Hi All,
I have approx 50 users running under HotSpot to access the internet. They are all connected via CAT5 ethernet (no wireless). They are subnetted onto 4 separate subnets.
My hardware is a fairly old PC, running an AMD chip at 1.2 GHz with 512 MB RAM. I have one of the Mikrotik 4 port ethernet cards, plus two other interfaces, one for the internet, and the other for the radius server. I am running version 2.9.
As the network grows and gets busier, I am starting to notice that at peak times the CPU (as monitored on winbox) runs at over 40% load, and I suspect that at times its peaking more, and maybe dropping packets.
I could encrease the processor speed (by replacing the PC), or I could replace it with a RouterOS Board. I could even replace it with multiple RouterOS boards, say one per subnet.
My questions are:
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would a single RouterOS board cope with this type of load? If so which one would be better
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would I be better off with a replacement PC (I have one handy with a 2 GHz CPU, plus 6 separate PCI bus ethernet cards. There have been reported issues with the 4 port cards locking up, and I have noticed on occassions, when the system is busy, that one of the interfaces locks up, and the only way to ‘free’ is is a complete reboot)
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Would a better solution be multiple Rouer OS cards, one per subnet? (again, if so, which one)
Many thanks in advance
Jim Heck
