500+ Concurrent Hotspot Users

RouterOS General
1

We are deploying a wireless network within an MDU. We plan to use hotspot authentication with radius. Since it is an amenity to all of the tenants, we do not plan to timeout anyone unless they disconnect. There could be 500+ concurrent users at any one time. We have looked at the Nomadix box, but we have had much more experience with MT (and there is a significant cost difference).

Does anyone see a problem with having this many users? Of course, we will have a Level 6 - Controller license. Does anyone else have experience with this many hotspot users on a MT? How large of a CPU would you suggest? Thanks

2

What medium are you using for your physical layer connection ethernet, wireless, other? If wireless how many radios?

Aggregate bandwidth with 802.11b is 11mbps (5.5mbps up+down). 500 users concurrently connected to a single radio could pose some bandwidth problems.

3

We are using all wireless - 802.11b. We will be using approx 20 APs throughout the apartment complex.

4

The license level comparison table here http://www.mikrotik.com/docs/ros/2.8/system/license.content implies that more that 500 users is possible. So I would say that your hardware is the critical factor. A top spec PC should do it, I would think.

5

I dont suppose everyone will be online at all time so say 250 users at a time.
This is what I have too. About 200-250 users connected to my RouterOS NAS server radius authenticating with PPPoE.
Works like a charm with no hickups on a Pentium 4:
cpu: Intel(R)
cpu-frequency: 2665 MHz
driver=“Intel PRO/1000”

CPU goes up to 10-15% with 200-250 loged in users.