MikroTik produces many great routers and are known for their quality routing capabilities. The RB-5009 series was designed to bridge the gap between their entry level and Cloud Core counterparts. Its modern hardware architecture offers a wide range of features with the typical flexibility of RouterOS. MikroTik created a powerhouse Ethernet router which suits a multitude of applications.
The Hardware
Currently there are 3 models available but all share the same performance specification.
The indoor versions are small and low profile enough to mount up to 4 of them into a 1U space in a server cabinet. This saves tons of space and still manages to stay cooled due to the large heatsink, meaning just a small amount of airflow allows the RB-5009 to operate efficiently.
The RB-5009 has one switch chip with 10Gbps connection to the CPU. This means if you bridge all ethernet to operate like a switch, you get full line speed. This outperforms other MikroTik routers which make use of multiple switch chips.
Block diagram comparison between RB-5009UGSIN and RB-4011SRM
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Performance
There are many different use cases and configurations where the RB-5009 makes sense. Device performance is dependent on which features are being used in RouterOS. Its impossible to collect data on every single scenario but MikroTik provides some basic stats based on common configuration which provide insight into its performance. Here is how its stacks up against the popular RB-4011SRM router and its a substantial improvement.
Power and Redundancy
There are multiple ways to power these devices. The entry level RB-5009UGSIN can receive power from PoE-in on Ethernet port 1, via the DC jack, or 2-pin power terminal on the side. On the RB-5009UPSIN and the outdoor version, have PoE-in and out on all ports for power redundancy.
You are able to select the voltage for the output which is an amazing feature not available on many other routers or switches. This makes it viable for practically any deployment requiring PoE. CPE’s, access points, IP cameras, and many other devices are compatible.
Use Cases
Having such a dynamic feature set and performance rating, there is very little the RB-5009 series cannot do. It can run anywhere from a home network to a larger organisation which requires extensive functions provided by RouterOS. Here are just some ideas of where this product can benefit your network.
- Office Gateway
The ideal router for medium to large office networks. Firewall, VLAN’s, VPN, QoS conveniently controlled on a single device that scales well. Adding two into the network rack makes it an ideal solution for redundancy and keep necessary services alive.
- Firewall & QoS
These features typically add major strain to your CPU. The quad-core processor is super efficient and can easily manage complex firewall functions at reasonable scale. If you are planning on rolling out QoS, this device is geared to handle high throughput WAN connections while maintaining CPU performance
- High-Site PoE Router
WISP’s have an all-in-one solution with flexible power input/output. The RB-5009UPSIN or RB-5009UPSO will keep the highsite running and minimises the cost of equipment when deploying micropops. They will also easily be able to run OSPF and other core routing tasks for a sizeable wireless network.
- Home or office lab:
With the powerful CPU and large available memory, it is capable of handling any configuration that you might need in a lab or test environment. Even loading multiple other softwares onto the unit via Docker and using the containers feature won’t hinder it’s incredible performance. With the PoE versions supporting such a large voltage range, any device can be tested without having to use separate injectors or more cables.
- Capsman Server
If you are setting up a small wireless network, it’s an ideal solution as the access point manager and CAP’s can be powered directly from the RB-5009UP. This negates the need for a separate PoE switch and all firewall, routing and QoS tasks are conveniently managed on a single device.
With all of this power and functionality, what’s your reason for not owning a MikroTik RB-5009?
