Using multiple ISPs: redundancy and multi-WAN
Keenetic routers support multiple simultaneous uplink connections (this feature is sometimes called Multi-WAN). It is possible, for example, to plug in two Ethernet cables from different ISPs to the same Keenetic router and set up a primary and a backup connection, or you can, for instance, use a dedicated Internet connection via Ethernet for a primary link, and an Internet connection via a 3G/4G, LTE modem as a backup.
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The Multi-WAN feature only works for IPv4 traffic. The support for IPv6 traffic will be included in KeeneticOS version 4.0.
Every Keenetic device supports this feature set.
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The connection backup (redundancy) mechanism in the KeeneticOS will trigger if at least one of the following occurs:
A link (physical connection) is lost on an active interface;
A Ping Check function determines that an active connection fails the test;
A device administrator turns off an interface.
Each time any of the above conditions are met, the system will switch to the gateway of the next highest-priority available connection with access to the Internet. Please see the Connection priorities article for more information on Internet connection priorities and using connection profiles.
Let's take a closer look at the example of connecting a Keenetic router to two different ISPs over a leased Ethernet line and configuring the backup of the main Internet channel.
The primary Internet channel should be connected to the router's blue port 0 (WAN/Internet). The cable of the backup Internet channel can be connected to any of its available ports.
Configure the primary Internet connection according to the instructions in Internet connection via Ethernet. Here, we use automatic IP address assignment:
The Ping Check mechanism is enabled on this primary connection. It will continuously test whether the Internet connection is working properly. In the event of a failure of the main network connection, the Keenetic router will automatically switch to the alternate channel. When the main connection is restored, it will return to it. It is recommended to enable Ping Check on the main connection.
After completing the primary connection setup, make sure that the Internet connection has been established.
Proceed to set up the backup connection.
In the KeeneticOS, you can reassign any home network port and configure it to connect the ISP's Internet cable (i.e., this port will work as another blue
port 0(WAN/Internet).To connect to multiple ISPs simultaneously, press '+ (Add an ISP)' on the 'Wired' menu page.
Then set up Internet access according to the conditions of your ISP connection.
For example, we set up a wired backup Internet connection with an auto IP assignment, called 'Provider 2' this time:
Then connect the Ethernet cable of the second (backup) Internet channel to the port specified in the settings (the
port 1in our example).When a Keenetic router is connected to two or more ISPs, you can also set up connection priorities. For more information on that, please see the Connection priorities article.
By default, the primary connection is set to a higher priority. Backup connections, that is, ones with a lower priority, will be put on standby (idle until needed).
After we connected two Ethernet cables from different ISPs and thus finished the main Internet channel redundancy setup configuration, the Dashboard's Internet info panel should now display the currently active connection (Provider) and the standby connection (Provider 2).
To check the functionality, disconnect the main ISP network cable from the router's blue
port 0(WAN/Internet).The KeeneticOS will automatically switch to the backup channel if the primary connection is impossible to establish.
The Keenetic will automatically return to the main channel when the primary connection is restored.
When using Multi-WAN on a router to load balance Internet connections, you can configure the binding of certain devices to different Internet connections using Policy-Based Routing (PBR). Refer to the instructions for more information: