The Benefits Of MikroTik Routers In Network Management

Internet connectivity is now a necessity in business and home operations. Whether it is for communication or accessing online resources and services, having reliable internet is crucial for smooth running of operations. One of the popular ways to connect to the internet is through a router. Mikrotik routers are among the most popular routers today. They are known for their extensive capabilities and flexibility in various applications. In this post, we will look at how to configure the Mikrotik PPPoE server over Cisco VLAN setup.

Mikrotik Routers PPPOE Server Configuration Over Cisco VLAN setup

Before we delve into the configuration, let us look at these terminologies:

Mikrotik Router - This is a device that connects multiple networks and exchanges data between them. It is responsible for forwarding data packets between network segments.
PPPoE - Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet. This is a protocol for establishing a broadband connection through a local area network (LAN).
Cisco VLAN - Virtual Local Area Network is a logical network that is separated from other networks, even though they may exist on the same physical switch. It enables network administrators to group network devices based on their roles, functions, or applications.

Configuring the Mikrotik Router PPPoE Server over Cisco VLAN Setup

The following are the steps to configure the Mikrotik PPPoE server over Cisco VLAN setup:

Step 1: VLAN Configuration

The first step is to configure the VLAN on the Cisco switch. This involves creating a VLAN ID, assigning VLAN ports, and configuring the VLAN interfaces. The following are the steps:

Log in to the Cisco switch console using an SSH client such as PuTTY.
Enter the privileged EXEC mode and create a VLAN ID using the following command: Switch(config)# vlan VLAN_ID Replace VLAN_ID with a number between 1 and 4094.
Assign the ports to the VLAN using the following command: Switch(config-vlan)# interface range gigabitEthernet start_port - end_port Replace start_port and end_port with the range of ports to be assigned to the VLAN. For example, gigabitEthernet 0/1 - 5.
Configure the VLAN interface with an IP address using the following command: Switch(config-if)# ip address IP_ADDRESS SUBNET_MASK Replace IP_ADDRESS and SUBNET_MASK with the IP address and subnet mask that match the network requirements.
Save the VLAN configuration using the following command: Switch(config)# exit Switch# copy running-config startup-config

Step 2: Configure the Mikrotik Router

The next step is to configure the Mikrotik router to enable PPPoE authentication and establish a connection to the Cisco VLAN. The following are the steps:

Connect to the Mikrotik router using Winbox.
Click on IP > PPP and click on the PPPoE tab.
Click on the Plus icon to add a new PPPoE server.
Enter a name for the server and select the interface that is connected to the Cisco VLAN.
Enter a service name, which is a unique identifier that identifies this connection.
Enter an authentication method, either PAP or CHAP.
Enter a password or leave it blank to enable unencrypted passwords.
Enable the use of IP pools by selecting Use IP pool.
Click on the Apply button to save the configuration.

Step 3: Configure the Internet Connection

The final step is to configure the internet connection to enable the Mikrotik router to access the internet. The following are the steps:

Click on IP > Addresses to add an IP address to the Mikrotik router.
Enter an IP address and subnet mask that matches the network requirements.
Click on the DNS tab and enter the DNS server information, either manually or automatically.
Click on the Routes tab and add a default route using the gateway IP address of the Cisco VLAN interface.
Set the default route distance to 1 to specify that this route should be used first.
Click on the Apply button to save the configuration.

Conclusion

Configuring the Mikrotik PPPoE server over Cisco VLAN setup is a straightforward process that involves configuring the VLAN on the Cisco switch, configuring the Mikrotik router for PPPoE authentication and establishing an internet connection. With the above steps, you can configure your Mikrotik router for reliable and secure internet connectivity.