Switch your RouterBoard

Daniel Starnowski
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Switch chip on MikroTik RouterBoard

It is really easy!
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RouterBoard just an example
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OSI layers

Switch operates on layer and

!orwards ethernet !rames "etween
ports

Router operates on layer # and

!orwards I$ packets decapsulatin%
them !rom !rames
&ayer ' ( data I$ header M)* header *R*
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RouterBoard the anatomy
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RouterBoard ports and inter!aces
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RouterBoard a routin% scenario
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RouterBoard a "rid%e
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RouterBoard I$ address on a "rid%e
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RB+,, the per!ormance

!ast path-
.,/++ M"ps with ,/++ B packets
.,/+ M"ps with 0' B packets

without !ast path-

.,+++ M"ps with ,/++ B packets
./+ M"ps with 0' B packets
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RouterBoard 1&)2 "rid%in%
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RouterBoard 1&)2 "rid%in% con!i%

*reate 1&)2 vlan33eth1 with ta%

## on inter!ace ether,

*reate 1&)2 vlan33eth2 on ether

*reate "rid%e vlan33

)dd ports 3lan##eth,4 3lan##eth

and ether# to the "rid%e 3lan##
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RB+,, 1&)2 "rid%in% test

5 di!!erent streams

Only ,/++ B packets

5 x , M"ps ,6 packet loss

7total 890 M"ps:

5 x 0+ M"ps +4,6 packet loss

7total 480 Mbps:
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The answer the switch chip
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The switch chip

)lmost e3ery new RouterBoard with

multiple ethernet inter!aces is
e;uipped with a switch chip

<ardware switch without usin% *$=

>rom ROS 30 1&)2 trunkin% is

possi"le
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Switch chips in MikroTik de3ices

)theros 5#,0

)theros 5#9

)theros 59

)theros 9'+

other
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?hat chip does my RouterBoard ha3e@
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<ow to turn the switch chip on@
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<ow to turn the switch chip on@
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)cti3atin% the switch chip

I! we set Amaster portB on ether to

Aether,B4 we will acti3ate the switch
chipC

<ow many ports will "e acti3e on the

chip@
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*onnections without usin% the chip
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)cti3atin% the switch chip
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Switch chip the master port

Master port only in the same chip

Only , master port possi"le !or a chip

The master and Asla3eB ports are

e;ual !or the switch chip

Only one di!!erence the inter!ace4

the chip will "e 3isi"le on
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Switch chip port names
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Switch chip port names

The same names-

interfaces seen !rom the *$=

7ether,4 ether4 CCC:

physical ports seen !rom the chip

7ether,4 ether4 CCC:

Only one connection "etween the chip

7the cpu port: and the *$= 7master port:
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De!ault con!i%uration o! switch chip
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De!ault con!i%uration o! switch chip

In RouterBoards like +,, or 8/,

ether, %ateway port 7not included

in the switch %roup:

etherDether/ switched ports

ether master port4 used when

con!i%urin% I$ address4 "rid%e4 etcC
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1&)2 "rid%in% the so!tware 3ersion
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1&)2 "rid%in% with the switch chip
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Switch chip preparin% the 3lans
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Switch chip preparin% the 3lans

1lan settin%s not important as lon% as

VLA Mo!e is !isable! 7de!ault:

Independent learnin% when some

M)*s can "e 3isi"le on di!!erent
ports in di!!erent 3lans

Eeeps separate ta"le !or the 1&)2

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Switch chip the trunk port
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Switch chip the access port
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Switch chip trunk and access ports

Trunk port-

Mode- secure

<eader- a!! if "issin#

)ccess port-

Mode- secure

<eader- always strip

De!ault 1&)2 ID 7aCkCaC $1ID:

2o Ahy"ridB ports!
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Switch chip the speed test
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Switch chip the speed test

?ith "rid%in% more than +C,6 loss

3isi"le with 5F0+ G 480 Mbps 7and
*$= . /+6:

Switch chip almost no loss with

5F'8+ M"ps G 3$20 Mbps 7' ports
wire spee!:4 *$= unchan%ed

>rom ROS 0C/ port stats a3aila"le

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Switch chip
port stats

>rom ROS 0C/

stats a3aila"le
!or the switch
ports 7tra!!ic
doesnHt need to
%o throu%h
*$=
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Switch chip routin% the 1&)2s
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Switch chip routin% the 1&)2s

Include cpu in selected 1&)2s

con!i%uration on the switch chip

*han%e 1&)2 Mode to secure

7header can "e leave as is:

)dd 1&)2 inter!aces on the master

port 7in the example ether,:
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?hat i! ether# was the master port@
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<osts ta"le
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Switch chipHs limitations

Mirrorin% copies o! all !rames 7in

and out: !rom source sent to tar#et

Rules i! we want to mirror or "lock

7etcC: a selected packets
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Thank you!

I told you it was easy!