What is the best GB Ethernet NIC?

RouterOS General
1

I am considering building a MikroTik router to place at the edge of our network. We currently are using a Cisco 7204VXR with DS3 interfaces, but we will be adding a Protected Service GB Ethernet circuit.

I’m envisioning a rack mount P4 platform with four or more Ethernet interfaces. Initially three interfaces would be for each backhaul and one or two interfaces for the LAN side.

I have been told the quality of the NIC can dramatically affect the throughput. What NIC’s have been tested and which NIC’s are the fastest? What GB NIC’s does MikroTik support?

Thanks,

Brad Belton

2

intel based (least cpu load)

3

Something like this?:

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?edc=390883

Or this looks nice too:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?DEPA=0&description=33-106-216&ATT=Network+Interface+Ca&CMP=OTC-yah00TT

I wonder if these cards are similar to the RB44 in that each port is recognized as a different interface. Anyone have any first hand experience with Intel multiport NIC’s working with MikroTik?

Thanks,

Brad Belton

4

I am using 2 of the first cards listed above in our data center w/ Mikrotik. They are excellent - couldn’t be any better I believe. They are not the same as the RB44 - these are true intel server quality NICs. Yes, they are recoginized as 2 totally different nics as well (or 4).

I would recommend those cards if you have the money.

Sam

5

Sam,

Thanks for your input. I was hoping these NIC were similar to the RB44 in the way they are recognized by MikroTik.

Best,

Brad Belton