USB Mobile Stick

Is it possible to configure a secured PIN on my SIM card?

• At this time the Link LB does not support SIM pins.

How can I find the APN for my USB Mobile Stick?

• Please contact your service provider.

Is my USB Mobile Stick supported?

• The product feature page details which models are currently supported
• In order to see the list of USB Mobile Sticks we currently support within your unit you simply need to run the "sh usb cell" command under the "syst" module. Please contact the support team (support@elfiq.com) if you do not have access to a unit at the time and would like to receive the current list by email.

What if my USB Mobile Stick device is not in the list?

• Elfiq can potentially add it provided you:

1. Have a Link LB running the latest firmware and are OK with letting the Elfiq tech probe your USB Mobile key
2. Send a a feature request trough our website detailing the Manufacturer and the model of the USB Mobile Stick along with all related information you can get on the device. We will attempt to find all the necessary information to configure the USB Mobile Stick in the Link LB and issue an EOS update. This process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Do you recommend the new "USB Mobile Stick" support for enterprise load balancing and redundancy?

• USB Mobile Sticks have proven to be useful in contingency situations or remote-deployments but lack the time-proven stability required to support enterprise networks. To use the wireless networks in an enterprise setup we recommend an external Wireless Router such as a Digi ConnectPort WAN.

How many USB Mobile Sticks can I connect to an Elfiq Link LB?

• The number of supported USB mobile sticks varies from 2 to 8 depending on the exact model you have. When connecting more than one USB Mobile Stick to a unit Elfiq strongly recommends that you use a powered USB hub. Elfiq Networks units require a powered USB hub because the USB ports cannot supply enough current to run multiple USB Mobile Sticks.

I connected my USB Mobile Stick and configured it but I have some performance/stability issues?

• USB Mobile Sticks can draw variable amounts of power from the USB ports depending on their usage and the type of service used. As a test we recommend you try to connect your USB Mobile Sticks to a powered USB hub if you are having issues to get the Link LB to "see" the hardware or if any single USB Mobile stick works when connected on its own but not when two or more are connected at the same time. Some USB Mobile Sticks that work on CDMA networks draw too much power to be connected directly to a Link LB unit and require a powered USB hub even for a single USB Mobile Stick (for example: Novatel Wireless U727)
• Cellular reception can be tricky, please take a look at the following suggestions to help resolve the issues:

1. Service provider and USB Mobile Stick placement will greatly affect the reception and the available bandwidth once the link is established. Additionaly, the number of concurrent users on the tower closest to you and on the provider's network overall will directly affect the amount of bandwidth available.
2. We strongly recommend that you test your USB Mobile Stick using a laptop to ensure the best location within the room/building and test the available bandwidth at different times of the day. Once you have established a bandwidth baseline and found the best location for your USB Mobile Stick you will be able to better configure the Link LB or determine that a different provider should be tested. You might have to connect the USB Mobile Stick to an extension to get the best emplacement, if you do, ensure that the total length of cable does not exceed 5 metres (16.4 ft).
3. The USB Mobile Sticks typically offer much less bandwidth than the wired connections they are called to replace when an outage occurs. Because of this bandwidth discrepancy, users might have some problems connecting to bandwidth intensive websites. We recommend that you have a QoS strategy to ensure that your priority traffic is not choked down by other uses. The built-in web interface can help you determine the amount of bandwidth used at different times of the day to ensure you are provisioning enough bandwidth for failover during the wired link outages.
4. Depending on the service type you choose and the APN you selected, the service provider might have a layer of NAT/PAT between the Link LB and the internet. Because of this translation, some services are potentially incompatible with USB Mobile Sticks especially if multiple concurrent sessions are used; for example: VPNs, FTP, SIP, Inbound services such as hosted servers, etc). Should you need to host this type of traffic on a USB Mobile Stick, please contact your service provider and let them know you need a static public IP on your USB Mobile Stick. This is typically offered but some additional service charge may apply.

Is there any specific configuration required to handle more than one USB Mobile Stick of the same brand/model/provider?

• For the Link LB to know which USB Mobile Stick it should assign to each connection you need to specify the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) that corresponds to each USB Mobile Sticks. IMEI numbers are often printed on each device but the easiest way to know what to configure in the Link LB is to create the required "dyn int" without specifying the IMEI, connect one of the USB Mobile Sticks and issue the "sh dyn int" command. If the Link LB detected the USB Mobile Stick the IMEI for the device will be printed. Save the configuration at this time to save the IMEI number and swap the USB Mobile Sticks, configure a second "dyn int" and the Link LB will again populate the IMEI automatically if it can find it. Save the configuration again at this point to save the 2nd IMEI.
• When using more than one USB Mobile Stick, please ensure that they do not create interference between them and use a USB extension if required. For more details with regards to USB Mobile Stick placement and spacing, please see with the manufacturer.

My USB Mobile Stick works when I plug it in but it has a tendency to stop working after a while, is my Link LB defective? Is this due to a Link LB misconfiguration?

• There are many USB Mobile sticks on the market from multiple providers and the lifetime of any specific model is usually quite short. Some USB Mobile Sticks are not 100% stable; please make sure your USB Mobile Stick is still supported by the manufacturer and currently has the latest firmware. In case of instability or lockups we recommend unplugging and replugging the USB Mobile Stick. Our internal testing has outlined that using a powered USB hub might help even when a single USB Mobile Stick is connected to the Elfiq Link LB.

How can I know which firmware is running on my USB Mobile Stick?

• The "sh dyn int" command under the "syst" module will show all the information the Link LB can gather. Should you not find the information you are looking for we suggest you plug the USB Mobile Stick in a PC and install the provider/manufacturer software.

Are there any restrictions on the load balancing that can be done with USB Mobile Sticks?

• We typically recommend that you use a USB Mobile Stick as a secondary link, either for additional bandwidth for outbound load balancing or as a failover in case of wired link failure. There are some specific limitations to USB Mobile Sticks:

1. They can be used for inbound load balancing through IDNS only if you have a static IP address that never changes and can be hard-coded in the Link LB configuration.
2. They can be used for SitePathMTPX only if the provided can provision a public IP address that is not NATed or filtered in any way.