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Guidelines for using IPSec

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Use of IPSec and other VPNs are strongly discouraged over the Iridium network, as they can result in large data use and high bills.

IPSec is a protocol for creating an encrypted and authenticated tunnel (aka VPN) between two devices or gateways across the internet.

The RockREMOTE does not have built-in support for IPSec, however it is possible for a local device to establish an IPSec link over Iridium and/or Cellular to a fixed server.

Limitations​

  • NAT-T (NAT traversal) mode must be used
  • Raw AH and ESP packets will not pass through the RockREMOTE
  • At most one local device can be configured to allow initiation from the fixed end of the IPSec tunnel

IPSec settings​

Required​

  • NAT-T: enabled
  • IKE: IKEv2
  • MOBIKE: enabled (when used on both Iridium and Cellular failover)

When using Iridium, background traffic sent while there is no real data to transfer must be avoided. You must either:

  • Only setup the IPSec tunnel when data needs to be transferred, then tear it down again,
    and/or
  • Turn off NAT-T keepalive, DPD detection, and anything else that would prevent the Iridium connection from going into idle mode

RockREMOTE settings​

The LAN IP subnet must not overlap with the IP range which is being tunneled in each direction.

If the device is selected as 1:1 NAT, nothing further needs to be done.

Outbound rules​

  • UDP port 500
  • UDP port 4500

Port forward rules​

These are only needed if the IPSec tunnel needs to be initiated from the fixed side, rather than the RockREMOTE side.

  • UDP port 500 --> 500
  • UDP port 4500 --> 4500
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