MicroTik RB411U -- Setup ?

[MidnightWizard]

I might inherit one of these from a junk pile
No idea if it works or not but worth a try
Looks like a really nice neat little device

I have had a look at the MikroTik site but unfortunately no FULL manual available

https://mikrotik.com/product/RB411U

Is there anyone using one of these here in sunny SA ?
Would appreciate some links suggestions for testing it and getting it set up

 

[Genisys]

I might inherit one of these from a junk pile
No idea if it works or not but worth a try
Looks like a really nice neat little device

I have had a look at the MikroTik site but unfortunately no FULL manual available

https://mikrotik.com/product/RB411U

Is there anyone using one of these here in sunny SA ?
Would appreciate some links suggestions for testing it and getting it set up

What are you planning on doing with it? You can see if you can join a local wug (if you have LOS, and a wireless card for the Mikrotik). Otherwise most WISPs these days prefer Ubiqiti or cambium products.

 

[MidnightWizard]

Play makes the day gay

Basically just see if I can get the thing working
Then "play" with it and see how I can incorporate it into my wider / bigger network
Hands on and especially success with different hardware and different platforms is always useful

 

[Genisys]

Basically just see if I can get the thing working
Then "play" with it and see how I can incorporate it into my wider / bigger network
Hands on and especially success with different hardware and different platforms is always useful

In that case, reset it, plug it in, download winbox and explore. Best way to learn is by playing in this instance. Follow the Wiki if you have something specific in mind.

 

[MidnightWizard]

MicroTik -- external antennas 3G and WiFi

Not quite on track but very similar questions re external antennas

I acquired a MicroTik RB411U 411-5nH that was being thrown out

See my thread here ... https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/934760-MicroTik-RB411U-Setup

Seems there is actually still life in the old girl -- she fires up and all the indicator lights look good , although I think I still need to install RouterOS ?

There is both a WiFi as well as 3G card plus SIM card in the machine
It has two connectors for attaching external antennas ( the bolted connector with a pigtail where you use a screw on external antenna )
Unfortunately although there should be TWO antennas there is only one that survived and came with the unit ( two antenna connection points ) which looks like it should be for the WiFi ?
The WiFi card has place for TWO antennas as does the 3G card
BUT
There are only TWO connection points on the metal case enclosure for external antennas

How does one go about providing all of the necessary antenna connection points ? ( BOTH 3G as well as WiFi )

Where can one purchase the correct type of external antenna / antenna connection point / any wire (pig ) leads to connect it all up.

Is there a diagram / instruction as to how this should all look and be connected up ?

I would really like to get this unit back into 100% running condition ......

 

[Hamish McPanji]

There should be a router OS installed on it already. Plug it in via ethernet and see what it does . If it assigns you an ip then you will likely have the router address as your gateway.

Try and login using the default credentials. You can also get the Mac address and use Mac telnet to login if you can't get the ip

You can reset using : http://www.mikrotik.com.my/reset-to-factory-default-settings/

You can use winbox to configure

If you must install a new routerOS the hard way, you can use netinstall : https://www.google.co.za/amp/www.mi...ng-mikrotik-routeros-without-serial-port/amp/

But that's going a bit far.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Not quite on track but very similar questions re external antennas



There is both a WiFi as well as 3G card plus SIM card in the machine
It has two connectors for attaching external antennas ( the bolted connector with a pigtail where you use a screw on external antenna )
Unfortunately although there should be TWO antennas there is only one that survived and came with the unit ( two antenna connection points ) which looks like it should be for the WiFi ?
The WiFi card has place for TWO antennas as does the 3G card
BUT
There are only TWO connection points on the metal case enclosure for external antennas

How does one go about providing all of the necessary antenna connection points ? ( BOTH 3G as well as WiFi )

Where can one purchase the correct type of external antenna / antenna connection point / any wire (pig ) leads to connect it all up.

Is there a diagram / instruction as to how this should all look and be connected up ?

I would really like to get this unit back into 100% running condition ......

You can get the antenna and connectors for both 3G and wireless from scoop (https://scoop.co.za/products/wireless-networking/ )or uniterm ( https://shop.dbg.co.za/wireless/ ). Uniterm give a mybb discount if you ask them

They both deal mikrotik, so they will know what you want.

A picture might help

 

[MidnightWizard]

Picture

A picture might help

As requested



Hope this clarifies

As you can see only two external antenna connectors but the WiFi card as well as the 3G card both have TWO antenna connectors
Some newer WiFi cards ( INTEL ) have THREE antenna connectors

 

[MidnightWizard]

Putting the pieces together ......

There should be a router OS installed on it already. Plug it in via ethernet and see what it does . If it assigns you an ip then you will likely have the router address as your gateway.
If you must install a new routerOS the hard way, you can use netinstall : https://www.google.co.za/amp/www.mi...ng-mikrotik-routeros-without-serial-port/amp/

But that's going a bit far.

Thanks for the tips

The ETH0/1 works OK I get green lights on both ends
Serial also works OK
I can get a RouterBOOT menu to come up and access the menu options
However if I leave it to boot through it appears there is NO RouterOS ( just loops back to RouterBOOT menu )

I see from the wiki that the default IP address on the ether1 port is 192.168.88.1 /24

I think that I will have to have a shot with the netinstall

I am used to doing all this stuff on Cisco -- will just have to re-learn some stuff ...

 

[sajunky]

I have had a look at the MikroTik site but unfortunately no FULL manual available

https://mikrotik.com/product/RB411U

Unfortunately, there is nothing for the latest models too.
Just generic Linux-style RouterOS manual and online only!

It means it needs hands on experience to see what is available on this particular piece of hardware. If you are familar with a chipset, it would bring you immediately to the next level.

Download the latest firmware first. Donate.

 

[sajunky]

I can get a RouterBOOT menu to come up and access the menu options
However if I leave it to boot through it appears there is NO RouterOS ( just loops back to RouterBOOT menu )

Corrupt firmware image, just bootloader, you need to flash a new RouterOS. Maybe google for recovery image too.

 

[MidnightWizard]

Who Perseveres Wins ....

Corrupt firmware image, just bootloader, you need to flash a new RouterOS. Maybe google for recovery image too.

OK
Thanks
Did the reset story
Used NetInstall to load new RouterOS
Then used XMODEM to install new firmware via RouterBOOT
Then used WINBOX to set IP address on LAN interface ( had to use the MAC address initially )
NOW
Just need into on ANTENNAS before connecting up the WLAN / WWAN cards

Looks good so far

ANY ideas ...........
WHERE are the MicroTik REPS when you need them ..........

 

[Genisys]

Email the suppliers, that will be able to give you quotes...

 

[MidnightWizard]

Hungry

Email the suppliers, that will be able to give you quotes...

Thanks
It kinda makes life easier if they are already on the board
I would think that these days companies are HUNGRY for business ?

 

[sajunky]

Uniterm Direct rep is still on the forum. PM kernel
Last week I received very good prices for the stuff I wanted (special MyBB discount).

Now a new MikroTik cAP AC - 802.11ac Access Point is coming next month, at a half price of Ubiquiti AC-LITE and has extra Gigabit Ethernet port for connecting other devices. Maybe I will buy one...

https://shop.dbg.co.za/rbcapgi-5acd2nd.html

 

[MidnightWizard]

Modify Upgrade = Happiness

Uniterm Direct rep is still on the forum. PM kernel
Last week I received very good prices for the stuff I wanted (special MyBB discount).

Thanks I will look into that
I think I need to contact the WUGs as they work with this stuff every day.

I am thinking of making up a better enclosure
Also need upgraded WiFi and LTE wireless cards

Perhaps you have -- contacts .. :erm:

Will send PM

 

[MidnightWizard]

UPDATE -- Everything working need to check the config ( Any MikroTik Gurus ? )

OK
Next stage in the saga
I am only running the WiFi card for now to keep things simple
I managed to acquire some second hand antennas for the WiFi as well as a nice AC / DC power adapter.

Got all the hardware up and running OK with the latest RouterOS and Firmware
I have the device plugged into my Cisco Gigabyte switch acting as an AP on its own VLAN

I spent quite a bit of time getting to know my way around Winbox and the Console
I have a config that appears to be working but no idea if this is as it should be -- proper industry practice ?
I have set out the scenario below hoping someone can suggest a config ( after which I will post what I have set up and which appears to be working )

The MikroTik is VERY different to the Cisco AP which I have set up successfully
There are no IP's set on any interfaces except for the BVI which is attached to my management VLAN

As far as I can work out the MikroTik has to have Internet addresses associated with interfaces ?
The problem is that the RB411 has only ONE Ethernet interface which has to carry ether1 as well as wlan1 as well as some sort of management.

MikroTik seem to default everything to VLAN 1 which is the default VLAN to which everything can attach.
I am using a different VLAN as my management VLAN ( native VLAN in Cisco speak )
They also seem to want you to have a distinct Lan and WAN interface ?

This is the scenario

Use the RB411 as an access point using wlan1 ( WLAN card plus antenna is set up OK )
ALL routing and switching is done within the rest if the Cisco network so the MikroTik just has to attach to the switch as a type of "slave" device.
There is a further problem in the sense that the management VLAN is UNTAGGED and for safety reasons is not open to the Internet
The other interfaces wlan1 and ether1 will have TAGGED VLAN
This really only leaves the Bridge as an interface for an UNTAGGED VLAN / IP ?
MikroTik have a default VLAN of 1 set on any bridge ( cannot have 0 )

In essence there needs to be some sort of a TRUNK connection ( the Cisco AP also works like this with a Trunk )

A trunk port has been set on the Cisco switch for the MikroTik to attach to.

In the Cisco AP scenario one does not access any of the Radio interfaces directly ( no direct IP on interface ) but ONLY through the BVI ( for management -- same as with switches for which one sets a default gateway )
MikroTik sets DYNAMIC default routes and gateways.


SO
HOW would one go about setting up something like this ?
I have googled but can find no direct references for such a solution on an RB4!!

I am happy working in either Winbox or the Terminal ( CLI ) and will provide my working ? config to see how what I have done compares with what and how the Gurus would have done it .... ?
HINT: Did not use any stand alone VLAN interfaces.
RouterOS is more full of tricks , traps , gotchas , deadends , cup-de-sacs and false trails than a bag full of monkeys

 

[sajunky]

I can't comment on Mikrotik, but it looks like a similar problem to the other products where management is hardwired to the untagged VLAN1.

A typical solution (esp. when interfacing with Cisco) is to avoid VLAN1 for any user traffic. If your WLAN interface do generate a tagged VLAN and some untagged traffic, convert all untagged traffic to a second VLAN (different than VLAN1). On a typical managed switch it is made by assigning PVID on the ingress port a VLAN#. Any untagged frames entering such a port will receive VLAN# tags. So yes, if the outgress port is tagged for these VLANs, it will be a trunking (there is no separate clasification of a port as a trunking or access port).

However when looking for solutions, it looks like on the Mikrotik you will be doing bridging instead:

https://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?t=46399
https://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?t=43096

 

[MidnightWizard]

Thanks -- but not yet "Golden" ....

I can't comment on Mikrotik, but it looks like a similar problem to the other products where management is hardwired to the untagged VLAN1.

Thanks for reply
Problem with RouterOS is that there have been many changes to the OS over time
Such that a solution that worked in 2010 will be done differently in 2018

I am using a VLAN different to VLAN 1 as my management VLAN ( untagged ) so understand that part of it )

I did discover the two links you posted -- both helpful but not quite what I have done.

ALL my addresses are private except for those given at connection by ADSL ISP
MY main router takes care of this -- NAT / Routing / Route Maps / VLAN's ( I am using static addresses but would enable the DHCP on the main router ( when I get around to it )

I have both a Cisco AP ( running in autonomous mode -- no money for a Wireless controller ) as well as a Huawei B3i5 ( on LTE ) attached to the network.
( All on their own VLAN's -- all working fine -- Two VLAN's on the Cisco as it has Two radios )

The Mikrotik is attached to one of the VLAN's that did not yet have Wireless access.

Was hoping for input from one of the MikroTik gurus -- there are a number here ......

 

[oldBastard]

You are looking for this method.