Mikrotik Troubleshooting Tips

Network Architecture

Tips to facilitate optimal troubleshooting:

Plug other 'links' directly into the Mikrotik CPE device
- Wireless access points (WAPs)
- Switches
- Bridges to other buildings or networks
Keep a diagram showing which port goes where
Name the ports appropriately

Use the Interfaces list to see the big picture
1. Is their upstream Internet or Metro Ethernet connection saturated?
2. Is a bridge to another building hogging the bandwidth?
3. Is their wireless access point (WAP) hogging the bandwidth?
  1. Many problems are due to multimedia streaming with wireless devices
Use the Mikrotik IP Accounting feature to see which IP addresses are involved
1. RouterOS v6 only
Use the Kid Control feature to see which IP addresses are involved
1. RouterOS v7 only
Check the DHCP server Leases to look for host name clues

The IPv4-only Accounting feature was removed in RouterOS v7.

In a bridged environment, such as Metro Ethernet, the CPE device (bridge) may not see the traffic in IP Accounting.

Try using the upstream router IP Accounting feature and filter by the client IP address range.

Or, enable use-ip-firewall=yes in the bridge settings.