What is a Dual-WAN Router?
Introduction
A Dual-WAN Router is a router that has two internet connections. It allows the user to have a backup connection in case one of the lines goes down. In addition, it can be used as an internet switch to connect multiple different networks together. A Dual-WAN Router can be used with DSL or Cable.
A Dual-WAN Router will allow you to create what’s called “Layer 3” or “Network Address Translation”. This means that instead of just connecting devices on your network with each other, you’ll also be able to share them across your LAN and WAN connections for greater routing flexibility. This article will explain how a Dual-WAN Router works and how it can help make your day-to-day life easier by taking away some of the stress from managing connectivity issues.
What is a Dual-WAN Router?
A dual-WAN router is a type of router that can operate on two WAN connections simultaneously. A dual-WAN router is also sometimes referred to as an active backup or active-active. A dual-WAN router routes data traffic through a primary WAN connection and also provides a backup link. When the primary link becomes unavailable, the router begins sending all of its incoming data traffic over the secondary connection until the primary link is restored.
Dual-WAN routers are useful for load-balancing and high availability. Load-balancing is a term used to describe a network where the traffic is distributed evenly across two or more connections. This allows users of a router to experience improved performance with less downtime. High availability is a term used to describe a system that remains operational, despite a failure in one or more components. This is achieved by having redundant components that can immediately take over if the primary component fails.
How do they work?
A dual WAN router uses two independent Internet connections, typically an ADSL (cable, xDSL) modem and a 3G/4G dongle to provide backup capability should one of the connections fail. The configuration produces an always-on connection that allows the user to connect to both broadband networks at the same time. This means that there is always an active Internet connection should one fail.
This type of router works the same way as a regular router, at least to start with. It uses two ISP connections to create one Internet connection for your home. This allows you to connect your devices to one stable connection with improved download speeds for both networks. As long as there is power, the backup connection kicks in if the primary fails, so you won’t lose connectivity.
What are the benefits of using Dual-WAN?
There are several benefits to using Dual-WAN. First, it allows for optimal routing by providing for load balancing. This is especially useful in data center environments where the traffic coming in has different levels of priority. Second, it allows for fast recovery by providing for DR (Disaster Recovery) capabilities. Third, it provides an increased level of security through the use of two diverse networks. Fourth, it adds flexibility with the option of configuring any network-connected device to act as an Automatic Virtual Gateway (AVG). An AVG is similar to a gateway, but it does not need to be one of the two typical routers. It can be any compatible device connected to either WAN link that acts as an internet connection.
Finally, an additional benefit of using a Dual-WAN is that it can be used to configure failover. This allows the network to automatically switch over to the other WAN connection if one becomes disconnected or disabled.
What are the drawbacks of a Dual WAN Router?
The main drawback of a Dual WAN Router is that you will need to purchase it separately. Or, if your ISP offers this service, they will often charge an additional fee for the service.
Another drawback of having a Dual WAN Router is that it is incredibly harder to configure. It will likely take an expert to configure this type of router, which means you are paying more for the service. Finally, most ISP’s do not offer the same reliability as commercial ISPs – meaning your connectivity may suffer from this combination.
Conclusion
A Dual-WAN router is a device that has two separate WAN connections. One connection connects to the Internet, while the other can be used as an emergency backup in case one of your ISP connections goes down or becomes unreliable for any reason. A dual-wan router also allows you to change between ISPs at will without having to worry about switching hardware every time you want access to different service providers. The benefits and drawbacks of using these routers are simple: they’re affordable, provide peace of mind because there’s always another option available if something ever went wrong with your primary internet provider, but they don’t offer many advanced features like load balancing or failover routing so it may not work well for businesses who need those types of tools.
