I want share one my idea for mikrotik here with others users. Idea is simple and it seems very usefull, for me of course but I want hear others users sugestions too.
I think many users has nightmare from mistakes when configuring mikrotik on remote place with bad access (roofs…) and if when make mistake like disable interface or bad rule in firewall , system is accessible only via serial console and when is on bad place its not funny get the notebook and go there (more funny at night ). For this I want make one hardware, first idea about functions can look like this :
2,4,8 (maybe more) serial ports
inputs/outpus same as count of serial ports (1 port = 1 x in/1 x out)
control interface is ethernet 10/100
Idea is simple, connecting routers to serial port on this board and ,emulate, serial ports via ethernet. Board has own ip and can be accesed via classic ethernet ports, example : board has ip 10.0.0.1 and ,listen, on ports 100, 101 (tcp/udp) . Port 100 can be as ,controll, and port 101 as terminal.
Over control port board can be configured and used to set ,mapping, serial port to terminal port (101). After set mapping you can comunicate over port 101 same as like telnet but on end side is classic serial port.
Inputs/outputs can be configured and controled over ethernet to and can be used for example to make ,cold reset, of selected router-output (like reset button)
Board can has variuos functions like ping-based watchdog which after overflow can activated associated output and make reset too. For example temp sensors can be used too.
Control port can be maked as ,text based-telnet, or web-based.
This is only first ideas what I want create in this device. Any others ideas ?
I know this HW can be usefull only on places where you has still ethernet connection after mikrotik stop respond but on bad accesible roofs or towers I hope can be very usefull.
This project I develop as my private but If anyone is interested on it I can make it as ,real, product and publish it.
Uff, I hope I wrote it understandable and waiting for yours ideas and suggestions
Another Idea..
“Extend” the serial line down, (Pull a second Cat5) from the box to the ground or other point of access and terminate to a DB9 or I think Emulex makes a serial to ethernet adapter… to access the router via a net connection..
Your Idea sounds OK but I think some of you problems could be solved by putting the router into “Safe Mode” before you start doing any changes, this is done from a terminal session by pressing CTRL-x Once you are done and sure your config is OK press CTRL-x again and commit the config changes. If you disable an ethernet port or my favorite firewall myself out and become disconnected the router will roll-back the config to the point you went into “Safe-Mode”.
yes, thats true, but how many users use console to usually configuration ? I think most of users use Winbox and winbox not have SAFE mode ? Or I am wrong ?
I normally open a Terminal from Winbox, a Safe Mode button on winbox would be good though. Can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve done the changes then just disconencted without comitting them
Are you sure? I thought if you opened a terminal window (within winbox) pressed control+x and then started making your changes via winbox that if disconnected those changes would be reverted..
There may not be a button for safe mode, but it still functions within winbox.
but I want hear others users sugestions too.