7-4 Real-World Case Studies Explained

Key Concepts

Real-World Case Studies in MikroTik RouterOS provide practical examples of how to apply traffic control techniques to solve specific network challenges. These case studies help learners understand the practical application of theoretical knowledge and gain insights into real-world scenarios.

1. Bandwidth Management in a Corporate Network

In a corporate network, managing bandwidth is crucial to ensure that critical applications like VoIP and video conferencing receive the necessary resources while less critical traffic is managed efficiently. This case study involves setting up Hierarchical Token Bucket (HTB) and Class-Based Queuing (CBQ) to prioritize traffic.

For example, you can create a root class with a total bandwidth of 100 Mbps. Under this root class, you can create inner classes for different types of traffic, such as High Priority (VoIP and video conferencing), Medium Priority (web browsing and email), and Low Priority (file transfers and backups). Each inner class can have its own bandwidth allocation and token bucket settings.

An analogy for this case study is a highway with different lanes for different types of vehicles. The fast lane is reserved for emergency vehicles, the middle lane is for regular cars, and the slow lane is for trucks. Similarly, HTB and CBQ ensure that critical traffic is given priority.

2. Reducing Latency in a Gaming Network

Latency reduction is essential for online gaming networks to ensure a smooth and responsive gaming experience. This case study involves using Packet Marking and Prioritization to ensure that gaming traffic is processed first, reducing latency.

For instance, you can mark gaming traffic with a high DSCP value (e.g., EF for Expedited Forwarding) and configure the router to prioritize packets with this DSCP value. The command to mark packets might look like this: /ip firewall mangle add chain=prerouting action=mark-packet new-packet-mark=gaming.

An analogy for this case study is a fast-food restaurant where orders are taken and fulfilled quickly. Similarly, latency reduction ensures that gaming traffic is processed and delivered without delay.

3. High Availability in a Retail Network

High Availability is crucial for retail networks to ensure that point-of-sale (POS) systems and other critical applications remain operational even during failures or disruptions. This case study involves implementing redundancy and failover mechanisms.

For example, you can configure HotSpot failover to ensure that customers can still access the internet even if the primary HotSpot server fails. The command to configure HotSpot failover might look like this: /ip hotspot failover add name=hotspot-failover.

An analogy for this case study is a backup generator that powers a building during a power outage. Similarly, High Availability ensures that your network remains operational even during failures.

4. Traffic Shaping in a Residential ISP Network

Traffic Shaping is essential for residential ISP networks to manage bandwidth usage and prevent congestion. This case study involves using Hierarchical Token Bucket (HTB) to shape traffic for different types of applications.

For instance, you can create an HTB queue with a total bandwidth of 1 Gbps. Under this queue, you can create sub-queues for different types of traffic, such as streaming, gaming, and web browsing. Each sub-queue can have its own bandwidth allocation and token bucket settings.

An analogy for this case study is a traffic light that regulates the flow of cars at an intersection. The light ensures that cars do not arrive too quickly, preventing congestion and maintaining a steady flow.

5. Load Balancing in a Multi-Site Enterprise Network

Load Balancing is crucial for multi-site enterprise networks to distribute traffic across multiple servers or network paths, ensuring that no single path becomes a bottleneck. This case study involves configuring multi-path routing to balance the load.

For example, you can configure multi-path routing to distribute traffic between two internet connections. The command to enable multi-path routing might look like this: /routing multi-path add name=multi-path-route.

An analogy for this case study is a highway system with multiple lanes. Traffic is distributed across different lanes, ensuring that no single lane becomes congested and that all lanes are used efficiently.

6. Network Monitoring in a Healthcare Network

Network Monitoring is essential for healthcare networks to ensure that critical applications like Electronic Health Records (EHR) and telemedicine remain operational. This case study involves using tools like NetFlow and SNMP to collect data on network traffic and performance.

For instance, you can enable NetFlow on your MikroTik router to collect traffic data and analyze it using a NetFlow analyzer. The command to enable NetFlow might look like this: /ip flow-accounting netflow enable.

An analogy for this case study is a traffic camera that records the flow of cars on a highway. The camera collects data on the number of cars, their speed, and their destination, providing valuable information for traffic management.

By studying these real-world case studies, you can gain practical insights into how to apply traffic control techniques to solve specific network challenges. These case studies are essential for any MikroTik Certified Traffic Control Engineer (MTCTCE).