Can Peplink MAX Adapter 5G Cellular Modem be used for Uplink?

I’m working on setting up a small “server” (SuperMicro X10SDV-6C±TLN4F, Xeon D-1528, 64GB RAM, Dual 10GB ports, Dual 1GB ports), to run firewall/router and NAS apps in VMs. My goal is to use something like a Peplink MAX Adapter 5G for my Internet uplink. It connects via USB 3.0, and is configured as a Mobile Broadband device. The MAX Adapter 5G works with Windows and Linux.
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As a Linux based firewall/router, I’m wondering whether IPFire would see the Peplink MAX Adapter 5G as a Mobile Broadband device for my Internet uplink, if the USB port is passed through to the VM?
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Thanks for any insight on this!

Have you already read the following Wiki page?

Regards

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Is this device supported by the hypervisor? If not and no drivers are availabale → no way.

Also I guess this hasn’t changed, it won’t work : WWAN Profile setup - #18 by arne_f

The Peplink MAX Adapter 5G does work in Linux, according to Page 14 of the User Manual - https://download.peplink.com/manual/pepwave-max-adapter-firmware-manual-2.0.0.pdf

Hi,

on the aforementioned page 14, the manual reads:

Download the Linux distributions software and install it.

While I did not have a look at that software yet, it is worth noticing that IPFire’s kernel does not load 3rd party modules (due to this rationale). In case that software includes a kernel module or something similar (DKMS), it won’t work on IPFire.

However, if it features merely some other components, such as udev rules, then I don’t really see any obvious show-stoppers, especially since we are pretty much up-to-date with linux-firmware, the conglomerate of 3rd party firmware blobs that may also contain proprietary drivers for 5G networking equipment.

Thanks, and best regards,
Peter Müller

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