Tag Archives: hardware

Routerboard 10Gbps capable hardware coming soon?

This was spotted today in the Mikrotik Wiki’s supported hardware list.

Brand Model Rate Connector/Cable Type Wavelength Tested with Works/Doesn’t
MikroTik RB SFP3401 10/100/1000 RJ45, Cat6 RB2011LS-IN Works. Available in Q3!
MikroTik RB SFP5602D-53 155M~2.63G Bi-Di LC, MM 1550/1310 RB2011LS-IN Works. Available in Q3!
MikroTik RB SFP5602D-35 155M~2.63G Bi-Di LC, MM 1310/1550 RB2011LS-IN Works. Available in Q3!
MikroTik RB SFP3420D 1,25G LC, MM 1310 RB2011LS-IN Works. Available in Q3!
MikroTik RB SFP3903D 10G LC, MM 850 RB2011LS-IN and TBA Works. Available in Q3!

.. wait what?

RB SFP3903D listed as 10G and working in a yet to be announced product (TBA).

Are they  referring to another as yet unannounced model of the CCR or something entirely new? More info here as we find it!

Update: Relevant reading from Tilera – http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Tileras-TILE-Gx-MikroTiks-RouterOS-Unleash-Worlds-First-36-Core-Cloud-Core-Router-1678838.htm 

This would lead us to believe the SFP in question is a 10Gig SFP+ module intended to work in an as yet unannounced CCR model,  joy to the routing world!

MikroTik Cloud Core Router: CCR-1036 (Updated)

Announced less than 24 hours ago at the Warsaw MUM, comes the first (and hopefully not the last) MikroTik shot at high end routing.

Update 2012-07-16: Tilera has made a press release confirming their processors will be used in the CCR-1036. You can read the full thing here.

 

Mikrotik CLOUD CORE Router CCR-1036

  • 36 core networking CPU (1.2Ghz per core)
  • New 64bit processor – assuming this one
  • New Future models will support 10Gig SFP+ configurations
  • 12 Mbytes total on-chip cache
  • High speed encryption engine
  • 4 x SFP ports
  • 12 x Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • Colour Touchscreen LCD
  • 1U Rackmount case
  • 16 Gigabit throughput
  • 15 Million+ Packets Per Second on Fast-Path
  • 8 Million+ Packets Per Second on Standard-Path
  • All ports directly connected to CPU (We assuming this means no switch chips will be present)

The release date is said to be sometime this summer however given previous releases the authors opinion is to take this with a grain of salt. A redundant PSU version is also said to be planned for those requiring higher reliability given the high performance/throughput of the device.   The router is suspected to be based of the TILE-Gx8036 processor, a 36 core beast built for networking applications.

Here’s Gregs take on it all: http://gregsowell.com/?p=3625

 

My Opinions (Andrew Cox / Omega-00)

While I’m super excited about the prospect of something that’s able to handle routing at wirespeed + likely a bunch of firewall, filter and QoS settings; I’m also a little concerned about how the CPU loading will take place and if there will be any additional failsafes put in place to make this product as reliable as it needs to be.

Given we’re still at a place where we can’t get support and maintenance contracts from MikroTik, the platform needs to be as stable as a rock and while I find this is pretty much the case with all basic features there’s still some overlooked issues that pop up over time with specific features causing memory leaks and the like.

At present I’ve taken a liking to running systems either with:

a) a remote access card allowing direct console input and the ability to power cycle the router independently of it being responsive.

b) ESXi as the base OS and RouterOS running on top of this to allow an extra layer of protection and management (also gives the ability to backup and restore in the event a version upgrade goes bad) c) Dual boot loader, allowing fallback to a previous working version in the event of some sort of bootup failure. My guesstimate on pricing: $1500-$1800USD

 

My Opinions (Andrew Thrift):

This is a move in the right direction for Mikrotik.  The Cloud Core product line will provide a viable alternative to the Juniper MX5 and Cisco ASR-900x series of routers for ethernet based enterprise and small ISP networks. It will also provide users with a Mikrotik supported platform that can provide over 10gigabit of throughput, where previously they were forced to use a 3rd party x86 server.

Based on the information released so far, this product appears to be:

– Using the new Tilera GX8036 processor

– Using the 6windgate software  a replacement for the Linux networking stack Confirmed false by 6windgate. 

These will allow Mikrotik the following features

Edit: While 6windgate software is not being used for this, it is likely we may see some of these features regardless from MikroTik direclty.

– Allocation of Tiles to different functions e.g. 1st tile can be used for “Control” while next 6 tiles are used for packet processing

– Fast Path packet processing, on the first pass packets are inspected (slow path), while subsequent flows do not need to be inspected so do not reach the CPU. This will boost raw throughput, and will integrate with Queue Trees, allowing for very efficient traffic shaping systems.

– Hardware based “virtualisation” – Multiple instances of RouterOS will be able to run on a group of Tiles at native speed, no hypervisor required. This allows for native performance as there is no hypervisor.

 

A design change with the new Cloud Core Routers, Mikrotik look to have FINALLY moved to using a standard metal casing with a printed plastic sticker with cutouts for the connectors.  I hope this is adopted across the RB2011 line, it makes the products look far more professional, and will of course lower manufacturing costs due to not needing to retool for different model variations.

 

In the future I hope to see a modular Cloud Core Router product that can take two PSU’s, either AC or DC and has flexible module bays, with options such as 2x SFP+, 8x SFP, 8xRJ45 this will allow providers to build resilient MPLS networks on modern high speed links, find use in the modern data centre, and allow use for Metro Ethernet applications.

The death and resurrection of an RB450

Recently I’ve had 2 RB450’s come across my desk as “dead” units.

1 was the victim of a power surge, the other had just stopped working at some point.
As these were both going to visit the bin otherwise, I claimed both units in the hope that I might be able to use my limited grasp of electronics to fix them.

As it turns out thou, both had exactly the same problem.. namely busted capacitors.

This iswhat broken capacitors look like! (pop-tops)

So, I checked the specifications on the popped caps and picked up the closest suitable replacments I could find:

Originals: 6.3v 560uF

Replacements: 10v 470uF (20 cents each)

Used soldering iron and some wick to remove the solder on the existing ones, popped em out and swapped in the new.

Hey Presto, working RB450!

Repair job glamour shot!

There’s a thread on the mikrotik forums about other people having similar problems, which seems to have been traced back to a batch of bad caps.

Either way, handy for anyone who has a dead one that’s either out of warranty or you’re too lazy to RMA 🙂