Ubiquiti and Mikrotik VLANs

Hi there,

I want to use a Mikrotik RB751G-2Hnd and a couple of Ubiquiti Unifi AP with this configuration:

SSID 1 - VLAN1 - Hotspot
SSID 2 - VLAN2 - Internal private LAN

I’ve red this http://wiki.ubnt.com/UniFi_and_switch_VLAN_configuration#UniFi_Controller_Configuration_Steps and it seems possible.
Does Mikrotik VLAN and Ubiquiti are working good togheter?

Thanks

802.1Q VLAN’s will work between any vender that support them. Basically all that the VLAN is doing is adding or reading 1’s and 0’s in the packet header.

If you add a vlan for example VLAN 10 to ether5 then put an IP address on that VLAN then a device plugged into ether5 that is on that same subnet with that same VLAN will be accessible.

We have a Unifi here at the office… and my boss likes them and sells them however, I would much rather use MikroTik Access Points. The MikroTik will do the job and will not need some software installed on a computer to manage it. The problem in my opinion with the Unifi is that the advantages of easy deployment require the management and maintenance of a system that has noting to do with the wireless network. If you forget about the controller software down the road when you upgrade the PC originally used to setup the network then you just lost the advantage of the Unifi platform. If you use MikroTik and set them up as a mesh or WDS then you can just open the box, drop a config on them and go.

I don’t want my wireless AP’s controlled by an external software package any more then I want my up-line ISP controlling my IP provisioning. However, if UBNT had all of the controlling and management run on the AP I would sing a different tune. Except for the fact that we do have to reboot the UBNT gear from time to time and I cannot remember the last time I had to reboot a MikroTik to get it to behave. If I did have a MikroTik require a reboot then I would remove it form service and put it through the ringer to find out what’s wrong.

Hi joshaven,

thanks for your answer and your notes.
I’me agree and I don’t like Ubiquiti UniFi management software. But I can’t find any good indoor AP Mikrotik Based.
Can you suggest me something?

Indoor AP’s (as long as your happy with a desktop like unit. If your looking for an in-ceiling model then these won’t work

$45.00 http://routerboard.com/RB951-2n
$59.95 http://routerboard.com/RB751U-2HnD
$129.00 http://routerboard.com/RB2011UAS-2HnD-IN

If you need a ceiling mount then maybe you can use a ceiling mount antenna and locate a routerboard in a indoor enclosure above the ceiling.
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=shop&q=mimo+indoor+omni+ceiling+antenna

Hi,

I’m currently using RB750GL, RB751G-2HnD, RB951-2n and they’re working very good.
If I will use the solutions you suggested I will increase the cost of my network, but I will search for a suitable antenna.
Is there any antenna you want to suggest me? And what Routerboard I have to choose?

http://www.streakwave.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=IN800%2F5900-5&eq=&Tp=

http://routerboard.com/RBGrooveA2Hn

We just recently used this setup for an install and it worked great.

Hi,

do you have a photo of that setup?

Unfortunately I don’t. I will contact the owner and see if they will send me some pics. What we did was mount the antenna on the ceiling titles and then screw the grooves directly on top. One of the antennas was in the bar area which had black ceiling tiles and we painted it black and it turned out great.

Just an important note that maybe needs more highlighting -

You MUST configure the “WDS” (either a tick box or in the Wireless mode drop down) for the VLAN passing to work as it should.

Also, if using any of the Nanobridge or Rocket units an upgrade to 5.5.2 is highly recommended.

Once those things are done placing Mikrotik’s on the Edges is a pleasure and VLANs ‘just work’.

In this situation you do not need WDS. The vlans are coming in over the Ethernet not the wireless. You would just bridge the VLAN with the wireless interface or virtual ap.

Hi cbrown,

Client facing wise maybe not – but if those UBNT’s are to be used for any trunking/backhauling at all - they will :wink: Had the issue not 3 weeks ago where we had to get a set of VLANs across a UBNT P2P connection with Tiks both sides. If the WDS is not set the VLANs passing is an issue.

Of course with P2P you would need layer 2 for the vlans. But there is no point to point in this setup, the vlans are delivered over the ethernet.