check the connection.

2. Ping Check Target: Enter a configurable IP address that the system uses to ping and verify if the interface is working or goes down. It is recommended to use a highly reliable server address, such as 4.2.2.2.

3. Failures Before Down (Failover): The number of unsuccessful ping attempts the system completes before the StarBox determines the interface is down. Selectable options are 1, 2, or 3 failed pings before the circuit connection is considered down, and Failover to the Secondary WAN occurs. It is recommended to set a default of 3. The StarBox continues to route traffic through the configured interface before marking it as down (failed).

4. Successes Before Up (non Failover) : The number of successful sets of pings the system completes before the StarBox determines the interface is up. The set is 1, 2, or 3 successful consecutive pings in a series/set of 10. Selectable options are 1 - 3. The StarBox considers the circuit to be non-optimal until the desired number of successes is achieved.

5. Note: The StarBox has an embedded rule that works in conjunction with this setting. The rule causes the StarBox to examine the historical performance of the circuit (the last 10 checks), and continues to consider a circuit as non-optimal until it achieves a 70% success rate.

6. Select the SAVE CHANGES TO SYSTEM button to save the configuration.

Note: It may take up to 15 minutes for the changes to take effect. 

9. Reboot the StarBox. Select each of the Settings icons ( ❁ ) to access either the Voice Primary (WAN) , Voice Secondary (WAN2), Data Primary (WAN), or Data Secondary (WAN2) configuration option. Use the information in the next section to configure each option.

Note: Before rebooting the StarBox, please be aware that it may take up to 15 minutes for the saved changes to take effect. 

If changes have been made that brought the device online or corrected a configuration or cabling issue, the following steps should be followed to validate that the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini is installed and working properly:

1. Disconnect the cable between the primary Internet modem or T1 router and the StarBox. ("LAN1 (WAN) To Broadband/Internet Modem or T1 Router" image below. )

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2. Attempt to make calls.

3. If set up correctly, the calls should ring through, using the 4G router configured on WAN2. For issues with the router, contact Sangoma’s Technical Support Group (TSG): 844-302-7827 or ( support@sangoma.com ).