July 1, 2013 at 17:16Mikrotik - Pros and Cons
Periodically on Habrahabr, the mention of these routers skips (basically they are advised in q & a to questions about choosing a router). Also in RuNet there are a lot of resources and topics dedicated to this hardware. But there is very little information about the pros and cons of this solution. With this article, I want to improve the situation somewhat. I also hope that in the comments they add to me and tell me something new.
To get started, you can go to wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MikroTik and find out what
You can separate the hardware called RouterBoard and the operating system called RouterOS. In colloquial speech, when they talk about it all, they simply say Mikrotik.
Now let's move on to the pros and cons.
What are the advantages of Mikrotik
1. Cost - there are simply no competitors in its price category.
2. Functionality - Compared to Dlink, TP-Link, Zyxell and other "home" routers, the functionality is huge. It is necessary to compare more with Cisco, Juniper and other "adult" hardware or with linux or freebsd systems (network stack only). I don’t see the point of listing, but I can notice that you can implement almost any “Wishlist” in network technologies.
3.Reliability and stability - if Mikrotik is configured and tested it will work VERY long and trouble-free. The built-in scripting language (with the help of which you can configure all kinds of actions for problems) and the WatchDog technology that saves with a hung router are also very helpful. All the problems that I had, arose due to problems with food (a lot and often thunderstorms). With good grounding and a UPS, there are practically no problems. Although occasionally on the forums I hear about bugs and marriages, I have never encountered it myself (except for my crooked hands as a bug).
4.Documentation and updates - there is a very detailed official Wikipedia. All firmware are located directly on the site, available for download even without authorization. Unlike the same Cisco where a simple update can sometimes get a problem (you need the status of a certified specialist or they generally say that this is only for technical support)
5. A single OS and configuration system - since RouterOS is used everywhere, it allows you to quickly change equipment and restore on new hardware or just transfer, advise others how and what to do.
6.Scalability - There are offers for almost every segment of small and medium-sized businesses (for large I would not recommend). Moreover, if for example you are missing one of the Core-series, you can always deploy RouterOS on a powerful x86 server with the desired performance.
And now you can move on to the minuses -
1. If you need really smooth operation, then Mikrotik is unlikely to suit you. But this is already iron of a completely different level (several power supplies, redundancy of everything and everything, and other joys of life). However, there are examples of implementation on RouterOS on several x86 servers + VMware Fault Tolerance, and VRRP was not for nothing come up with.
2.If you need to route more than 10G of traffic every second (yes there is a Core-series, but we will be frank - it is not going smoothly either).
3. When you require encryption in accordance with GOST, or you have dynamic routing to EIGRP, or other joys of Vendor Lock.
4. If you do not understand networks - of course, setting up a bunch of manuals from the network is not very difficult, but for the average user a rather laborious process.
5. If you are a seller of iron - suppose that you are laying a margin of 20%. Then it’s more profitable for you to sell the same CISCO than Mikrotik. Since CISCO is more expensive and, accordingly, will bring you big profits.
6.If you need an all-in-one device - a NAS, a torrent rocking chair, DLNA, a coffee maker and everything else, then Mikrotik is hardly suitable for you. This is the router (although it can be implemented through the built-in virtualization tools, but it will not work very stably)
* there should have been a picture with a trolleybus from a loaf of bread *
7. If you are Richard Stollman or are kind to the GPL. Because yes. Violate. RouterOS is based on Linux, but what has been changed and how no one knows.
8. The minus from the user from the hub, expressed by him in one of the posts -
9. There is no "corporate" technical support and guarantees - it is not here that you replace the piece of iron with a new one within 2 hours. Or remotely connecting, configured something. Either deal with it yourself, or pay freelancers. In general, there is support, and if you do not need “here and now”, then it is quite possible it will suit you.
10. Small distribution of the brand is a significant enough minus. And it is for both consumers and professionals. Since RouterOS is poorly distributed, the demand for specialists versed in it is small. So it is for firms - if your network is built on this OS and then your system administrator has left, it will be more difficult for you to find a specialist who would understand this issue. And far from major cities, finding Mikrotik routers is sometimes quite a big problem.
That’s probably all, I’m waiting for your comments, questions and additions.
PS: Dear hub users, if you are comparing hardware, let's compare at least roughly the same price - no need to compare the hardware for 3000 rubles and the hardware for $ 3000 :)
To get started, you can go to wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MikroTik and find out what
Mikrotīkls Ltd (MikroTik trademark) is a Latvian manufacturer of computer network equipment. MikroTik designs, installs, and markets wired and wireless routers, their operating systems, and related equipment. The company was founded in 1995 with the aim of selling equipment in emerging markets. In 2007, the company employed more than 70 employees.
You can separate the hardware called RouterBoard and the operating system called RouterOS. In colloquial speech, when they talk about it all, they simply say Mikrotik.
Now let's move on to the pros and cons.
What are the advantages of Mikrotik
1. Cost - there are simply no competitors in its price category.
2. Functionality - Compared to Dlink, TP-Link, Zyxell and other "home" routers, the functionality is huge. It is necessary to compare more with Cisco, Juniper and other "adult" hardware or with linux or freebsd systems (network stack only). I don’t see the point of listing, but I can notice that you can implement almost any “Wishlist” in network technologies.
3.Reliability and stability - if Mikrotik is configured and tested it will work VERY long and trouble-free. The built-in scripting language (with the help of which you can configure all kinds of actions for problems) and the WatchDog technology that saves with a hung router are also very helpful. All the problems that I had, arose due to problems with food (a lot and often thunderstorms). With good grounding and a UPS, there are practically no problems. Although occasionally on the forums I hear about bugs and marriages, I have never encountered it myself (except for my crooked hands as a bug).
4.Documentation and updates - there is a very detailed official Wikipedia. All firmware are located directly on the site, available for download even without authorization. Unlike the same Cisco where a simple update can sometimes get a problem (you need the status of a certified specialist or they generally say that this is only for technical support)
5. A single OS and configuration system - since RouterOS is used everywhere, it allows you to quickly change equipment and restore on new hardware or just transfer, advise others how and what to do.
6.Scalability - There are offers for almost every segment of small and medium-sized businesses (for large I would not recommend). Moreover, if for example you are missing one of the Core-series, you can always deploy RouterOS on a powerful x86 server with the desired performance.
And now you can move on to the minuses -
1. If you need really smooth operation, then Mikrotik is unlikely to suit you. But this is already iron of a completely different level (several power supplies, redundancy of everything and everything, and other joys of life). However, there are examples of implementation on RouterOS on several x86 servers + VMware Fault Tolerance, and VRRP was not for nothing come up with.
2.If you need to route more than 10G of traffic every second (yes there is a Core-series, but we will be frank - it is not going smoothly either).
3. When you require encryption in accordance with GOST, or you have dynamic routing to EIGRP, or other joys of Vendor Lock.
4. If you do not understand networks - of course, setting up a bunch of manuals from the network is not very difficult, but for the average user a rather laborious process.
5. If you are a seller of iron - suppose that you are laying a margin of 20%. Then it’s more profitable for you to sell the same CISCO than Mikrotik. Since CISCO is more expensive and, accordingly, will bring you big profits.
6.If you need an all-in-one device - a NAS, a torrent rocking chair, DLNA, a coffee maker and everything else, then Mikrotik is hardly suitable for you. This is the router (although it can be implemented through the built-in virtualization tools, but it will not work very stably)
* there should have been a picture with a trolleybus from a loaf of bread *
7. If you are Richard Stollman or are kind to the GPL. Because yes. Violate. RouterOS is based on Linux, but what has been changed and how no one knows.
8. The minus from the user from the hub, expressed by him in one of the posts -
“DrDiza: I put clients in the office. for a small load - that’s it. set up and forgot. the minus is that these clients no longer call because everything works for them. and I’ve got less and less paid calls. ”
9. There is no "corporate" technical support and guarantees - it is not here that you replace the piece of iron with a new one within 2 hours. Or remotely connecting, configured something. Either deal with it yourself, or pay freelancers. In general, there is support, and if you do not need “here and now”, then it is quite possible it will suit you.
10. Small distribution of the brand is a significant enough minus. And it is for both consumers and professionals. Since RouterOS is poorly distributed, the demand for specialists versed in it is small. So it is for firms - if your network is built on this OS and then your system administrator has left, it will be more difficult for you to find a specialist who would understand this issue. And far from major cities, finding Mikrotik routers is sometimes quite a big problem.
That’s probably all, I’m waiting for your comments, questions and additions.
PS: Dear hub users, if you are comparing hardware, let's compare at least roughly the same price - no need to compare the hardware for 3000 rubles and the hardware for $ 3000 :)
