USB 4G device as failover internet for Win2003 network?

[equazcion]

Here's the situation: I run an office network with a Windows 2003 Server, where we unfortunately have a router with only one WAN port for internet access. It currently has a cable modem plugged in.

I've been trying to think of a way to set up failover to a USB 4G device we happen to have, with cheap unlimited data, that's actually reasonably fast (5 down/1 up, about half our cable speed), and would work to provide the office at least with email access and some basic browsing in an emergency.

I obviously can't do failover from the router, since the 4G provider is a USB device -- even if it weren't, the router only has one WAN port. The 4G device is currently plugged into the 2003 server, and works to provide internet to the server itself, but not currently to the network clients.

Is there any way to share that 4G connection with the clients, maybe through "routing and remote access", in the event the main cable connection on the router goes out? Anyone know how I might set that up?

The 4G USB device shows up as a separate network connection, FYI.

 

[Emulex]

i'd just get a dual-wan router (most dd-wrt can do this) or edimaxusa/hotbrick/xincom/etc and purchase a proper solution.

Try comcast for business $69-189 you get a ton of bandwidth from the business side and static ip's. Plus up to two G.711u (64kbps) out of band phone lines which can sustain a 28.8 fax forever.

 

[equazcion]

Thanks -- There's no Comcast in my area. NYC here mostly served by Time Warner.

Dual-WAN isn't an option right now because we prepaid for 3 years of Netgear UTM5 service (firewall/router than scans incoming packets for malware). Their higher models do have dual-WAN but it would require upgrading the service agreement which will be a much more significant cost than merely buying a new dual-WAN box.

I'm still very curious how one might share a USB connection device as a failover through a server, if anyone has any idea...

i'd just get a dual-wan router (most dd-wrt can do this) or edimaxusa/hotbrick/xincom/etc and purchase a proper solution.

Try comcast for business $69-189 you get a ton of bandwidth from the business side and static ip's. Plus up to two G.711u (64kbps) out of band phone lines which can sustain a 28.8 fax forever.

 

[Nothinman]

You might be able to do it with RRAS, but dual homed Windows machines always seem to have weird networking issues so it's really not recommended in most cases. It would probably be simpler and more reliable to build a Linux machine to be your gateway between the client network and the Netgear.