MikroTik

MikroTik
Type Limited company
Industry Networking hardware
Founded 1995
Headquarters Riga, Latvia
Products Routers, Firewalls
Employees 80
Website www.mikrotik.com

Mikrotīkls Ltd., known internationally as MikroTik, is a Latvian manufacturer of computer networking equipment. It sells wireless products and routers. The company was founded in 1995, with the intent to sell in the emerging wireless technology market. As of 2007, the company had more than 70 employees. The company's products are known as low-priced alternatives for expensive routers and Ethernet radio relay lines.

Contents

RouterOS

The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS. Installed on a personal computer or server computer, it turns the computer into a network router, implementing features such as firewall rules, virtual private network (VPN) server and client, bandwidth shaping and quality of service, wireless access point functions and other commonly used features for routing and interconnecting networks. The system is also able to serve as a captive-portal-based hotspot system. The operating system is licensed in increasing service levels, each releasing more of the available RouterOS features. A Windows software application called Winbox provides a graphical user interface for the RouterOS configuration and monitoring, but the software also allows connections via FTP, telnet, and secure shell (SSH). An Application Programming Interface is available for direct access from custom applications for management and monitoring.

Features

RouterOS supports many applications used by Internet service providers, for example OSPF, BGP, Multiprotocol Label Switching (VPLS/MPLS). The product is supported by Mikrotik through a forum and a wiki. providing assorted and thematic examples of configurations. RouterOS supports Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) as well as Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6).

The software provides support for virtually all network interfaces that the Linux kernel 2.6.16 supports, excepting wireless, where the Atheros and Prism chipsets are the only supported hardware, as of 3.x version.

Criticism

There have been issues raised over MikroTiks handling of its obligations under the GPL.[1][2]

Release dates of RouterOS

v5 - Mar 2010

v4 - Oct 2009

v3 - Jan 2008

RouterBOARD

The RouterOS, combined with their hardware product line, known as MikroTik RouterBOARD, is marketed at small to medium sized wireless Internet service providers, typically providing broadband wireless access in remote areas. Products include pre-assembled SOHO routers, wireless 802.11n MIMO and TDMA devices for indoor and outdoor use, and also bare PCB routers for integration into custom solutions.

Comparison of RouterBoards

Model CPU Mhz RAM (MB) Switch Chip Port Mirroring Host Table Vlan Table Rule Table Ethernets Expansion Slots USB Internal Storage Memory card Default RouterOs Level
RB250GS Taifatech TF470 5 x 10/100/1000 - - - - Mikrotik SwOS
RB411 Atheros AR7130 300 32 1 x 10/100 1 miniPCI - 64MB - Level3
RB411A Atheros AR7130 300 64 1 x 10/100 1 miniPCI - 64MB - Level4
RB411AR Atheros AR7131 300 64 1 x 10/100 1 miniPCI
(contains embedded AR2417 802.11b/g nic)		 - 64MB - Level4
RB411AH Atheros AR7161 680 64 1 x 10/100 1 miniPCI - 64MB - Level4
RB411U Atheros AR7130 300 32 1 x 10/100 1 miniPCI + SIM slot for 3G 1 64MB - Level4
RB411UAHR Atheros AR7131 680 64 1 x 10/100 1 miniPCI + SIM slot for 3G
(contains embedded AR2417 802.11b/g nic)		 - 64MB - Level4
RB433 Atheros AR7130 300 64 ICPlus175 No 0 0 0 3 x 10/100 3 miniPCI - 64MB - Level4
RB433AH Atheros AR7161 680 128 ICPlus175 No 0 0 0 3 x 10/100 3 miniPCI - 64MB microSD Level5
RB433UAH Atheros AR7161 680 128 ICPlus175 No 0 0 0 3 x 10/100 3 miniPCI 2(1) 512MB microSD Level5
RB435G Atheros AR7161 680 256 Atheros8316 Yes 2000 4096 32 3 x 10/100/1000 5 miniPCI 2(1) 128MB microSD Level5
RB450 Atheros AR7130 300 32 ICPlus175 Yes 0 0 0 5 x 10/100 - - 64MB - Level5
RB450G Atheros AR7161 680 256 Atheros8316 Yes 2000 4096 32 5 x 10/100/1000 - - 64MB microSD Level5
RB493 Atheros AR7130 300 64 ICPlus178 No 0 0 0 9 x 10/100 3 miniPCI - 64MB - Level4
RB493AH Atheros AR7161 680 128 ICPlus178 No 0 0 0 9 x 10/100 3 miniPCI - 64MB - Level5
RB493G Atheros AR7161 680 256 ICPlus178 No 0 0 0 9 x 10/100/1000 3 miniPCI 1 64MB microSD Level5
RB711-5Hn-M pending
RB711-5Hn-U pending
RB711A-5Hn-M pending
RB750 Atheros AR7240 300 32 Atheros7240 Yes 2000 16 No 5x 10/100 64 - Level4
RB750G Atheros AR7161 680 32 Atheros8316 Yes 2000 4096 32 5 x 10/100/1000 - 64 - Level4
RB800 PowerPC MPC8544 800 256 3 x 10/100/1000 4 miniPCI + 1 miniPCIe
+ 2 daughterboard connectors (PCI+PCI-e)		 - 64MB compactFlash Level6
RB1000 PowerPC MPC8547 800 512 4 x 10/100/1000 microSD Level6
RB1100 PowerPC MP8544 800 512 Atheros8316 Yes 2000 4096 32 13 x 10/100/1000 microSD Level6
RB1200 PowerPC PPC460GT 1000 512 10 x 10/100/1000/10000 64 Level6

(1) Supports 3G USB modem for backup internet connection

Use in developing IT markets

See also: Information and communication technologies for development

A recent project to build low-cost Internet infrastructure in Mali chose MikroTik routers and operating systems because of the system's cost, flexibility, the fact that the system already had "a substantial user base in Mali", and had a user interface deemed "superior to other products".[3] MikroTik routers were also preferred for a WLAN project in Burkina Faso,[4] and MikroTik's proprietary Nstreme protocol performed better than IEEE 802.11 under the project's conditions.[5]

In 2008, it was decided that MikroTik routers would also be used exclusively by the Municipality of Piripiri, Piauí State, Brazil, to build the infrastructure for providing free internet access.[6] MikroTik routers are also popular in the Czech Republic, where they enjoy a good reputation.[7]

Under OLPC program, Uruguay deployed a Nation-wide wireless network in Schools. Probably the largest Mikrotik deployment in a Country with a total population of 3 Million. Approximately 200,000 Students received a small laptop which connected to Mikrotik Access Points.

References

  1. ^ "Mikrotik source". http://lists.gpl-violations.org/pipermail/legal/2008-February/001233.html. 
  2. ^ "FW: Mikrotik source". http://lists.gpl-violations.org/pipermail/legal/2009-December/001756.html. 
  3. ^ Flickenger, Rob; et al. (December 2007) (PDF). Wireless Networking in the Developing World: A practical guide to planning and building low-cost telecommunications infrastructure (2nd ed. ed.). wndw.net. p. 321. OCLC 227819886. http://wndw.net/pdf/wndw2-en/wndw2-ebook.pdf. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
  4. ^ Langobardi, Federico (2007) (PDF). BoulSat Project: Radio network implementation by low cost technology. Master's Thesis, Politecnico di Torino. p. 78. http://isf-pisa.org/attivita/tesi/tesi-federico-longobardi/Final_Thesis.pdf. 
  5. ^ Bartalesi, R.; Catusian, S; Langobardi, F. (8 August 2007). "Radio Network Implementation by Low Cost Technology: a Case of Study" (PDF). Pisa: Ingegneria Senza Frontiere, University of Pisa. pp. 3–4. http://isf-pisa.org:9673/isf-pisa/Members/rph/wlan_article.pdf. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
  6. ^ Filho, Paiva (16 October 2008). "Secretário fala da implantação da internet grátis" (in Portuguese). meionorte.com (Jornal Meio Norte). http://www.meionorte.com/piaui,piripiri,Secretario--fala-da-implantacao-da-internet-gratis,62894.html. Retrieved 19 November 2008. "Diga-se de passagem, o que há de mais moderno em equipamentos para este seguimento, onde utilizaremos os rádios da Mikrotik." 
  7. ^ Štrauch, Adam (7 November 2008). "Mikrotik: seznámení s Wi-Fi krabičkou" (in Czech). Root.cz. http://www.root.cz/clanky/mikrotik-seznameni-s-wi-fi-krabickou/. Retrieved 19 November 2008. "Mikrotiky jsou velmi populární u poskytovatelů bezdrátového připojení a ohlasy od uživatelů jsou většinu kladné." 

External links