Re: Putting an i on Starlink

Starling does offer public IPv4 addresses to some plans, but these are not static IP addresses, so a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) solution would be required to provide reliable outside access to the i.
https://www.starlink.com/service-plans/business
https://starlink-enterprise-guide.readme.io/docs/ip-addresses

On Jan 29, 2025, at 4:26 AM, Patrik Schindler <poc@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hello Reeve,

Am 29.01.2025 um 02:34 schrieb x y <xy6581@xxxxxxxxx>:

Is there a network attachment/modem/IBM feature code/3rd party gadget that enables connecting an i to a Starlink base station? Ideally, this unit would be another TCP/IP connection.

As part of a business continuity plan, I'm thinking about running EDI through Starlink permanently. It's a couple of hundred 1-megabyte files throughout the day and there's no need for subsecond response time. "When" the local wired Internet dies or you get hacked, EDI, payroll, bank deposits, and tech support remote access would be unaffected.

Expanding on Yvan's response, adding my personal experience…

You don't get a public IPv4 with Starlink. They have a huge CGNAT gateway i the middle. There is no way you could offer IPv4 connectivity to your i box from outside. Your plan would only work if your EDI workflow has connections from the i to the outside world. The other way 'round simply doesn't work. Network-wise, this is not much different from using connectivity through the mobile phone network (LTE, etc.). Same goes to "tech support remote access".

The only way out there is using IPv6, which is not a scarce resource like IPv4 addresses. I don't have experience with that in the field of Starlink, nor with IBM i. What I know is that both sides of a connection have to make use of IPv6, e. g. in case of tech support trying to "get in". I also don't know if the IPv6 addresses Starlink gives you are static, or change after the connection is reestablished for whatever reason.

I assert that the Starlink offer is mainly for private persons in the middle of nowhere to get them very basic internet access. As soon as you need to provide access from the world to your machinery behind, options become rather limited.

:wq! PoC


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