Port Configurations

The BDU's four Ethernet ports and built-in wireless access point (WAP) can be configured in a variety of ways to meet your vessel's needs. Some of the most common configurations can be selected from the Configuration drop-down menu on the Port Configuration page of the web interface or KVH Manager. The default configuration is illustrated below.

Split Configuration (Default)

All High-speed (HS) Configuration (Default)

Configuration Options

Option Description
Split Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Ports 3-4: Unlimited Use LAN
All High-speed (HS) Ports 1-4, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
All Unlimited Use (UL) Ports 1-4, Wi-Fi: Unlimited Use LAN
HS user LAN, Plus external VoIP Ports 1-3, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 4: External VoIP
UL user LAN, Plus external VoIP Ports 1-3, Wi-Fi: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 4: External VoIP
Split, Plus external VoIP Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 3: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 4: External VoIP
HS user LAN, Plus backup and alternate WAN Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Alternate WAN egress
UL user LAN, Plus backup and alternate WAN Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Alternate WAN egress
Split, Plus backup and alternate WAN Port 1, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 2: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Alternate WAN egress
HS user LAN, Plus backup WAN and external VoIP Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: External VoIP
UL user LAN, Plus backup WAN and external VoIP Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: External VoIP
Split, Plus backup and Starlink WAN* Port 1, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 2: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Starlink WAN egress
HS user LAN, Plus backup and Starlink WAN* Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Starlink WAN egress
UL user LAN, Plus backup and Starlink WAN* Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Starlink WAN egress
HS user LAN, UL user LAN and WAN Trunking** Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 3: Unlimited Use LAN
Port 4: WAN Trunk
Option Description
All High-speed (HS) Ports 1-4, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
HS user LAN, Plus backup and alternate WAN Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Alternate WAN egress
HS user LAN, Plus backup and Starlink WAN* Ports 1-2, Wi-Fi: High-speed LAN
Port 3: Backup WAN egress
Port 4: Starlink WAN egress

* Starlink options are available only if a Starlink software configuration is enabled on your system and a Starlink system is connected to the BDU via an Ethernet adapter as described in Starlink Configuration.  

** WAN trunking is an advanced networking feature. See WAN Trunk Option for details. 

Note: An option with External VoIP is required to connect an external MTA or crew calling gateway (see Adding Phone Lines for details). For details on adding backup and alternate WAN connections, see Backup WAN Option and Alternate WAN Option.

Vessel devices that connect to the High-speed LAN will use the High-speed data channel whenever the VSAT WAN connection is selected for Internet access. Vessel devices that connect to the Unlimited Use LAN will use the Unlimited Use data channel whenever the VSAT WAN connection is selected for Internet access. While data channels do not apply whenever the antenna's cellular or shore Wi-Fi WAN connection is selected for Internet access, their onboard LAN IP settings remain in effect (see LAN Settings).

IMPORTANT! To use the High-speed data channel, your vessel must have a subscription to an active High-speed VSAT airtime plan. To use the Unlimited Use data channel, your vessel must have a subscription to an active Unlimited Use VSAT airtime plan. Refer to your airtime subscriptions for the data speeds that pertain to each channel.

Deactivating Ports

If you do not want all four Ethernet ports on the BDU's rear panel to be active according to the chosen port configuration, you can deactivate one or more ports. Select Edit under the Port Status table, set the desired port(s) to Off, then select Save. To deactivate the BDU's built-in Wi-Fi, you need to go to the Network Settings page – see Built-in Wi-Fi Settings.

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