Networking and Mikrotik

About Mikrotik:

MikroTik, a Latvian company founded in 1996, is a major player in the world of networking equipment. They started in Riga, Latvia, to create affordable and powerful wireless routers for IT enthusiasts. Their focus was on open-source, high-performance solutions, making internet connectivity more accessible.

What Product Mikrotik Produce?

1. Router (They Have different types of router. Choice based on your requirement. They have Indoor/Outdoor Router for your business type)
2. Switch(They have managed and Unmanaged switches for managing your ISP and its strong networking system)
3. RouterOS(A Router or Networking OS built by Mikrotik and used on their devices)
4. WINBOX (Software that is used to manage the RouterOS and connect with Mikrotik Devices)

Where can I use RouterOS and How does it work?

RouterOS is an operating system built by Mikrotik. It comes with any Mikrotik router and switches, that you are going to buy.

But with RouterOS, you can turn your PC into a Mikrotik Router. You can download the OS from the Mikrotik Website -> Link Here. You can use it on VMs like VirtualBox or VMWare PC.

RouterOS has a multi-level license system, when you installed it 1st time you will get a demo license that will expire within 24 hours of its installation time, the important thing you need to know, the configuration you have done in the OS will be erased on the time of expiration of the license.

Feature of RouterOS:

1. Wireless AP
2. Wireless Client and Bridge
3. RIP, OSPF, BGP protocols
4. EoIP tunnels
5. PPPoE tunnels
6. PPTP tunnels
7. L2TP tunnels
8. OVPN tunnels
9. VLAN interfaces
10. HotSpot
11. RADIUS client
12. Queues
13. Web proxy
14. User manager
15. KVM Guests
16. IPv4/IPv6

License Leveling:

There is a total of 6 Levels of License in RouterOS or in Mikrotik Switch and Router. Although those licenses are freemium.

1. Level 0: A Demo license used for only test purposes will expire in 24 hours. You can use all Mikrotik Features only for 24 Hours Trial.
2. Level 1: A Single User License, free for a single user. The features that you can’t use are wireless AP, Wireless Client, Bridge, RIP, OSPF, and BGP protocols. You can claim this license by just opening an account at mikrotik.com > Account > Key/License > Get the Software Key from RouterOS > Submit it to Mikrotik. You will get a free Level 1 key.
3. Level 3: This License is required by WISP(Wireless Internet Service Provider) and CPE(Customer Premise Equipment). This License doesn’t have support for Wireless AP, which means you can’t have a wireless access point creation option from the router. You need to use the external router from any company which has access point support on it. It can be any company. This license is not sellable and comes with a small-end router of Mikrotik.
4. Level 4: This License is commonly used on budget friend routers/switches for homes or small offices. You will get all RouterOS features. In the feature, you have some limitations like you can only able to use 200 PPPoE tunnels, PPTP tunnels, L2TP tunnels, OVPN tunnels, and HotSpot active users and 20 Active User Sessions. However, it’s a good level license for small user. This will cost you around $45.
5. Level 5: This License is the same as the Level 4 License. Just the limits are extended to 500 PPPoE tunnels, PPTP tunnels, L2TP tunnels, OVPN tunnels, and HotSpot active users and 50 Active User Sessions. This will cost $95.
6. Level 6: This is a controller-level license. Which gives you the ultimate level of access to the RouterOS feature. This license has no limit on the features of RouterOS. This will cost you $250. Recommended for ISP Company

However, all licenses are created based on the user's needs. You can upgrade, downgrade, or transfer your license from one to another router or switch or PC Mikrotik. Transfer license will cost $10 every time. License costs are one-time.

Which Router I should pick?

Wow, it’s a high-level question when it comes to with/without any requirements. Don’t worry.

Let’s Say, You have a small office, where you have 15 Employees and some guest users. Of them, 10 of them have Desktop PCs and 5 of them have Laptop. Guests are limited to use with wifi but you have a low budget for that.

As per this requirement, Mikrotik has a router in the HAP Series.

HAP RB951Ui-2nD. Created for Home and Small offices. has support for wireless and switching.

It has 2.4GHz Wireless, Wireless AP, 650 MHz CPU,64MB RAM, and 5–10/100 Ethernet ports. Best for Office Router. You will need to buy a switch from Mikrotik or any company you want. Connect your router to the switch by LAN cable and connect your 10 pcs to the switch. Config your Mikrotik and done. It will start providing internet. In Wireless AP in Mikrotik Settings, you can make multiple SSIDs as per your requirement.

1. 10 Pcs connected with switch. Switch Connected to Mikrotik.
2. 5 Laptops are using wifi from Mikrotik.
3. Guest wifi can be made from Mikrotik and Control as per your need.

Mikrotik works in Layer 2 and Layer 3 in the OSI Model. Mikrotik gives you more control over your internet and users. Its firewall is super strong and gives you lots of options for handling routes, blocking websites, blocking IPs, NAT Controlling, Packet Controlling, and Tracing.

Why Mikrotik is the Best?

• Affordability: MikroTik offers powerful features at competitive prices compared to other brands.
• Flexibility: Their RouterOS software provides granular control over network settings, allowing for deep customization.
• Advanced Features: RouterOS goes beyond basic routing, offering features like firewalls, VPNs, Quality of Service (QoS), and hotspot management.
• Scalability: MikroTik offers a wide range of hardware from basic routers to powerful network appliances, catering to various network sizes.
• Performance: Many MikroTik devices deliver high throughput and processing power, ideal for demanding network environments.
• The most interesting thing is it's super easy to learn. Easier than CISCO(from my thinking) and Has a bigger community and dedicated support team.

Conclusion:

In summary, MikroTik stands out for its competitive pricing, customizable features, and strong performance, making it a preferred choice for diverse networking needs. Whether you’re managing a small office network or a large ISP infrastructure, MikroTik provides the tools and support to help you succeed.

Next part Coming:

Right, We just learned about what is Mikrotik Router and Switch. Next part we will learn about how we can set up a small office with multiple requirements and how we can start an ISP business. Till then Peace.