LAB 1.1 MikroTik Installation on VMware

November 28, 2024

LAB 1.1 MikroTik Installation on VMware

Name : Yunita Prima Rizka

Class : X TKJ A

MikroTik Installation on VMware

A. MikroTik

Mikrotik is networking software and hardware designed to make it easier to manage computer networks, especially on a small to medium scale. Mikrotik originated in Latvia and was founded by MikroTikls in 1996. Its flagship products are RouterOS (Linux-based operating system) and RouterBOARD (hardware). Mikrotik is usually used as a router to manage internet connections, firewalls, VPNs, bandwidth management, hotspots, and other network functions.

Mikrotik functions:

1. Routing: Manages data traffic between networks with various protocols, such as OSPF, BGP, and RIP.

2. Firewall and Security: Detects and blocks network threats, and regulates access to devices.

3. Bandwidth Management: Limits the internet speed of specific users or groups through the Queue feature.

4. VPN (Virtual Private Network): Supports secure remote access to the network through various protocols such as PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN.

5. Hotspot Management: Provides login features for network users, ideal for hotels, cafes, or public places.

6. Network Monitoring: Monitor network performance using tools such as Graphing and Netwatch.

7. Switching and Bridging: Helps connect multiple devices in a local network.

Advantages of Mikrotik:

1. Affordable Price: Mikrotik offers a cheap solution compared to other networking devices such as Cisco or Juniper.

2. Full Features: Supports almost all network management needs, including firewall, VPN, QoS, and monitoring.

3. Easy to Use: With a GUI interface called Winbox, Mikrotik configuration is more user-friendly than a full CLI.

4. Scalability: Suitable for small networks to large enterprise scale.

5. Large Community: Many tutorials, forums, and support from Mikrotik users around the world.

6. Stable and Reliable: RouterOS is designed for stable performance even when running on low-spec hardware.

Disadvantages of Mikrotik:

1. Initial Learning Curve: Novice users may take some time to learn the in-depth configuration.

2. Limited Large-Scale Performance: Not as reliable as premium devices like Cisco in handling heavy workloads or complex networks.

3. Tiered RouterOS License: Some features are only available at higher license levels.

4. Incomplete Official Documentation: Official documentation often does not provide adequate examples for specific cases.

5. Not Suitable for Large Scale Network Management: Although powerful, Mikrotik is not an ideal choice for enterprise-level with huge traffic requirements.

B. VMware

VMware is one of the leading technology companies developing virtualization software. Its main products, such as VMware Workstation, VMware ESXi, and VMware vSphere, allow users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single piece of physical hardware. With this technology, computer resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage can be split into virtual machines (VMs) that function like independent computers.

VMware refers to software that enables the creation, management, and operation of virtual machines (VMs). This virtualization means that physical hardware can be “shared” to run multiple operating environments in parallel, which is efficient for data center development, testing, or operational needs.

VMware functions:

1. Application Development and Testing: Developers can use VMware to test applications across multiple OSes without the need for additional physical devices.

2. Server Virtualization in Data Center: VMware helps save costs by allowing a single physical server to support multiple virtual servers.

3. IT Infrastructure Consolidation: Multiple physical servers can be combined into virtual machines, reducing hardware requirements.

4. Disaster Recovery: VMware makes system backup and recovery easy through snapshot and VM replication features.

5. Network Simulation: Ideal for creating complex network simulations with various servers, clients, and devices in a virtual environment.

Advantages of VMware:

1. Resource Efficiency: Allows optimal use of physical hardware.

2. VM Portability: Virtual machines can be moved from one server to another easily without downtime.

3. Advanced Features: Supports snapshots, cloning, load balancing, and integration with cloud systems.

4. High Security: VMs are isolated from each other, so an attack on one VM does not affect other VMs.

5. Cross-Platform: Can be used on various OS such as Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Disadvantages of VMware:

1. High Resource Requirement: Virtual machines require additional RAM, CPU, and storage, which can reduce hardware performance if not managed properly.

2. Expensive License: Commercial versions such as vSphere have high license fees, making them less suitable for small businesses or individuals.

3. Learning Curve: New users may take time to understand VMware setup and management.

4. Lower Performance Compared to Physical Machines: Since it runs on top of a hypervisor, performance is slightly below that of real hardware.

C. Mikrotik Installation Steps on VMware

1. Log in to the VMware app

2. After entering VMware, a display will appear as shown below. Then select Create a New Virtual Machine.

3. Then:

1.) Select Installer disc image file (iso),

2.) Then click Browser, select the iso file that has been downloaded, after that the selected iso file will appear as in the arrow,

3.) Click Next.

4. Then:

1.) In Guest operating system, select Linux,

2.) In Version, select Ubuntu,

3.) Then select Next.

5. Next, fill in the Virtual machine name with (name-mikrotik), then Next.

6. Then, in Maximum disk size (GB) I didn't change it, it still uses the default. Then Next.

7. Once it appears like this, click Finish.

8. After we create a Virtual Machine, click on the Virtual Machine that was created earlier. Then click Play Virtual Machine.

9. Wait for the process to finish. After the process is complete, insert the cursor into the virtual machine by left-clicking on the virtual machine, then type a on the keyboard to select everything.

10. Then type i on the keyboard to install the system. For the red box at the bottom, type y on the keyboard. Then wait until the process is complete.

10. After the installation process is complete, then click ENTER on the keyboard and wait until the reboot process is complete.

11. After the reebot process is complete, the MikroTik Login is filled in with the username: admin. Then click enter on the keyboard, then the Password is not filled in because this is the first time installing the process. After that click enter.