Exploring MikroTik Router Proxy Filtering Methods For Web Content Control

Are you tired of your network being slowed down by everyone streaming videos on YouTube? Did you know that you can block YouTube traffic on a MikroTik without using the Layer 7 protocol? That's right, there's a simple solution to this problem, and we're here to explain it in detail!

Blocking YouTube traffic on MikroTik without using Layer 7

Before we dive into the solution, let's first briefly explain what the Layer 7 protocol is and why you don't need it to block YouTube traffic on your MikroTik.

The Layer 7 protocol is part of the OSI model and is responsible for the application layer of network communication. It is used to identify and filter traffic based on the content of the packet. This is where we usually use YouTube's URL or domain name to identify and filter YouTube traffic, and this is also where things get complicated because YouTube constantly changes its URL structure, making it difficult to keep up with and block all YouTube traffic.

However, there is another way to filter traffic on a MikroTik, and that is by using the firewall's connection-state matcher. This method does not rely on the Layer 7 protocol, but rather, it filters traffic based on the network connection's state, whether it's new, established, or related.

Now that we've explained the basic concept, let's dive into the step-by-step solution on how to block YouTube traffic on MikroTik without using Layer 7:

Log into your MikroTik's command-line interface (CLI).
Create a new firewall filter rule.
Set the chain to “forward”.
Set the action to “drop”.
Set the protocol to “tcp” and the connection state to “new”.
Add a new layer 7 protocol matcher to filter the traffic based on the host name “youtube.com”. This will ensure that only YouTube traffic is blocked.
Save and apply the firewall rule to your MikroTik.

That's it, you're done! The next time someone tries to access YouTube, they will not be able to access it.

Now, let's break down each step further:

Logging into your MikroTik's command-line interface (CLI)

To log into your MikroTik's CLI, you can use the Terminal application on your computer or use an SSH client. Make sure you have the proper credentials to access your MikroTik's CLI.

Creating a new firewall filter rule

To create a new firewall filter rule, you need to enter the following command in your MikroTik's CLI:

 /ip firewall filter add

Setting the chain to “forward”

Set the chain to “forward” to filter the traffic that is forwarded through your MikroTik to another device in your network.

chain=forward

Setting the action to “drop”

Set the action to “drop” to block all YouTube traffic.

action=drop

Setting the protocol to “tcp” and the connection state to “new”

Set the protocol to “tcp” and the connection state to “new” to filter only new connections to YouTube.

protocol=tcp connection-state=new

Adding a new Layer 7 protocol matcher to filter traffic based on the host name “youtube.com”

This step is important because it ensures that only YouTube traffic is blocked. To add a new Layer 7 protocol matcher, enter the following command:

layer7-protocol=youtube.com

Saving and applying the firewall rule

To save and apply the firewall rule, enter the following command:

/ip firewall filter add ...> run

There you have it, a simple and effective way to block YouTube traffic on your MikroTik without using Layer 7. This method is not only reliable but also efficient, as it does not rely on the Layer 7 protocol that can be difficult to configure and maintain.

Whether you're running a large corporate network or just managing your home network, this solution will save you time and headaches from having to filter traffic one by one.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us. We're always here to help!