🤠Why Building SD-WANs on Mikrotik Routers Is a Misguided Approach🐎

Mikrotik routers are popular in the networking world for their affordability and versatility. They are often chosen by small businesses, hobbyists, and even some service providers to deliver basic routing and firewall functions. However, when it comes to building a robust, scalable, and efficient Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Mikrotik routers fall significantly short of the mark. Let’s explore why Mikrotik routers are not a viable foundation for SD-WAN solutions and why specialised SD-WAN platforms, like Fusion’s, are the better choice.

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What Makes SD-WAN Different?

SD-WAN is not just a collection of routers—it’s an intelligent, software-driven overlay that optimises WAN traffic across multiple connections. A true SD-WAN solution:

1. Ensures high availability with seamless failover.

2. Implements application-aware traffic routing to prioritise critical applications.

3. Provides encryption to secure data in transit.

4. Offers centralised management for easy deployment and monitoring.

5. Delivers analytics and visibility for ongoing optimisation.

These features require a robust combination of software intelligence and hardware capabilities that Mikrotik routers simply cannot provide.

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Why Mikrotik Falls Short for SD-WAN

1. Limited Processing Power
   Mikrotik routers are not designed to handle the computational load required for advanced SD-WAN functions such as real-time path monitoring, dynamic routing decisions, and heavy encryption workloads. As a result, they struggle under the demands of a true SD-WAN deployment, especially in high-traffic environments.

2. Lack of SD-WAN-Specific Features
   Mikrotik routers excel in basic networking tasks, but they do not natively support SD-WAN features such as:

   • Application-aware routing.

   • Advanced QoS (Quality of Service) for prioritising critical traffic.

   • Automated path failover with minimal packet loss.

   • Bandwidth aggregation across multiple WAN links.

While some workarounds and scripts exist, they are clunky, unreliable, and labour-intensive, making them unsuitable for enterprise-grade SD-WAN deployments.

3. Complexity in Management
   Mikrotik’s RouterOS, while powerful, is notoriously complex to configure for advanced setups. Achieving even a rudimentary SD-WAN-like behaviour requires significant manual intervention, scripting, and configuration. This complexity increases the risk of errors, downtime, and inconsistent performance.

4. No Centralised Management at Scale
   True SD-WAN solutions offer centralised management platforms that simplify the deployment, monitoring, and troubleshooting of hundreds or thousands of sites. Mikrotik lacks a unified, scalable management system, making it impractical for large SD-WAN implementations.

5. Poor Encryption Performance
   Many SD-WAN deployments rely on encryption to secure data across public networks. Mikrotik routers are not optimised for heavy encryption workloads, leading to poor performance and potential bottlenecks.

6. Inadequate Support for Multi-Cloud Connectivity
   Businesses are increasingly adopting multi-cloud environments, requiring SD-WAN solutions that integrate seamlessly with cloud platforms. Mikrotik does not offer the cloud connectivity optimisation or deep integrations needed for this use case.

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The Cost Fallacy | Why Cheaper Isn’t Better

It’s tempting to use Mikrotik routers for SD-WAN because of their low cost. However, the upfront savings are quickly offset by:

• Increased operational costs from complex configurations and troubleshooting.

• Poor performance, leading to business disruptions.

• Limited scalability, necessitating an expensive overhaul as your needs grow.

In contrast, purpose-built SD-WAN solutions like Fusion’s provide a long-term, cost-effective solution that delivers superior performance, reliability, and ease of use.

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Why Fusion’s SD-WAN Is the Better Choice

Fusion’s SD-WAN is designed from the ground up to meet the demands of modern businesses:

1. High Performance
   Fusion’s SD-WAN uses hardware optimised for SD-WAN workloads, ensuring seamless performance even under heavy traffic.

2. Application Awareness
   Automatically prioritises critical applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, and ERP systems for optimal performance.

3. Centralised Management
   A single, intuitive dashboard allows you to manage your entire SD-WAN deployment, regardless of scale.

4. Robust Security
   Fusion’s SD-WAN uses enterprise-grade encryption, ensuring data security without sacrificing performance.

5. Cloud Integration
   Direct integration with major cloud providers ensures low-latency, high-performance connectivity for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

6. Scalability and Reliability
   Fusion’s SD-WAN scales effortlessly to support multiple sites and offers industry-leading uptime with intelligent failover capabilities.

The Trials & Tribulations of Developing on a Mikrotik

Read the following forum post which describes in detail the problems associated with developing on the platform as users of Mikrotik’s think that SD-WAN is a scam!

👉 Building SDWAN for MikroTik: Here's an Honest Account of What It's Like

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Wrap

Building an SD-WAN on Mikrotik routers is like trying to construct a skyscraper on a sand foundation. While Mikrotik routers are excellent for basic networking tasks, they lack the features, performance, and scalability required for a true SD-WAN solution.

Fusion’s SD-WAN offers a purpose-built, enterprise-grade alternative that ensures reliable connectivity, superior performance, and robust security. When it comes to deploying an SD-WAN that works seamlessly, saves costs, and scales with your business, the choice is clear: Fusion’s SD-WAN is the solution you can trust.

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