We’re a large security dealer that uses Peplink BR1 devices for backup/failover of customer alarm systems. When we first started using Peplink routers we had the option to purchase/renew a reasonably priced standalone IC2 license which is now no longer available with the HW3 devices requiring the bundled PrimeCare service which is double the cost of an IC2 license. We only use the IC2 service to monitor whether a device goes offline. We have no need for any of the additional PrimeCare services including the warranty. We have thousands of devices in InControl2 but now hundreds of HW3 devices are expiring/expired and the cost to renew PrimeCare just doesn’t make sense to continue using the service or purchasing additional PrimeCare only devices.
Is anybody else in the same situation with InControl2 and a large number of devices? I’ve been hoping Peplink would bring back the IC2 only license option but doesn’t sound like that will be happening.
For service providers what I would really like to see is a bulk IC2 license option based on number of devices you need to manage versus the IC2 license being tied to a device serial number. I would like to be able to purchase say 3000 IC2 monthly/yearly licenses where I could add or remove devices as needed as long as I didn’t exceed the 3000 device license versus trying to manage and renew by serial number which is even more troublesome with PrimeCare requiring a current diagnostic report to renew.
Anyone else see a need for this? Love to hear thoughts on the topic. Thanks
Hi Mystery,
Just to clarify they didn’t get rid of it altogether.
In the case of the MAX-BR1 Mini devices the HW1 or HW2 models can be renewed with a 12-month IC2 only license but the newest HW3 versions were sold with PrimeCare so you can’t purchase just the IC2 license, you need to renew PrimeCare for roughly double the cost of the IC2 only license.
I like the idea of a Bulk License number of devices where you can shift the license to apply to a device. We swap routers on clients all the time when they upgrade their internet and they had an older router that only had so much throughput. Now we have a router that still has time left on it from its old license and a new router that has the included 1 year. Being able to shift licenses for just access would be great. If its an expensive router, than absolutely I will keep prime care active on it. But I don’t need to keep Primecare active on a 20X that is sitting on the shelf in my warehouse because we swapped it out for a B One for a client that got a new Gigabit pipe in their office.
We have been swapping out Peplink devices at sites we just need basic failover for other manufacturers that provide a free online management platform. And the only reason is I can’t justify the Primecare sub just for IC2 access.
At this point I’m only renewing the sites that need Speedfusion, everything else I am migrating away. If there was a reasonably priced option for IC2 only, that might be a different story.
I could not agree more. I don’t need a warranty. If the device goes bad/damaged in the field, I’m just going to replace it and charge the customer for a new modem. All I need is connectivity. I get that Peplink makes more money from the warranty, but they also have to carry the warranty as a liability on their balance sheet. It would be great if it was a group license that wasn’t attached to the individual device.
I manage a local government system, not as many as you do, but the equipment was all grant funded. We would love to upgrade it all to new equipment but it is hard to justify.
I think the diagnostic report process is dumb. I just want to use IC2 to manage my equipment. The SpeedFusion we use is the single instance in the hardware (except our endpoint). To now pull the diagnostic report requires physically accessing every device. Or they could turn it on in IC2 and we could do it in bulk.
As a personal user of Peplink, I have purchased one term of the multi-year license. After that is over, I would love to keep IC2 but I don’t need the warranty replacements etc.
Firmware is free on the site which is awesome, but I would like IC2 to be functional.
Primacare does nothing for vessels that are moving all over the world since there is no way to get quick hardware replacement. Bring back standalone IC2!
@1wheeler1 and team, thanks for the feedback. I want to acknowledge that this is heard loud and clear.
I like the idea of bulk or blanket licenses of IC2 for MSPs and will take to the team to look at feasibility.
In the mean time, if the current pricing doesn’t work for you, please reach out to your account manager and cc me at keithc AT peplink.com, we want to understand the situation and derive a temporary solution with you while we gather the feedback and work out a permanent one.
The blanket idea for MSPs is great but I think there needs to be IC2 licenses on a smaller scale too for those that are not MSPs and manage fewer devices.
I am a small specialty MSP and many/most of my clients can’t justify the cost of Primecare for all of the devices… and most of my clients have 2-4 peplink devices interconnected on a boat or vehicle. It’s extremely difficult to get clients to keep Primecare active on all of the devices, so we end up only renewing one device for remote management and monitoring purposes. Having the ability for a reseller or MSP to purchase IC2 licenses for the other devices would be ideal. I’d like to see maybe ability for a reseller to add IC2-only device licenses to their IC2 account to cover out of warranty devices. One problem I had for a long time was I had to purchase IC2 licenses just to gain access to an out of warranty device to get the diag file to do a full warranty renewal, which then made the cost to renew higher, since the device was remote and a local user could not retrieve and send the diag file. Updates to incontrol have made that process easier but I definitely like the idea of a reseller/MSP ic2-only licensing option.
@Keith How about an IC2 Lite at a very reduced rate ?
Offer only RWA , RA ,and report last check in time.
No full features like ic2 wifi/network/firewall, site survey, unified event log all the tools that take the extra storage and development features that largely Enterprises/MSP’s benefit from.
We have the same issue, it will force many clients away from peplink they don’t want to leave, but some clients really don’t need the warranty or the advanced features of incontrol.
We are working on something for our MSP partners. This will be a pool plan so you have the flexibility in add/remove devices to fit your operational needs. Currently we are thinking of having tiers of 100 / 500 / 1K / 2K / 5K / 10K seats. Any comments are welcome.
they don’t want to leave, but some clients really don’t need the warranty or the advanced features of incontrol.