>
    Network > Interfaces > Cellular
    Focus
    Download PDF
    Focus
    1. Home
    2. Next-Generation Firewall
    3. Network
    4. Network > Interfaces > Cellular
    Download PDF
    Next-Generation Firewall

    Network > Interfaces > Cellular

    Table of Contents

    Network > Interfaces > Cellular

    Learn how to configure a 5G cellular interface.
    Click Add and use the following fields to configure a cellular interface:
    Cellular Interface Settings
    Configure In
    Description
    Slot
    Cellular Interface
    Select the Slot that you want to use for the interface:
    • Use Slot 1 if you are not using a chassis-based system.
    Interface Name
    Select the Interface Name that you want to use.
    Comment
    		Optionally enter a Comment about the interface.
    Netflow Profile
    If you want to export unidirectional IP traffic that traverses an ingress interface to a NetFlow server, select the server profile or click Netflow Profile to define a new profile (see Device > Server Profiles > NetFlow). Select None to remove the current NetFlow server assignment from the interface.
    Virtual Router
    Cellular InterfaceConfig
    Assign a virtual router to the interface, or click New Virtual Router to define a new one (see Network > Virtual Routers). Select None to remove the current virtual router assignment from the interface.
    Logical Router
    		Assign a logical router to the interface, or click New Logical Router to define a new one (see Network > Routing > Logical Routers). Select None to remove the current logical router assignment from the interface.
    Security Zone
    Select a security zone for the interface, or click New Zone to define a new zone. Select None to remove the current zone assignment from the interface.
    Radio
    		Select the Radio setting.
    • Off—(Default value) Disables the radio setting and the cellular interface.
    • On—Enables the radio setting and the cellular interface.
    This option allows you to reset the radio settings during troubleshooting.
    GPS
    		Select the GPS setting.
    To enable the GPS option, you must select On for the Radio option as well as the GPS option.
    • Off—(Default value) Disables the GPS setting.
    • On—Enables the GPS setting.
    Primary SIM Slot
    		Select the Primary SIM Slot that contains the SIM card you want the firewall or Panorama to use for the interface.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases, SD-WAN plugin 3.3.1 and later releases) Enable SD-WAN
    Cellular InterfaceIPv4
    Select this option to enable SD-WAN on the cellular interface. SD-WAN enabled cellular interface support automatic traffic steering based on the collected metrics amongst qualified paths/links for the cellular and wireless WAN connection.
    Automatically create default route pointing to network provided default gateway
    Select whether you want the firewall or Panorama to Automatically create default route pointing to network provided default gateway. This option is enabled by default and creates a default route to the default gateway provided by the network.
    Default Route Metric
    Specify the Default Route Metric to define the metric for the route. When a routing protocol has more than one route to the same destination network, it prefers the route with the lowest metric value. The default is 10; the range is 1 to 65535.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases) Enable IPv6 on the interface
    Cellular InterfaceIPv6
    Select to enable IPv6 addressing on the interface.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases) EUI-64
    Enter the Extended Unique Identifier (EUI-64) in hexadecimal format (for example, 00:32:07:FE:4A:12:4C:33). If you leave this field blank, the firewall uses the EUI-64 generated from the MAC address of the physical interface.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases) Automatically create default route pointing to network provided default gateway
    This option is enabled by default and creates a default route to the default gateway provided by the network.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases) Default Route Metric
    Specify the Default Route Metric to define the metric for the route. When a routing protocol has more than one route to the same destination network, it prefers the route with the lowest metric value. The default is 10; the range is 1 to 65535.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases, SD-WAN plugin 3.3.1 and later releases) SD-WAN Interface Profile
    Cellular InterfaceSD-WAN
    Select an existing SD-WAN interface profile or create a new SD-WAN interface profile. SD-WAN interface profile defines the characteristics of ISP connections and specifies the speed of links and how frequently the firewall monitors the link, and specify a Link Tag for the link.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases, SD-WAN plugin 3.3.1 and later releases) Upstream NAT
    Enable—Select this option if you are adding an SD-WAN hub or branch device that is behind a NAT device.
    NAT IP Address Type—Static IP. Select IP Address or FQDN and enter a single IP address or FQDN of the public-facing interface on the upstream, NAT-performing device.
    Auto VPN configuration uses this address as the tunnel endpoint of the hub or branch.
    Link Settings
    Cellular InterfaceAdvanced
    		Select the Link State for the interface.
    • auto—The interface is available only if there is a peer connection.
    • up—The interface is available.
    • down—The interface is not available.
    Slot
    Cellular InterfaceAdvancedSIM SettingsSlot
    		Select the Slot. Only one SIM slot can be active at a time. By default, SIM1 is the active SIM slot. If the firewall or Panorama can't establish a session within 5 minutes, it attempts to establish the session with the alternate SIM slot.
    PinTo require a PIN to prevent unauthorized use of the SIM slots, enter a Pin for the slot.
    Confirm PinEnter the PIN again to Confirm Pinfor the slot.
    APN ProfileSpecify the APN profile that you want the SIM card to use by default. The SIM slot uses this APN profile unless you override it with a custom APN profile. If you don't specify an APN profile, the firewall or Panorama uses the default auto APN profile. If you need to specify a custom APN profile, you can do so by selecting Cellular InterfaceAdvancedAPN Profile.
    APN Profile
    Cellular InterfaceAdvancedAPN Profile
    		Add the default APN Profile.
    Authentication TypeSelect the Authentication Type.
    • None—(Default) The firewall or Panorama does not require authentication for the connection to the APN.
    • CHAP—Use Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) to connect to the APN.
    • PAP—Use Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) to connect to the APN.
    • auto—Allow the firewall or Panorama to automatically detect the authentication type based on the service provider. If the connection to the initial authentication type isn't successful, the firewall or Panorama attempts the connection with the alternate authentication type.
    APNEnter the APN.
    (PAN-OS 11.2.3 and later releases) PDP TypeSelect the packet data protocol (PDP) type that the APN profile allows: IPv4 (default); IPv6, or both.
    UsernameEnter the Username for the account.
    PasswordEnter the Password for the account.
    Confirm PasswordEnter the password again to Confirm Password for the account.
    Management Profile
    Cellular InterfaceAdvancedOther Info
    		Select the Management Profile you want to use for the interface (see Network > Network Profiles > Interface Mgmt.
    MTUSpecify the maximum transfer unit (MTU) value. The default value is 1428 bytes; the range is 576—1500 bytes.
    Adjust TCP MSSTo adjust the packet size if you encounter latency issues, you can Adjust TCP MSS to configure the maximum segment size.
    IPv4 MSS Adjustment Specify the IPv4 MSS Adjustment value. The default is 40; the range is 40—300.

    © 2025 Palo Alto Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.