I have my hub setup and running like a clock. Not sure if this idea is overly complicated but I want to connect the hub to the LTE network and have it use that connecting, but I also want to be able to access the hub locally through my home network. The hub would be on the same network but it would have a different gateway pointing the the LTE modem instead of the gateway to my router.
Is this doable? I can't find any option on the hub to for a static IP address or any of the other network setting so I guess it would be up to a DHCP server but even then I can't figure out how to assign a different gateway on a per device level.
I am trying to achieve the always on stability and security of a cellular connection but at the same time be able to access the hub through the local network for more data intense routines such as displaying dashboards or other general higher bandwidth tasks, including firmware updates and general hub maintenance.
I am running a Asus router on Asuswrt-Merlin and the LTE modem is connect to one of the LAN ports.
I have a medium understanding of networking but I am stumped finding a solution to this.
What you are wanting to do is certainly doable, however it is beyond something that could or should be covered in this community. It will require some routing and firewall rules that will need some skill. You can easily have yourself totally vulnerable and or with a huge LTE bill. I would suggest this is something for the Merlin community and LOTS of reading and questions there. Do yourself a favor and take this slowly and don't implement this until you thoroughly understand it.
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Thanks. I've been racking my brain over this for hours with still more hours reading. I got it to work in one configuration but not without causing other problems. Part of the problem is the router is in use and making changes is causing it to reboot between changes. Then there is the fact that I am an amateur playing around with a firewall. What could go wrong? LOL. I think I'll try and find a professional that knows what they're doing.
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You may be able to find someone on the Merlin forums to guide you. Good luck. Do remember, your network security should be your first goal. Few people realize just how often a second their router is scanned from the Internet just looking for a way in.
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This is a follow-up for having the Hubitat HUB always being connected to the LTE cellular network but at the same time having access to it on your local LAN.
Most people run their DHCP server from their router. This works great as long as you don't need anything more complicated than assigning IP addresses.
In my case I have setup two access points to the Internet on the same network. The first being the main everyday connection, PCs, Laptops, etc. The second is a Netgear LB2120 connected to the LTE network. This device is plugged into one of my open Ethernet ports and assigned a IP address the same as any other network device.
IMPORTAINT NOTE: Make sure your cellular provider blocks all inbound ports so you don't have the problem of people hacking into your router from the LTE connection side. I think all providers do this but I can only verify Verizon as one I know.
Because my router's DHCP server can't assign more than one gateway, I disabled it. Instead, I installed OpenDHCP on one of my 24/7 computers and configured it to handle all IP address assignments.
The only special configuration is the Hubitat Hub. When the hub boots it gets its normal LAN IP Address but the gateway is assigned to my LB2120 instead of the gateway of my router. Now the hub connects via LTE to the Hubitat cloud so any SMS or Pushover notifications go through the cellular network. I suppose you could also call your dashboards remotely if you choose but haven't tested it. In my case I call all my dashboards locally so I don't go through my cellular LTE using up bandwidth.
I have verified that this works but admit its a lot of messing around to do this. Ideally I want to accomplish this just using ASUSwrt-Merlin but its over my head as to how to do it. Also, the OpenDHCP (free to use) is not the most intuitive software and configuring it involves editing INI files. No nice GUIs for you! Still it isn't something you edit everyday. Once it is all setup it just runs.
Anyway, just wanted to put all this out there because I know there are others looking for cellular solutions for their hubs.
Good write-up.
As another data point, I use Untangle as my perimeter firewall/brouter. It has a WAN Failover module that handles my 2 internet connections (cable modem and LTE adapter).
That way everything points to untangle as its gateway (on whichever NIC/VLAN it is on) and Untangle handles the external Wan redundancy.
So all clients on the LAN side never know/care what internet pipe they are talking out of (cable or LTE).
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