The official Mikrotik router thread

The RB750Gr3 is looking like the best option so far.....
Same as what you looking for but the hEXs as I power it with a PoE switch and dont have to have the stupid PSU in my cab. Am still hoping to use the SFP slot one day and get rid of the Telkom ONT. So yours takes passive PoE and has no SFP slot, but otherwise the same.
 
Same as what you looking for but the hEXs as I power it with a PoE switch and dont have to have the stupid PSU in my cab. Am still hoping to use the SFP slot one day and get rid of the Telkom ONT. So yours takes passive PoE and has no SFP slot, but otherwise the same.

I don't see the FNOs allowing consumers to plug fibre directly into the SPF slot anytime soon, so no point getting a Mikrotik with an SPF slot. Also I've got a dedicated POE switch, so no need for POE output either. I think the RB750GR3 will suit me just fine.
 
I don't see the FNOs allowing consumers to plug fibre directly into the SPF slot anytime soon, so no point getting a Mikrotik with an SPF slot. Also I've got a dedicated POE switch, so no need for POE output either. I think the RB750GR3 will suit me just fine.
Agreed my SFP slot continues to collect dust, but just to clarify I power the unit with active PoE. So if you wanted to do the same and ditch the PSU your switch must have passive PoE out to work with the hEX. Thats the main reason I bought the hEXs for the small additional cost, my switch doesnt have passive output.
 
Okay so I have been researching for a new router and network setup for a while now. I have recently moved on from a 10mbps adsl line to Rain 5g and also have an installation planned for a vumareach fibre line this week. Now this, coupled with renovations im planning on in next few months, has meant i need to get to a point where im bedding down my network design so as to then move onto procuring the hardware etc.

Current Setup:
  • Asus AC52U ADSL Modem/Router
  • Wired Network with Home PC, LitBox (Android Box), 2X DSTV PVR, Hikvsion NVR including 7 cameras (i have a cheapy dumb mini switch somewhere in the mix)
  • Wireless devices including cellphones, tablets, laptops etc

Future Setup (Plans in not to distant future):
  • Wired network to all rooms in the house with CAT6 (about 15 - 20 ports)
  • Home assistant server running on a virtual machine and some Rpi's for messing around with.
  • Hikvision NVR
  • NAS
I have gone through unifi (where i have a crush on the UDM Pro) and full kit including unifi protect with cameras (where i chuck out my hikvision setup), but this is going to cost an arm and a leg. I also looked at pfsense a bit.

but im leaning towards a mikrotik solution with an RB4011 with perhaps the CRS328 (i know - overkill). My intention is to rackmount it in a study/server room. I will pair these with UNBT AP's.

only thing holding me back in pulling the trigger is the learning curve in understanding routerOS. ive started reading up and watching some tutorials but its difficult not having a device to lab test with.

my core requirements that i would need to do is:
  • Dual wan with failover for unbalanced WAN connections (with rain being CGNAT and vumareach you are not able to access router settings)
  • VLANs for segmented networks for IOT, guest etc
  • VPN functionality (hoping mikrotik releases something for wireguard)
so yeh, any advice? I am not an network expert and a complete novice to these things
 
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Okay so I have been researching for a new router and network setup for a while now. I have recently moved on from a 10mbps adsl line to Rain 5g and also have an installation planned for a vumareach fibre line this week. Now this, coupled with renovations im planning on in next few months, has meant i need to get to a point where im bedding down my network design so as to then move onto procuring the hardware etc.

Current Setup:
  • Asus AC52U ADSL Modem/Router
  • Wired Network with Home PC, LitBox (Android Box), 2X DSTV PVR, Hikvsion NVR including 7 cameras
  • Wireless devices including cellphones, tablets, laptops etc

Future Setup (Plans in not to distant future):
  • Wired network to all rooms in the house with CAT6 (about 15 - 20 ports)
  • Home assistant server running on a virtual machine and some Rpi's for messing around with.
  • Hikvision NVR
  • NAS
I have gone through unifi (where i have a crush on the UDM Pro) and full kit including unifi protect with cameras (where i chuck out my hikvision setup), but this is going to cost an arm and a leg. I also looked at pfsense a bit.

but im leaning towards a mikrotik solution with an RB4011 with perhaps the CRS328 (i know - overkill). My intention is to rackmount it in a study/server room. I will pair these with UNBT AP's.

only thing holding me back in pulling the trigger is the learning curve in understanding routerOS. ive started reading up and watching some tutorials but its difficult not having a device to lab test with.

my core requirements that i would need to do is:
  • Dual wan with failover for unbalanced WAN connections (with rain being CGNAT and vumareach you are not able to access router settings)
  • VLANs for segmented networks for IOT, guest etc
  • VPN functionality (hoping mikrotik releases something for wireguard)
so yeh, any advice? I am not an network expert and a complete novice to these things

I have an old hAP lite lying around that im not using that i can send to you -> postnet to postnet. You can use that to learn some of the basics. I found TKSJA's videos on Youtube the easiest to follow and he covers a wide range of topics.
 
I have an old hAP lite lying around that im not using that i can send to you -> postnet to postnet. You can use that to learn some of the basics. I found TKSJA's videos on Youtube the easiest to follow and he covers a wide range of topics.
Wow really ,thanks!? - cool - will PM you, let me know how much you want for it. Yes i followed his videos - alot of tutorials seem to be foreign languages though! will give it a go..
 
Wow really ,thanks!? - cool - will PM you, let me know how much you want for it. Yes i followed his videos - alot of tutorials seem to be foreign languages though! will give it a go..

If you don't want to wait you can create a virtual machine with RouterOS for 8 hours.
 
If you don't want to wait you can create a virtual machine with RouterOS for 8 hours.
interesting, that seems like beyond my effort willingness lol, my old pc only has an 10/100mbps NIC not sure how much i will be able to play around with in setting things up.
 
interesting, that seems like beyond my effort willingness lol, my old pc only has an 10/100mbps NIC not sure how much i will be able to play around with in setting things up.
There is a free version of Mikrotik CHR available you can run in a virtual Machine. It will show you how it all works.
 
Comments on the CAP aC vs UNBT NanoHD if I plan to use a Rb4011? What are the benefits of running the CAP aC via CapsMan (which i understand is like a controller but know nothing about)

Im hitting about 400mbps on Rain at the moment and my ASUS consumer grade router is limiting me to about 200mbps close to the router at the moment.

if i build by network in stages i thought of getting the Rb4011 and 1 AP and then go from there.
 
Comments on the CAP aC vs UNBT NanoHD if I plan to use a Rb4011? What are the benefits of running the CAP aC via CapsMan (which i understand is like a controller but know nothing about)

Im hitting about 400mbps on Rain at the moment and my ASUS consumer grade router is limiting me to about 200mbps close to the router at the moment.

if i build by network in stages i thought of getting the Rb4011 and 1 AP and then go from there.
Its simple, don't use Mikrotik for Wireless. Thank me for that later.
 
Its simple, don't use Mikrotik for Wireless. Thank me for that later.

i Laugh but this is the prevailing advice on here. Mikrotik great for routing and switching, Unifi great for Wireless.

Not to say Mikrotik cant do wireless - its just not as user friendly (word of mouth)
 
i Laugh but this is the prevailing advice on here. Mikrotik great for routing and switching, Unifi great for Wireless.

Not to say Mikrotik cant do wireless - its just not as user friendly (word of mouth)
Sad because thought they would have caught up by now. Price also good on their AP. But I shall trust you guys..
 
Lol is it that bad..
Mikrotik wifi isnt bad at all, its just not as user friendly and intuitive as Ubiquiti.
That isnt limited to wifi either, pretty much every product between the two companies is the same.
Of course having more settings in Mikrotik means you can really fine tune things but precious few people actually need that.
 
Mikrotik wifi isnt bad at all, its just not as user friendly and intuitive as Ubiquiti.
That isnt limited to wifi either, pretty much every product between the two companies is the same.
Of course having more settings in Mikrotik means you can really fine tune things but precious few people actually need that.
Quiet the opposite. People have been complaining about the performance of their ARM based AC kit for years now, and its not even settings related. Most WISP's are moving away from Mikrotik for wireless, way better options out there for wireless. When 2GHz was still the best and only option for Wireless Mikrotik was good. same goes for normal 5GHz. Once we got AC they just fell behind. For routing Mikrotik is good. For Wireless its not.
 
Agreed my SFP slot continues to collect dust, but just to clarify I power the unit with active PoE. So if you wanted to do the same and ditch the PSU your switch must have passive PoE out to work with the hEX. Thats the main reason I bought the hEXs for the small additional cost, my switch doesnt have passive output.
If you already have a unit with the sfp slot and would like to make use of it you can try a sfp to rj45 adapter. If its 10gb sfp+ you get 10g base-t adapters as well. Albeit a bit more expensive.
 
So - the RB4011 is hopefully on its way - second hand deal. planning to pair with a NanoHD AP. havent touch mikrotik before so this should be interesting..planning to install the RB, add the AP, then add a Rain 5g and 20mbps vumareach fibre line loadbalanced.

once that is working i will try to setup VPN.

Long term its setting up a wireguard VPS to get around CGNAT/Double NAT.
 
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