Business Internet & Failover
Dual-WAN load balancing, on site
We have two internet connections but only one is ever used.
We have two internet connections but only one is ever used.
Businesses sometimes pay for a second connection that sits idle until the first fails, or worse, is not connected to anything. A dual-WAN router or firewall can use both: spreading traffic across them day to day and moving everything to one connection when the other drops. That gives more capacity and a tested backup at the same time. The second line should ideally come from a different provider.
What the technician does
- Review both connections and the router's dual-WAN features
- Set load-balancing and failover rules for different traffic
- Test both links under load and with each one disconnected
Keep both providers' account details handy - each connection's settings must be entered separately.
About Dual-WAN load balancing
We decide with you which traffic goes where. Video calls and VoIP often do better pinned to one link, while browsing and downloads can be spread. Some cloud apps dislike sessions moving between connections, so we set rules to keep them stable. Then we test both links under load and disconnect each one in turn to confirm failover in both directions.
What usually causes it
- Second connection installed but never configured
- Main link congested during busy hours
- Video calls dropping while large files upload
- Router replaced and dual-WAN settings lost
Before we arrive
- Account details for your current internet connection
- Admin access to the router or firewall
- A list of systems that must keep working in an outage
- Where a 4G/5G antenna or Starlink dish could be mounted
What a visit looks like
When you book Dual-WAN load balancing, you tell us what's going on and we reply with a time that suits you and a price. Nothing starts until you're happy with both.
On the day, the technician arrives, looks at the problem in person and confirms the plan with you before starting. If something turns out different from what was expected - a part is needed, or the cause is somewhere else - we stop and agree the change with you first.
When the work is done we test it with you, show you what was changed, and leave the area tidy. For business jobs we note what we did, so there is a record for whoever looks after your IT next.
Pricing
Each Dual-WAN load balancing job is priced before work starts. The price depends on what's involved - the size of the site, the equipment, and whether parts are needed - so the quickest way to a number is to tell us about the job on the booking form.
There is no contract and no monthly fee. You book the job you need and pay for that job.
Dual-WAN load balancing: questions
Does load balancing double our speed?
Not for a single download, which uses one connection. It increases total capacity, so many users and devices together get more bandwidth. Downloads that support several connections, such as cloud backups, can benefit.
Will our VPN still work?
Yes, but VPNs need care with two connections. We set the VPN to prefer one link and fail over to the other, and test it both ways.
Do you do Dual-WAN load balancing on site?
Yes. We come to businesses and homes across Auckland and Hamilton and do the work where the equipment is.
How much does Dual-WAN load balancing cost?
It depends on what's involved. Tell us about the job on the form and we'll confirm the price before any work starts.