Configure 5G for a Cellular Interface

Create an Access Point Name (APN) profile.
You must configure the APN profile correctly to enable internet access. The APN profile defines the network or networks that the device is permitted to access and determines whether the device receives a dynamic or static IP address. To allow access to data services, some mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) require a separate APN profile in addition to the APN profile for the network carrier. Based on the carrier, you may also need to enable additional security measures to restrict the APN to authenticated users.
Configure dynamic NAT Security policy rules using dynamic IP addresses to allow the 5G traffic.
Configure a cellular interface.
Select
Network
Interfaces
Cellular
.
For Panorama, select
Network
. Select the template you want to use, then select
Interfaces
Cellular
. You can add a configuration for a device using a template and then apply that template to other devices.
(Panorama only) Select the
Slot
.
Select
Slot 1
for a non-chassis model.
Select the
Interface Name
you want to use.
(Optional) Enter a
Comment
to describe the interface.
Select a
Netflow Profile
or create a
New Netflow Profile
.
Configure the 5G connection.

On the
Config
tab, select the
Virtual Router
where you want to assign the interface or create a
New Virtual Router
.
Select the
Logical Router
where you want to assign the interface or create a
New Logical Router
.
Select the
Security Zone
or create a
New Zone
.
Select the modem
Radio
setting.
This option allows you to reset the radio settings during troubleshooting.
To enable the GPS option, you must enable the
Radio
option as well as the
GPS
option.
Off
—(Default value) Disables the radio setting and the cellular interface.
On
—Enables the radio setting and the cellular interface.
Select the
GPS
setting.
Off
—(Default value) Disables the GPS setting.
On
—Enables the GPS setting.
Select the
Primary SIM Slot
.
By default, the firewall uses the card in slot 1 (
SIM1
) to attempt connectivity with the network. If you configure a second SIM slot, the firewall automatically attempts connectivity with the network using the secondary SIM if connectivity using the primary SIM is not successful. You can optionally configure the second slot (SIM2) as the
Primary SIM Slot
.
Configure the IPv4 settings.

On the
IPv4
tab, select whether you want 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.
Specify the
Default Route Metric
.
The default is 10; the range is 1—65535.
On the
Advanced
tab, select the
Link State
.
auto
—The interface is available only if there is a peer connection.
up
—The interface is available.
down
—The interface isn't available.

Configure the SIM settings.
Add
the
SIM Settings
.
Specify the
Slot
.
Only one SIM slot can be active at a time. By default,
SIM1
is the active SIM slot. The modem uses this SIM to search for network connectivity. If the firewall can't establish a session within 5 minutes, it attempts to establish the session using the alternate SIM slot.

To require a PIN to prevent unauthorized use of the SIM slots, enter a
Pin
, then
Confirm Pin
.
You can also require a PIN to access the SIM; for more information, see step 16.
Select the
APN Profile
.
Specify 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 uses the default
auto
APN profile. If you need to specify a custom APN profile, you can do so in step 8.a
Click
OK
.
Define the
APN Profile
.
Add
the default
APN Profile
.
If necessary, override the default APN profile for the specified slot by selecting an APN profile.

Select the
Authentication Type
for the connection to the APN.
None
—(Default) The firewall 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 to automatically detect the authentication type based on the service provider. If the connection to the initial authentication type isn't successful, the firewall attempts the connection with the alternate authentication type.
Enter the
APN
.
Enter the
Username
.
Enter the
Password
then
Confirm Password
.
Click
OK
.
Configure additional information, such as maximum transmission units (MTU), based on your network requirements.
Select the
Other Info
tab.
Select a
Management Profile
.

Specify the
MTU
in bytes.
The default value is 1428 bytes; the range is 576—1500 bytes.
If you want to adjust the packet size due to latency, you can
Adjust TCP MSS
to configure the Maximum Segment Size and specify the
IPv4 MSS Adjustment
value.
The default is 40; the range is 40—300.
Click
OK
.
Commit
your changes.
You must commit your changes, ensure the interface is enabled, and that connectivity is successful before the following information is available on the firewall or Panorama.
Use widgets to monitor your cellular interface.
Select

Dashboard

Widgets

System

Cellular Interfaces

.

View information about the cellular interface, such as the signal strength. To view more information, hover over the icon.



Select

Dashboard

Widgets

System

Interfaces

.

The cellular interface, along with your other configured interfaces, displays in the widget. To view more information, hover over the icon.


Verify your configuration's operational information is correct.
To view the statistics and operational information using Panorama, first select the device, then select the information you want to view.
Select the cellular interface you configured then click
More Info
Operational
.

Select
Show Modem Info
to verify the modem information (such as IMEI and FSN).
Select
Show SIM Info
to verify the SIM information, such as the number of SIM cards and their IMSI numbers.
Select
Show Network Access Info
to verify the network access information (for example, frequency band and cell ID).
Select
Show Location Info
to verify the GPS information, such as status, latitude, and longitude.
You must enable GPS to view this information.
View information about activity on the cellular interface.
Select the cellular interface you configured then click
More Info
Statistics
.

Select
Show Signal Info
to view the signal information (such as RSSI and RSRP).
Select
Show Traffic Info
to view the traffic information, such as bytes, drops, errors, and overflows for receiving and transmitting.
Select
Show Misc Info
to view other information including the number of modem and radio resets, switchovers, and network disconnects.
Monitor information about the current session on the cellular interface.
Select the

IP runtime info

for the cellular interface.



View the

Data Session Details

such as IP address, gateway info, and primary and secondary DNS interfaces.

(Panorama only) If you use Panorama, you can view the cellular interface by selecting

Panorama

Managed Devices

Summary

.


View the firmware information for the interface.
Select the
Running Firmware
for the cellular interface.

View the
Firmware Details
including current version, primary rate interface (PRI) version, and a list of PRIs with their respective firmware versions, PRI versions, and carriers.
(Recommended) For additional security, enable a PIN for your SIM card.
The SIM PIN prevents unauthorized use of SIM cards. If you enable a SIM PIN, the SIM requires you to enter the PIN code to unlock the SIM for the modem to access the cellular network and start data sessions.
After three unsuccessful attempts to unlock the SIM, the SIM is inaccessible until you enter a Personal Unblock Key (PUK). When the active SIM is inaccessible, an automatic switchover to a secondary SIM, if present, occurs. For more information, see step 17.
Configure
a
SIM PIN
.

Ensure that you
Enable
the PIN as the
SIM PIN Operation
.
Select the
SIM Slot
that contains the SIM card where you want to enable the PIN.
Enter the
PIN
and click
Configure
.
If you enabled the SIM PIN, manage SIM PIN operations.
You must enable a SIM PIN before you can configure a new PIN, disable the PIN, or unblock the PIN.
To disable the SIM PIN, select
Disable
as the
SIM PIN Operation
, confirm the
SIM Slot
, enter the
PIN
, and click
Configure
.
To configure a new PIN, select
Change
as the
SIM PIN Operation
, confirm the
SIM Slot
, enter the
PIN
and the
New PIN
, and click
Configure
.
To unblock a PIN, select
Unblock
as the
SIM PIN Operation
, confirm the
SIM Slot
, enter the
New PIN
and the Personal Unblock Key (
PUK
), and click
Configure
.
To switch from the active SIM card to a different SIM card, complete the following steps.
Select
Network
Interfaces
Cellular
.
Click
Switchover
.

Confirm
that you want to switch the current SIM card.

Close
the notification window that displays to confirm the SIM card change.

After the SIM card change completes (around 40-60 seconds), verify the change using the Dashboard widget (see step 11.c).