What is Mikrotik?
Mikrotik is a Latvian company that develops network hardware and software. Their products are used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), network administrators, and businesses to manage connectivity, security, and network performance. Mikrotik devices are known for being affordable, highly flexible, and packed with enterprise-grade features, making them suitable for various network environments.
What is RouterOS?
RouterOS is Mikrotik’s operating system, powering all their routers and network devices. It offers a wide range of networking features, including:
- Networking & Routing: Supports static and dynamic Routing.
- Firewall & Security: Includes packet filtering, NAT, and DDoS protection.
- Wireless & Hotspot: Allows AP mode, client mode, and Wireless mesh setups.
- Bandwidth Management: Uses queueing and traffic shaping to optimize network usage.
- VPN & Remote Access: Supports PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, and IPSec VPN.
- Load Balancing & Failover: Ensures network redundancy and reliability.
- Network Monitoring & Logging: Provides tools for troubleshooting and performance optimization.
RouterOS also offers key features like command line and GUI access (via CLI, WinBox, or Webfig), robust Firewall and security tools, traffic control through Bandwidth Management, VPN support for secure remote access, Wireless management for AP or mesh networks, dynamic Routing (OSPF, BGP, RIP), Hotspot and captive portal functionality, and logging and monitoring tools for better network insights.
Mikrotik Hardware Overview
Mikrotik provides a variety of hardware devices, such as:
- RouterBOARD Series: Standalone routers with different capabilities.
- Cloud Core Routers (CCR): High-performance routers for large networks.
- Cloud Smart Switches (CSS): Managed switches with VLAN and QoS features.
- hAP Series: Compact routers for home or office use with Wireless support.
- LHG & SXT Series: Wireless devices for long-range connectivity.
- RB Series: Versatile routers for ISPs and enterprise networks.
RouterOS Licensing & Updates
RouterOS has different licensing levels, each offering specific features:
- Level 3: Basic Routing and Wireless client mode.
- Level 4: Adds Wireless AP support.
- Levels 5 & 6: Include advanced Routing and enterprise features.
To update RouterOS, follow these steps: