mirror of
https://github.com/opnsense/docs
synced 2024-11-03 09:40:27 +00:00
180 lines
7.5 KiB
ReStructuredText
180 lines
7.5 KiB
ReStructuredText
===========================
|
|
Configuring Cellular Modems
|
|
===========================
|
|
OPNsense supports a wide range of USB and miniPCIe cellular modems that can be used
|
|
as primary internet (WAN) connection or as failover for a fixed/ethernet connection.
|
|
|
|
With this guide we show you how to easily add a new modem and configure it to be
|
|
used as primary WAN connection.
|
|
|
|
-----------------
|
|
Supported devices
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
In general, OPNsense should support all cellular modems that are supported by the
|
|
respective HardenedBSD kernel. However, not all devices behave the same way, you might
|
|
have to tweak your card with specific AT commands, for example in the init string.
|
|
|
|
The screenshots in this guide are for a Huawei ME909u-521 miniPCIe cellular modem.
|
|
|
|
---------------------------
|
|
Choosing the right hardware
|
|
---------------------------
|
|
|
|
Depending on the country you want to use the modem in, you might need a different
|
|
cellular modem. mPCIe cards are rather expensive so make sure you get a device
|
|
that supports the LTE bands of the country and provider you want to work with.
|
|
Use websites like `FrequencyCheck <https://www.frequencycheck.com/>`_ to find the
|
|
frequency band(s) used and get a cellular modem that supports these frequencies.
|
|
|
|
You should also buy an appropriate pigtail antenna cable and LTE antenna. Note
|
|
that LTE antennas often have different connectors than Wi-Fi antennas, chose your
|
|
equipment accordingly. Getting the right antenna has a big impact on the quality
|
|
of your signal. For LTE, MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennas should
|
|
be considered, see for example `this guide <https://www.specialistantennas.co.uk/news/lte-antenna-choices-considerations>`_.
|
|
|
|
.. Note::
|
|
|
|
Make sure to connect the antenna to the cellular modem once you start
|
|
configuring the modem in OPNsense. There is little chance that you
|
|
get any signal without antenna.
|
|
|
|
--------------------------------------
|
|
Step 1 - Talking to the cellular modem
|
|
--------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
First, we need to figure out what device is accepting AT commands on your modem. For
|
|
the Huawei modem used in this example the device is ``/dev/cuaU0.0``, other modems
|
|
might provide the AT interface on another device.
|
|
|
|
On HardenedBSD, ``/dev/cuauN`` devices are call-out ports that are used for modems instead
|
|
of terminals, see section `26.2.1 <https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/serial.html>`_ in the FreeBSD manual.
|
|
|
|
The best way to locate the correct port is to send AT commands to it. This can be
|
|
tested using the utility ``cu``:
|
|
|
|
.. code::
|
|
|
|
cu -l /dev/cuaU0.2
|
|
Connected
|
|
AT (<-type that)
|
|
OK
|
|
|
|
Once you see ``Connected`` type ``AT``. If you do not get an ``OK``
|
|
back, enter ``~.`` to quit and try the next device. In this particular example, a
|
|
Sierra Wireless MC7430 card was used and ``/dev/cuaU0.2`` is the only device where
|
|
we get ``OK`` back.
|
|
|
|
Now, check if a SIM card is available and can be accessed:
|
|
|
|
.. code::
|
|
|
|
cu -l /dev/cuaU0.2
|
|
Connected
|
|
AT+CPIN?
|
|
+CPIN: READY
|
|
|
|
There are multiple things that can go wrong here, the SIM card might not
|
|
have been detected or you might have a pin on the SIM.
|
|
|
|
Once the SIM card is ready, quit ``cu`` with ``~.``.
|
|
|
|
.. Note::
|
|
|
|
To get rid of the pin, first check if it is valid with ``AT+CPIN="1234"``
|
|
where ``1234`` is the pin of your SIM card. To get rid of the pin, enter
|
|
``AT+CLCK="SC",0,"1234"``. The pin should now be gone.
|
|
|
|
.. Note::
|
|
|
|
If you never get a ``READY`` after ``AT+CPIN?`` you might want to play with
|
|
the different mPCIe slots on your system. In my case on a PC Engines APU
|
|
board and a Sierra Wireless card I had to switch slots until the SIM card
|
|
was detected properly. The middle one did the trick for me, if someone
|
|
understands how or why this is happening, please add your findings to this
|
|
documentation. Also, APU boards have more than one SIM slot, try both slots
|
|
in case the first option did not work.
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------
|
|
Step 2 - Configure Point to Point device
|
|
----------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Go to **Interfaces->Point-to-Point->Devices** and click on **Add** in the upper
|
|
right corner of the form.
|
|
|
|
Fill in the form like this (Example is for Dutch Mobile 4G KPN Subscription):
|
|
|
|
============================ =======================================================
|
|
**Link Type** PPP
|
|
**Link interface(s)** /dev/cuaU0.0 ( HUAWEI Mobile Connect - Modem)
|
|
**Description** 4G Cellular Network
|
|
**Service Provider** Select Country, Provider & Plan for auto configuration
|
|
**Username** Leave Empty (for NL KPN)
|
|
**Password** Leave Empty (for NL KPN)
|
|
**Phone Number** \*99# (for NL KPN)
|
|
**Access Point Name (APN)** fastinternet (for NL KPN 4G)
|
|
============================ =======================================================
|
|
|
|
If you need to enter a PIN number, then click on **Advanced Options**
|
|
|
|
Click **Save** to apply the settings.
|
|
|
|
.. image:: images/4g_configure_ppp.png
|
|
:width: 100%
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. image:: images/ppp_celular_configured.png
|
|
:width: 100%
|
|
|
|
---------------------------------
|
|
Step 3 - Assign the WAN interface
|
|
---------------------------------
|
|
To assign the interface go to **Interfaces->Assignments** in our case we will make
|
|
this our primary internet connection and change the WAN assignment accordingly.
|
|
|
|
To do so just change the **Network port** for **WAN** to **ppp0 (/dev/cuaU0.0) - 4G Cellular Network**.
|
|
|
|
No click **Save** below the form.
|
|
|
|
If everything went fine, then you are all set, and the default gateway will be
|
|
the one of you cellular connection.
|
|
|
|
.. image:: images/Interface_assignment_4g.png
|
|
:width: 100%
|
|
|
|
------------------------
|
|
Step 4 - Troubleshooting
|
|
------------------------
|
|
In case it still does not work, first look at the log of the cellular device's PPP connection, to do so go to: **Interfaces->Point-to-Point->Log File**. If you are
|
|
lucky you can see what went wrong directly in the log. Unfortunately, the PPP log is
|
|
not very informative so it might not help at all.
|
|
|
|
If you can't figure out what is wrong, then a reboot to reinitialize the device can
|
|
sometimes help. This seems particularly true on embedded devices, better reboot
|
|
once too much and if you got lost in the options, a factory reset to start from
|
|
scratch is a good idea too. In our experience playing with SIM cards from different
|
|
providers required factory resets (for whatever reason) to get them to work properly.
|
|
|
|
.. Note::
|
|
|
|
As mentioned above, the SIM card needs to be available. See the hints
|
|
in the first step of this tutorial to make sure everything is prepared properly.
|
|
|
|
.. Note::
|
|
|
|
Some Sierra Wireless modems still seem to need a specific init string to work
|
|
properly. One that seems to work for multiple users and LTE cards is ``&F0E1Q0 +CMEE=2``. In any case you should first try without init string and only give it
|
|
a try if you could not get any connection without. You can add this in **Interfaces->Point-to-Point->Devices->Your particular device->Advanced Options->Init String**.
|
|
|
|
When the device seems to work properly then checkout if the interface was assigned
|
|
an IP address, go to **Interfaces->Overview** and click on the WAN interface to
|
|
see the details.
|
|
|
|
You should see an IP address, Gateway IP and ISP DNS server(s).
|
|
If all is filled in, then either your firewall is blocking the traffic or the
|
|
network connection is not working well.
|
|
|
|
In case you were not successful, you might have to check manually what is going
|
|
on. Read the `Troubleshooting PPP Connections <https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/ppp-troubleshoot.html>`_ section in the FreeBSD manual for more information and
|
|
consult the OPNsense support forum.
|