a simple question about Mikrotik ports ?

RouterOS Beginner Basics
1

Hello ,


I have Mikrotik RB1100AHx4

My question can I use ethernet 11,12,13 as normal ports ?

or there are special ? I want to use them as a part of a bridge ?

Best Regards

2




Each port of each group can reach at the same time wire speed,
but each grup can communicate with each other to max 2.5Gbps.
The max speed at same time between all groups still 2.5Gbps.

switch1 group is ether1-5
switch2 group is ether5-10

and the last group is (11 and/or 12) and 13
if the bypass switch is on 0 position 11 and 12 are different ports,
if is on 1 position both works, but if for some reason the kernel is locked or the device is off for any reason, is like is unique cable between ether11 and ether12

3

Yes, you can. They are connected to the 3rd switch but there is no difference for daily use from using other ports
Check the diagram how packets flow from port to port: https://i.mt.lv/cdn/product_files/RB1100AHx4v5_180118.png

4

But.. is the same… what is not correct on my reply?

5

Look at the timelines rextended. He was probably reading the original post and drafting a reply when you added your input.
Imagine he went to get a coffee or take a piss… comes back finishes his post, hits send and then both his and yours appears on the refresh.

No harm no foul, just the shitty way this cheap assed forum construct works.

6

As diagram shows there are 3 switch chips. I can’t recall the specific hardware offloading rules, but it best to keep VLANs from crossing the switch chips - so more like 3 “special” groups.

The “bypass group” (ether11/12) has no effect when the router is on – ether11-13 are just regular bridge ports, just less ports than the other switch groups. Now if it’s powered off, then ether11 and ether12 could be coupled (e.g. think a physical ethernet joiner connecting the cables) if the toggle next to ether11 is on/“I”. So unless you have specific plans for bypass, make sure that toggle disabled (“0”) so it’s really is just like another port…otherwise there is potential for routing loop during a power-cycle depending on the topology/connections/etc.

Ether13 is only special in that it can take PoE in, but needs potentially 20W which more than some switch will do.

7

hw-offloading is disabled on bonds, IGMP/DHCP snooping activated.
vlan(s) crossing chips is not a big deal any longer on that board (running right now on one with 4 VLANs active which cross between switch chips) - iperf3 tests showed 1Gbit passing through

running RB1100AHx4D @ 7.8 stable

EDIT:
explanation of REXTENDED is perfectly fine btw.

8

Neither coffee nor a toilet were involved but the rest of the theory is correct :slight_smile:

Coming back to ports:
from user point of view they are the same as the rest. Knowledge of switches lets better utilize them and maximize the throughput.