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Computer networks facilitate internal and external communication with devices such as routers, switches, and wireless equipment, as needed. Large brands and companies produce and market this hardware. One of these companies, a manufacturer of hardware products, is MikroTik Network, which initially developed a Linux-based operating system. In this article, we will review the types of devices and software.

When did Mikrotik enter the market, and with what products?

Founded in Latvia, in Eastern Europe, in 1996 by two American MIT students, it has since grown worldwide.

The first product the company launched was its own Mikrotik operating system, which is based on the Linux kernel. This operating system was installed on ordinary PCs.

The purpose of this product is to compete with large companies like Cisco, which have their products and operating systems. If you work in the field of networking, you must have heard of the Cisco brand once. The company has launched high-end and high-quality products, including routers, switches, and more.

Mikrotik’s main goal was to compete with this company, but at a lower price. Note, however, that the low cost of these products has not compromised their quality.

Therefore, in 2002, Microtek decided to enter the production phase of new hardware to enhance the stability of its operating system, which led to the development of products such as routers.

What are the essential features of the Mikrotik device?

Today, the use of these devices in the network has increased dramatically. The reason for the growth of this company is the following:

• The most important feature of this device, in our opinion, is its stability
• High speed on boot
• Automatic operation without the need to log in to any service
• High installation speed
• High configuration speed due to the graphical nature of the operating system
• Its settings can be imported and exported
• It is more economical than similar hardware models

What is MikroTik used for?

• Routing
• Firewall
• Quality of Service
• Load Balancing
• DHCP Server
• NAT (Network Address Translation)
• Proxy Server Wireless
• VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• MPLS
• Radius, User Management
• And hundreds more…

Winbox application for ease of use on Mikrotik routers

A unique program from Microtek for Windows is called Winbox. This program is a graphical user interface used to configure routers and monitor their functionality.

With this program, you can easily manage and monitor your router hardware.

Are MikroTik routers safe and secure?

Any system that is not adequately protected will be vulnerable to attack by hackers. It cannot be said that Mikrotik is unsafe or very safe. As the person in charge of the network, it is advisable to be aware of the following security issues to prevent being attacked by hackers.

• Use the name for the username.

Most Mikrotik users use names like admin, super admin, mikrotikadmin, and for the username, which is very wrong.

• Use of weak passwords

The truth is that we all know that using weak and publicly accessible passwords creates insecurity, yet we continue to do so.

To solve this problem, you must use strong passwords that include uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers.

• Enable remote DNS request.

By enabling remote DNS requests and configuring the DNS address on the device, you are effectively turning your router into a DNS server. Additionally, the primary purpose of this company was to reduce DNS resolution time.

We recommend enabling this feature only if you have a firewall role that allows it.

• Use default port numbers.

One of the reasons for hacking or network damage is the use of default ports. Hackers must enter the port number correctly to access your router. When these ports are off by default, you add an extra layer of security to prevent malware from entering.

• There were no firewall rules.

Most users of these roles either ignore the rules or disable them. This is incorrect and can lead to security vulnerabilities in your network. Failure to enable this feature will result in severe damage to your network.

Does Mikrotik need a license?

MikroTik devices are pre-licensed and do not require additional purchases.. Additionally, for specific actions and to obtain a higher-level license or installation on an x86 PC, you must register an account on the Mikrotik website and use the “Buy RouterOS license” option there.

What is Radio Mikrotik?

Mikrotikradios are used to send and share information over long distances.

What is Microtek Wireless Radio?

Mikrotik wireless radios are one of the most widely used network devices, providing the ability to receive and send data over both long and short distances. Additionally, wireless radios can cover a significantly larger area of the network.

Note: Also, these wireless radios are used to transmit CCTV images or send information over long distances.

What are Mikrotik training courses?

Now that we know what Mikrotik is and its uses, let’s move on to courses on routers and these products.

The company has developed educational topics to help users become familiar with the performance of its operating system, which is available in 7 groups and three different levels: Basic, Semi-Professional, and Professional.

Mikrotik router training courses

• MTCNA – MikroTik Certified Network Associate
• MTCRE – MikroTik Certified Routing Engineer
• MTCWE – MikroTik Certified Wireless Engineer
• MTCTCE – MikroTik Certified Traffic Control Engineer
• MTCUME – MikroTik Certified User Management Engineer
• MTCINE – MikroTik Certified Inter-networking Engineer
• MTCIPv6E – MikroTik Certified IPv6 Engineer

Conclusion

You must use built-in devices to communicate both within and outside the network. One of the key companies in the manufacturing of this equipment is Mikrotik Company. The company has its hardware and software, including an operating system. If you are a network technician, be sure to use this device to set up your network.