Low-Cost Hardware Routing on MikroTik Switches – Bridge Mode (Ep. 2 with MikroTik Marc)

In Episode 2 of the Bridge Mode series, MikroTik Marc and guest Tyler Casey from DM-Tech Internet, take us deeper into Low-Cost Hardware Routing and Layer 3 Hardware (L3HW) routing on MikroTik switches. If you’re looking to maximize performance while keeping costs low, this episode is packed with insights that can help optimize your network.

What is L3HW (Layer 3 Hardware) Routing?

Layer 3 Hardware Offloading (L3HW) is a crucial feature that allows routers and switches to handle IP traffic directly on the hardware, bypassing the CPU for increased efficiency. Instead of processing every packet via the central processor, L3HW-enabled MikroTik switches use their built-in switch chips to manage routing tasks at wire speed.

Why Does L3HW Matter?

1. Performance Boost 🚀
   Traditional software-based routing can create bottlenecks when processing high traffic volumes. With L3HW, routing happens directly in hardware, dramatically increasing throughput and reducing latency.
2. Lower CPU Usage 🔥
   Without L3HW, your router’s CPU gets overloaded as it processes every single packet. This can lead to performance drops, especially in high-demand networks. L3HW offloads that burden, allowing the CPU to focus on other tasks.
3. Cost Efficiency 💰
   Instead of investing in expensive, high-end routers, you can leverage MikroTik’s cost-effective switches with built-in L3HW, achieving enterprise-level performance at a fraction of the price.

Bridge Mode—where we bridge the gap between theory and practical network management.

#Networking #MikroTik#Tips4Tiks