MIKROTIK as OLT/GEPON

RouterOS General
1

Hi,

  1. Does mikrotik supports GEPON?
  2. Can it work as OLT?


    Thanks,
    TCC
2

We have been doing extensive testing with MikroTik for GPON in our lab and here is what we know so far

  1. It does work as an ONT under the GPON standard when connected to certain types of OLTs. This is the OLT we are currently testing on:

https://www.multilink.us/REVO-818G-GPON-OLT_p_931.html

  1. It will not currently function as an OLT

  2. GPON is the only supported protocol right now - GEPON is not yet supported.

3

I would like to add, I have tested and verified the Mikrotik GPON SFP module does work with my Adtran TA-5000s in my customer GPON network.
I have been able to make it bridge, nat, work with 802.1q tagged vlans, rate-limit and function as a residential-gateway.

North Idaho Tom Jones

4

Thanks for that Tom!

I’ve built a lot of networks on TA5Ks and love them but haven’t had a chance to test MikroTik on the adtran gpon olt. Great to know that it works!

5

The Mikrotik GPON SFP module works surprisingly well. All kinds of routing/switching/firewalling power that way out performs a standard ONT (GPON client device). And the Mikrotik treats it just like any other interface - nothing special.

We are going to begin installing these for our new GPON customers this summer. I just need to work out SIP(phone-over-IP), battery backup and a Mikrotik equivalent of SubH (Out-of-Band-Management).

Although I’ve been an engineer in the computer communications industry for 40+ years (before PC), I am still new at GPON and Adtran. It’s hard to know Cisco and talk Adtran at the CLI.

btw - checked out your website - nice

North Idaho Tom Jones

6

Check multicast as i’ve run into issues with that when testing OSPF and had to convert to NBMA on the ONT router. Would be interested to see what you find out.

7

Re: OSPF
I try to avoid OSPF and other routing protocols for routing to customers. I do use OSPF on some core routers but not customer routes. I’ve just seen to many non-Cisco devices experience OSPF problems (ROS & PfSense and many others). When OSPF works, everything is great. When a routing protocol fails, your day goes to sh!! if the network is big.

Question - Are you currently working with much GPON and have you tested any other GPON SFP modules similar to Mikrotik’s ? I am looking for a second brand/source to be ready to use/switch-to if the Mikrotik SFP GPON module has any deployment problems.

North Idaho Tom Jones

8

We use GPON sometimes for MPLS transport to the edge depending on the use case, so we have to be able to run OSPF/LDP through the ONT which is why I was testing it.

9

is it works for olt zte, huawei and fiberhome product?

10

My experience with the Mikrotik GPON modules:

  • A few years ago when the Mikrotik GPON modules first started shipping, I installed a just over 14 of them. During that winter (years ago), I installed 12 test customers where the GPON Module equipped Mikrotiks were mounted outside in Nema enclosures ( a weather proof box ) - and I also installed 2 GPON Module equipped Mikrotiks indoors in air-conditioned equipment rooms. That summer, all outdoor GPON Module equipped Mikrotiks quit working as soon as early summer temperatures started reaching 90 degrees ( F ). One-Hundred percent of my outdoor located Nema enclosed Mikrotik GPON modules bricked and were not recoverable. However , the 2 Mikrotik GPON Modules that were installed in air-conditioned server rooms are still working.

  • I email/chatted with Mikrotik support and they informed me that the later shipping Mikrotik GPON Modules had some changes and should work.
    Mikrotik did not offer to replace my dozen Mikrotik GPON Modules. So , my bricked Mikrotik GPON Modules ended up in the trash can.

  • In my opinion , all Mikrotik products are great - - - except their GPON Modules. If somebody can show me they have dozens to hundreds of outdoor Nema located Mikrotik GPON modules that have lasted two summer seasons that do not live in Alaska , then and only then would I consider another costly attempt at testing them.


    North Idaho Tom Jones

11

Hey, i know this is old, but can you tell me how to “convert to NBMA on the ONT router”? I have the same problem but not using Mikrotik (mine uses ZTE on both OLT and ONT). Maybe I could find some clues from your solutions on this.

Thanks.

12

Hi Tom, can you please share what SFP brands did you use to replace bricked Mikrotik modules.

13

I only tested/tried the Mikrotik SFP GPON modules (almost a dozen of them).
All of them died (as I described in my postings) except one. It is still running - and the one still running is in an air conditioned server room.
I have not researched any other SFP GPON moduled ( yet ).

14

Resurrecting this old thread, I think having a Mikrotik device supporting OLT functions would make sense in hospitality (hotels, …).

Currently among others, Zyxel or Ubiquiti address these markets with GPON OLT/ONT devices.
In a single hotel, you can easily have 100 ONT integrating Ethernet or/and WiFi with a GPON uplink.
Latest ONTs offer WiFi 6 with 100 $/€ price tag.