Woke up here, to nothing connecting on my WAN ports??
I put in a trouble ticket, but no responses as I’m down without WAN
Poking around, I see this…
How did all my WAN port go deactivate, and how do I get them back?
Thanks
What product?
The fact it says “License Required” and “Activation Required” would lead me to guess somehting like a BR1 Mini which requires either the feature pack license or an active PrimeCare subscription for those ports other than cellular to be activaged for WAN use.
Did PrimCare lapse on it, or has it become deactivated somehow?
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Yes, A BR1 5G mini.
I actually didn’t know anything about additional licences. I did understand that there’s a license on the extra WAN port (which I didn’t need) and a license for remote services (which I didn’t need also), but I never in my wildest dreams thought that the router goes completely’ paper weight’ unless you buy licenses??!! WTF.
In my time, I’ve set up more then 100+ routers. So here’s this router here… that I paid 10Xs the cost of any other router, and I have to now buy subscriptions too it??
How do you buy these subscriptions, and what’s the cost?
Thanks
-Richard
Take the serial number and feed it into the search box on the Peplink eStore.
That will give you a shopping list of addon licenses, in the case of PrimeCare you may hit a little snag where it needs to be online to call home to get its licence for the ports reactivated and it looks like you don’t have a SIM installed… the feature pack you will get a licence token to feed into the Web GUI.
You probably want to consider one of two choices:
-
Add the feature pack that perpetually activates the Ethernet WAN and Wi-Fi WANs and some other bits (MAX-BR1-MINI-LC-FP).
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Add a PrimeCare subscription, which includes the bits from the feature pack plus the remote monitoring / management via InControl2 and also renews the hardware warranty on the unit - 1/2/3 Year options available.
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Without going too much in to the product stack and Peplink’s choices on pricing structure, the BR line are moble cell modem first, router second(usually vehicle mounted or installed in outdoor enclosures, that kind of use, it’s why they have such a wide operating temperature range). Some features are always on but some are either tied to the Primecare subscription or a feature pack unlock. A few years ago they added 1 VLAN free with all care packages and/or additional perpetual ones for $200 a piece.
https://estore.peplink.com/ go there, put in your serial number and it will tell you the available choices specific to your exact router.
Things to watch for:
- PrimeCare vs Primecare +, the plus is often cheaper if buying multiple years and adds cross shipping on the device warranty.
- There should be a feature unlock for your router (probably MAX-BR1-MINI-LC-FP) that unlocks the WAN port, WIFI WAN, some speedfusion stuff and GPIO. This is the permanent unlock for these if you don’t care about incontrol or extended warranty.
- If you do not get extended warranty, you don’t get a VWAN free. You can buy one with LIC-VWAN or 2 or 3. The popular route is to buy LIC-VWAN, then buy that same code again to add +1 to the total VWANs as needed, up to 3 on this device.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here but your sales rep kinda dropped the ball here. For router use without a cell modem the B One would have been a much better choice. It has a cell modem option if you want it, but it is a router first and has 2 WAN/1 USB WAN/2 WIFI WAN active perpetually.
I know that Peplink’s pricing seems quite high from a consumer side and there product stack is a bit hard to navigate but for many, we find it to be worth it. For example, my Balance 210 just stopped receiving new firmware updates with the latest firmware release, that is over 9 years of feature and firmware updates for free.
Also, a lot of us who are using them for home use also use them at work and are quite familiar with the ins and outs of their software, hardware and licensing. As I said earlier, this isn’t your mistake, it’s something your sales rep should have talked over with you before buying.
(edit: oops, got called away in the middle of typing that and WillJones beat me to it)
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Thank you for sharing this…
I didn’t have a sales rep… I bought this router from Amazon!
I feel like I really got taken here! I’ve configured 100s of routers, and I currently configure Mikrotik routers, which all have amazing features for ONLY 100 bucks!! I would have even used a Mikrotik router, if not for the Starlink intergration, and the Cell sims.
I just can’t get over the 1000 price tag (Br1 + Max) for use on an RV, only to learn of the nickel and dime licenses.
I bought the 99/dollar feature pack just to get it back to normal and NOT be a brick as I’m currently NOT using the sims, but I will be soon once on the road.
Oh boy… Again, thank you for your help.
You bought an enterprise grade device. Enterprise companies typically hit you up for subscription and maintenance fees. If should have been clear in the documentation
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Yes, I bought an enterprise-grade device for an exsact single purpose that I needed in a remote vehicle. However, after working on Mikrotik routers for years, I would venture to say that Peplink could learn a few things from Mikrotik’s administration. Peplink seems to be more flash than form on the surface than Mikrotik, Cisco, or Juniper.
And, yes, I did see stuff about WAN2 subscriptions, which I didn’t think that I was NOT going to need… and incontrol which, since I only have a single Peplink, I also didn’t think that I would have a use for remote management…
But, I was totally blindsided on losing the entire functionality of ALL THE WANS not working… That’s not a feature, that’s a bug if you will!!
mikrotik and peplink are nowhere near on the same level. again, peplink makes it clear on their product page. you bought the product
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I hate to say it, but the convenience of buying things on Amazon often comes at a price, and in your case that was the advice of a partner 
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very well stated reply.
it seems the sales rep sold them the wrong model as like you said, the BR 1 is mainly geared towards cell as primary and vehicle use
you shouldve consulted with a peplink partner first before buying something.
i wouldve recommended a B One 5G for use with starlink. the 5G can provide you a backup connection when starlink has issues. no licensing for WAN ports.
bingo. consulting with a partner first wouldve been the way to go
I need some toothpaste tomorrow… I’ll be discussing it with my consultant. lol