Blog
Uplevel's SD-WAN-Lite Solution: A Game-Changer for Starlink
October 4, 2024
With 2.2 million subscribers and counting, Starlink has become one of the hottest satellite internet service providers available. With a seemingly never-ending stream of new satellites being added, Starlink can offer reliable service nationwide.
Uplevel Systems has firsthand experience with Starlink, having deployed the system in residences outside of town with very limited internet access. The installation was simple and service was very reliable where the available DSL and LTE services offered spotty results at best along with poor speeds and dropped calls. In addition to our in-house experience, a number of our MSP partners have seen success with Starlink for mobile and remote end-user customers.
Starlink, however, is not without its challenges for MSPs. Perhaps the biggest headache is constantly changing public IP addresses. At Uplevel Systems, we address this issue with features from our SD-WAN-Lite technology, making connectivity to our gateways seamless, consistent & effortless!
The problem with changing IP addresses is that remote access and site-to-site VPN connections stop working, essentially stranding the remote office or user in an island without connectivity. Some applications (such as mobile security viewers) that rely on direct access to the office public IPs can also stop working, and require tedious and complicated reconfiguration before they can be used again.
The process is straightforward. Uplevel assigns a fixed, permanent public IP to every customer, to which client VPN connections are established (an essential feature of SD-WANs). In addition, the Uplevel cloud monitors the Starlink connection, and automatically reconfigures and reconnects all the site-to-site links whenever a change occurs (another key feature of SD-WANs). Also, the Uplevel cloud intelligence automatically updates and adjusts necessary services such as routing and DNS to cope with the changing Starlink IPs (yet another SD-WAN capability).
Finally, for those situations where direct access to the public IP is required (e.g. video surveillance apps on mobile devices), Uplevel Systems integrates a dynamically updated DNS name that is rapidly adjusted whenever the Starlink IP updates. The result is that seamless connectivity can be maintained - WITHOUT any manual intervention by either the MSP or the customer - to the offices using Starlink. This greatly simplifies remote access, remote management, and site-to-site connectivity, as well as keeping security high by avoiding insecure workarounds to cope with the IP changes. Downtime is greatly reduced.
As a leading provider of managed IT Services for Small Businesses Uplevel Systems is committed to delivering reliable and efficient services. Beyond static IP addresses, Uplevel Systems offers a comprehensive suite of managed IT services. Our cybersecurity solutions safeguard your network from cyber threats while our remote monitoring and management services provide proactive support. Additionally, our data backup and recovery services protect your valuable data from loss. By choosing Uplevel Systems, you're partnering with a trusted provider dedicated to improving your network's security, reliability, and efficiency.
