Vodafone MachineLink 3G
Simultaneous APN connections
Feature Spotlight
1
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
What are Simultaneous APN
connections?
• Cellular devices use Access Point Names (APNs) to
inform the carrier which network they should connect
to. When the device connects to the carrier network,
the APN is examined and used to determine the type
of network connection to make, including IP address
and security methods.
• With the MachineLink 3G, you can have 2 APNs
configured in separate profiles and enable both of
them simultaneously. This allows the router to be
connected to 2 different networks at the same time.
2
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Why would I need simultaneous APNs?
• Having simultaneous APN connections gives you the flexibility of having a publicly
accessible connection as well as a private connection active at the same time.
• You can then route certain traffic through the public network and other traffic through the
private network.
3
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Configuring Simultaneous APNs
4
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Configuring Simultaneous APNs
* Note: Users of Vodafone GDSP SIM cards do not have an Automatic APN
selection toggle key and can skip to step 3.
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Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Configuring Simultaneous APNs
If required, enter the
network address and
network mask of the remote
network.
Click the Save button.
6
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Configuring Simultaneous APNs
7
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Configuring Simultaneous APNs
If required, enter the
network address and
network mask of the remote
network.
Click the Save button.
8
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Configuring Simultaneous APNs
You have now configured 2 APNs to be
used simultaneously.
9
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Confirming the connections
Return to the Status screen by clicking the Status link at the top of the screen. The
Packet data connection status section displays the two active profiles with their unique
WWAN IP addresses.
10
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Routing explained
The following is a summary of the configuration in the demonstration example:
Profile number
APN
Publicly routable
Default
Profile Routing
Settings
Profile 1
abc
Yes
Yes
Blank
Profile 2
xyz
No
No
Network
123.121.120.0
Subnet
255.255.255.0
In this configuration, all data is routed through Profile 1 except for traffic to the
123.121.120.X network.
The reason for this is because Profile 1 is the default gateway but we have entered a
rule telling the router to route any traffic to the 123.121.120.X network through Profile
2.
11
Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification
Routing explained
If you want to create more than one rule for routing of traffic, you should create Static
routes for each of them. This must be done on the Static Routing page (select
Networking menu, then Routing and Static).
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Integrated M2M Terminals
Introduction Vodafone MachineLink
3G v1.0
C3 confidentiality classification