[c-nsp] ISR (or ISR-like) router with dual SIM?

[Peter Rathlev]

Anyone know of a router that has the flexibility of and ISR, i.e. where
I can do stuff like GRE-in-GRE+IPSec, and can have two cellular data
connections via two SIMs from different providers?

For some years we have used an ISR C1941W router in a mobile blood
donor truck. We have been very satisfied with it, utilizing the dual
SIM support for redundancy, give them a network that is as much "always
available" as possible via a mix of DMVPN and GRE + GRE-in-GRE combined
with OSPF and BGP.

We unfortunately bought it with just the 3G HSPA/EDGE modem and we can
start seeing the limitations of not having the LTE speeds. And it has
been announced EoL[0], so we would like to look for a replacement.

We were planning on using C819GW-LTE-GA-EK9 to replace it; it sounded
like just what we needed. But it turns out this model has a lead time
of more than 4 months (91 business days) for us. And it will no longer
be available for sale after the 20th of March (according to Cisco Build
& Price tool) so it might not be the most future proof solution anyway.

Cisco recommends the C1101-4PLTE as a replacement. It's cheaper and
more future proof but I can't seem to find a model that actually has
two modems and takes two SIMs. Even though the datasheet[1] says "dual
SIM support", every model seems to support only one.

[0]: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/1900-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/eos-eol-notice-c51-737501.html

[1]: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/datasheet-c78-739512.html

Thank you in advance.

[Bernard Wanyama]

Hello,

Please try this model:
C1111-8PLTEEAWE - Cisco Integrated Services Router 1111 - Router - WWAN -
8-port switch - GigE, 802.11ac Wave 2 - WAN ports: 2 - 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Wave 2 - Dual Band

Kind regards,
Bernard

Post by Peter Rathlev
Anyone know of a router that has the flexibility of and ISR, i.e. where
I can do stuff like GRE-in-GRE+IPSec, and can have two cellular data
connections via two SIMs from different providers?
For some years we have used an ISR C1941W router in a mobile blood
donor truck. We have been very satisfied with it, utilizing the dual
SIM support for redundancy, give them a network that is as much "always
available" as possible via a mix of DMVPN and GRE + GRE-in-GRE combined
with OSPF and BGP.
We unfortunately bought it with just the 3G HSPA/EDGE modem and we can
start seeing the limitations of not having the LTE speeds. And it has
been announced EoL[0], so we would like to look for a replacement.
We were planning on using C819GW-LTE-GA-EK9 to replace it; it sounded
like just what we needed. But it turns out this model has a lead time
of more than 4 months (91 business days) for us. And it will no longer
be available for sale after the 20th of March (according to Cisco Build
& Price tool) so it might not be the most future proof solution anyway.
Cisco recommends the C1101-4PLTE as a replacement. It's cheaper and
more future proof but I can't seem to find a model that actually has
two modems and takes two SIMs. Even though the datasheet[1] says "dual
SIM support", every model seems to support only one.
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/1900-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/eos-eol-notice-c51-737501.html
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/datasheet-c78-739512.html
Thank you in advance.
--
Peter
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--
Bernard Wanyama
Director
SYNTECH ASSOCIATES Ltd
Kampala, Uganda
Cell: [phone] / [phone]
Fixed: [phone]
Web: www.syntechug.com
Email: ***@syntechug.com
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[Bjørn Mork]

Post by Peter Rathlev
Cisco recommends the C1101-4PLTE as a replacement. It's cheaper and
more future proof but I can't seem to find a model that actually has
two modems and takes two SIMs. Even though the datasheet[1] says "dual
SIM support", every model seems to support only one.
[0]: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/1900-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/eos-eol-notice-c51-737501.html
[1]: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/datasheet-c78-739512.html

Doesn't look like it supports two modems. The claim is "dual SIM". The
Sierra Wireless EM7455 and EM7430 modems they use support two SIM
interfaces, software selectable.

Look at the pictures of the pluggable modem module in the hardware
guide. It has two micro SIM slots:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/1100/hardware/installation/guide/b-cisco-1100-series-hig/isr1k-upgrade-fru.html#concept_hlm_dnl_xdb

If you actually need two modems, then the C1109-4PLTE2P might be an
option?

Disclaimer: I have no experience with any of these routers...



Bjørn
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[Peter Rathlev]

Thank you for the input. So it seems there is an ISR1000 router with
dual modems, the C1109-4PLTE2P Bjørn mentions. I'll look into that.

I can see from the configuration guides that the other models that
claim "Dual SIM Support" can only do failover. Expected failover time
is in minutes.

Joel's suggestion of modularizing might be the way we go. It does make
a lot of sense, making it much easier to replace the modem as
technology improves in that area. And it allows for almost any number
of redundant connections. I have a feeling that it could also turn out
to be the cheaper option compared to the C1109-4PLTE2P. :-)

[Christoffer Hansen]

Post by Peter Rathlev
Cisco recommends the C1101-4PLTE as a replacement. It's cheaper and
more future proof but I can't seem to find a model that actually has
two modems and takes two SIMs. Even though the datasheet[1] says "dual
SIM support", every model seems to support only one.

Looks like this ISR is dual socket[0]. View large close-up image[1] to
view in detail.

[0]: https://qiita.com/kikuta1978/items/4b1a098b1be9797ea010
[1]:
https://camo.qiitausercontent.com/3e8bc8f1843bd46bba3808a52578574884631b7e/68747470733a2f2f71696974612d696d6167652d73746f72652e73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f302f3135373332352f63323035646338322d386532642d323463342d663834332d6562316261363037386339612e6a706567

/Christoffer

[Joel M Snyder]

Post by Peter Rathlev
Anyone know of a router that has the flexibility of and ISR, i.e. where
I can do stuff like GRE-in-GRE+IPSec, and can have two cellular data
connections via two SIMs from different providers?

I do a lot of work in this area and what I've seen over the last few
years is that almost all products are getting rid of an internal modem
and either using USB-based dongles OR, even more flexibly,
Ethernet-connected cellular modems.

It's obviously more convenient to have the whole thing integrated into a
single package, but if space is not an issue, stacking any Cisco router
you like with Ethernet-connected cellular modems is the way of the
future if you want to stick with reliable/programmable gear like Cisco.

There are both SOHO and industrial versions---a quick search will turn
up units from manufacturers at all price points, including folks like
Netgear, Alcatel, and Digi (about $100), as well as lower cost units.

jms