HPE 9004-LTE Cellular Modem/Wireless Router

The HPE 9004-LTE Cellular Modem/Wireless Router is a compact, enterprise-grade gateway designed to deliver reliable branch connectivity, robust security, and seamless SD-WAN capabilities. As part of Aruba’s 9000 Series Gateways, this device blends a high-performance LTE modem with a feature-rich wireless router to power small campuses, remote sites, and storefronts with resilient, secure networking. Built to support Aruba’s SD-Branch vision, the 9004-LTE unifies WLAN, LAN, WAN, and security policies under a single management plane, reducing complexity and simplifying deployment across multiple sites. IT teams benefit from centralized provisioning, scalable policy enforcement, and real-time visibility, while end users enjoy consistent, high-quality access to cloud apps, collaboration tools, and business services. Whether you are creating a reliable failover path for critical applications or delivering secure guest access, the 9004-LTE delivers enterprise-grade performance in a compact, easy-to-deploy package.

• All-in-one LTE modem and wireless router for Aruba SD-WAN: The 9004-LTE merges a capable cellular modem with a fast wireless routing platform, delivering resilient edge connectivity for each site. It supports multi-band cellular networks and seamless failover to keep essential applications online when primary links falter, so branch offices stay productive and connected.
• SD-Branch integration and security: As a cornerstone of Aruba’s SD-Branch strategy, this gateway consolidates WLAN, LAN, SD-WAN, and security into a single, manageable solution. IT can enforce consistent access control, micro-segmentation, and threat protection from one pane of glass, reducing risk and simplifying operations across distributed locations.
• Reliability and intelligent failover: The 9004-LTE provides automatic, policy-driven failover between LTE and wired Internet, rapid recovery after outages, and reliable QoS to prioritize business-critical traffic. This ensures voice, video, and cloud apps perform predictably even during WAN disruptions.
• Flexible deployment and centralized management: Its compact, fanless design fits shelf, wall-mount, or cabinet installations in storefronts, branches, and campus outposts. Coupled with Aruba Central for zero-touch provisioning, firmware updates, and proactive monitoring, the gateway accelerates deployment and reduces time-to-value.
• Performance, security, and scalability: Engineered for cloud-first environments, the 9004-LTE supports policy-based routing, IPsec VPNs, and scalable analytics. It enables secure remote access for mobile devices, site-to-site connectivity, and granular performance optimization, helping IT balance bandwidth and user experience across locations.

Technical Details of HPE 9004-LTE Cellular Modem/Wireless Router

• Product type: LTE cellular modem and wireless router in a single edge gateway
• Series: Aruba 9000 Series Gateways
• Form factor: Compact, desktop or wall-mountable gateway suitable for branch and small campus deployments
• Connectivity: Integrated LTE modem; Ethernet WAN option for primary or backup connectivity; dual-band wireless LAN for local devices
• Security: Built-in firewall, VPN support (IPsec), threat protection, and policy enforcement
• Management: Aruba Central compatible; supports zero-touch provisioning and centralized management
• Deployment focus: Designed for SD-Branch environments to unify WLAN, LAN, WAN, and security

How to Install HPE 9004-LTE Cellular Modem/Wireless Router

Follow these steps to deploy the HPE 9004-LTE gateway in a typical branch or remote site. Ensure you have access to power, Internet service, and the Aruba Central account you will use for provisioning.

Step 1: Choose a suitable location for the gateway that allows easy access to power, network connections, and, if applicable, external cellular antennas. Ensure adequate ventilation and clearance for cooling and cable management. If mounting is required, secure the device in a stable position on a shelf or wall-mount bracket as per the installation guidelines.

Step 2: Connect the cellular antenna to the integrated LTE modem if an external antenna is provided. Attach antenna leads securely and orient for best signal. Connect the Ethernet WAN port to the primary Internet service provided at the site (if available) and route your existing network uplink as desired for primary or backup connectivity.

Step 3: Attach power to the gateway and power it on. Allow the device to complete its boot process. The LED indicators will signal the status, including power, WAN/LTE activity, and Wi-Fi readiness.

Step 4: Access the initial setup interface. Use Aruba Central for zero-touch provisioning or connect a local management computer to the gateway's management interface for manual configuration. During provisioning, apply your organization’s security policies, user access rules, and SD-WAN policies to ensure consistent behavior across sites.

Step 5: Configure WAN policies, VLANs, and QoS rules to prioritize latency-sensitive traffic such as VoIP and video conferencing. Establish VPN connections and verify that failover between LTE and wired WAN works as expected by simulating a primary link outage.

Step 6: Register the gateway with Aruba Central (if used) and apply firmware updates to align with the latest security and feature releases. Schedule ongoing monitoring and alerting so IT staff receive notifications about performance, health, or connectivity issues across the fleet.

Step 7: Validate user and device connectivity by testing access to cloud applications, local resources, and guest networks. Confirm that security policies, access controls, and segmentation are correctly enforced, and document the deployment for future maintenance and scale.

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary use case for the HPE 9004-LTE Cellular Modem/Wireless Router?

The gateway is designed for branch and small campus networks that require reliable, secure connectivity with SD-WAN features. It provides integrated LTE backup, centralized management, and unified policy enforcement to connect users and devices to cloud apps and services efficiently.

Does the 9004-LTE support multiple WAN connections and failover?

Yes. It combines an integrated LTE modem with Ethernet WAN options to enable automatic failover and resilient connectivity. This helps ensure continuous access to critical applications even if one network link experiences issues.

Is Aruba Central required for provisioning and management?

No, but using Aruba Central streamlines deployment through zero-touch provisioning, centralized monitoring, and simplified firmware updates. The gateway also supports local management interfaces if Central is not used.

What deployment environments are ideal for the HPE 9004-LTE?

Ideal environments include retail storefronts, remote offices, small campuses, and other branch locations where space is limited but reliable, secure connectivity is essential. It is well-suited for SD-Branch implementations that unify WLAN, LAN, WAN, and security controls.