Ensuring Network Reliability: Leveraging Industrial Cellular Routers

By Julie McDaniel
Vice President Marketing
October 18, 2024

Network downtime, beyond being damagingly expensive, commonly yields reputational, operational, and legal consequences. An effective recovery solution mitigates the impact of outages caused by a natural event, human error, or technological factors, consequently reducing costs associated with downtime. A network outage can be seamlessly and cost-effectively managed, regardless of origin, by using an industrial cellular router to detect an outage and execute predetermined instructions to failover to a backup link.

Such network diversity, via a 4G LTE and/or 5G wireless link, is both cost-effective and increasingly necessary, given the prevalence of WAN-based applications and the widespread adoption of cloud-based services.

Read on to learn how you can better ensure that your industrial operations resiliently stay online by leveraging network diversity technologies and methodologies.

How automatic failover capabilities in industrial cellular routers can contribute to network uptime

Wireless failover significantly reduces the risk of outages disrupting business operations, ensuring staff and customers alike are unaffected by the interference. Furthermore, wireless failover as a safety precaution is critical as the likelihood of secondary links being disrupted by the same causes affecting the primary link is very low.

Looking closer, here are five ways that industrial cellular routers can enhance your operational resilience.

1. Cellular failover

Industrial cellular routers' key role in minimizing network downtime is providing a wireless backup when the main wired connection is compromised. They deliver rapid, secure, and dependable connectivity through 4G LTE or 5G data plans. As a failover solution, wireless speeds are fast enough to keep the network and all dependent equipment running optimally and reliably.

2. Dual sim failover

The risk of downtime can be further mitigated by employing two links with distinct wireless carriers. This proves to be particularly useful in various scenarios. For instance, when the primary carrier contract data cap has been exceeded, the router will automatically switch over to a backup data plan with a different carrier. In the case of a detected network outage, dual sim failover automatically switches to the other carrier's unaffected infrastructure. This infrastructural diversification reduces downtime risk considerably because the likelihood of both carrier networks being affected by the same disruptive event is extremely low.

3. Hardware redundancy

One way organizations implement hardware redundancy measures is through Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP). VRRP operates by forming a group of routers that collectively function as a single virtual router whereby one router is designated as the primary asset while others act as backups. These backup routers remain in standby mode, continually monitoring the status and performance of the master router.

Should the master router fail, VRRP seamlessly transitions the routing responsibilities to one of the backup routers. This failover process typically occurs in just seconds, working to promptly minimize downtime. Beyond mitigating against unexpected network disruptions, hardware redundancy allows for planned network maintenance without the risk of service interruptions.

4. Out-of-band management (OOBM) for remote management and troubleshooting

A backup wireless link facilitates secure OOBM - its primary function being remote network management. If network downtime occurs, an OOBM link allows a network administrator to seamlessly monitor, troubleshoot, and/or reboot affected assets. This means that downtimes are minimized while visibility of the physical status of infrastructure is enhanced.

5. Hardware durability

Engineered to endure intense vibrations and shocks and built to withstand extreme temperatures and water and dust infiltration, industrial cellular routers ensure consistent communication regardless of the conditions where used.

Enhance your network's resilience with Perle

Even though most network outages cannot be foreseen, a robust failover plan can significantly minimize the impact of unexpected disruptions. To increase your network's resilience against natural disasters, ISP outages, cyberattacks, and other common events: Trust Perle.

In particular, our cellular router capabilities are distinguished by their high Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) rates, Class 1 Div 2 certification, and robust shock and vibration-resistant capabilities. With seamless failover integration and remote management capabilities, Perle fortifies your network.