The Wireless Networks (WiNe) research group is part of the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3), which belongs to the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). The WiNE research group became member of the MikroTik Academy in the 2022/2023 academic year. Currently, MikroTik devices and the RouterOS operating system are used both for teaching and research purposes, as described in the following paragraphs.
Regarding teaching, MikroTik devices and RouterOS are used in the laboratory section of various BSc and MSc courses related to computer and telecommunication networks and protocols. The laboratory sections of these courses include various advanced topics, like switching (VLAN, LAG, STP), gateway reliability (VRRP), interior routing (RIP, OSPF), exterior routing (BGP), and, underlay (MPLS, LDP, VPLS) and overlay (VXLAN) networks. All these topics are part of the MikroTik certifications, either basic (i.e., MTCNA) or advanced (i.e., MTCRE, MTCINE, MTCSWE, among others). While the topics covered in the different courses are considered advanced, basic computer network topics (i.e., TCP/IP) are also covered, and students also gain hands-on experience with MikroTik devices and RouterOS. Hence, after completing the courses students are allowed to take the MTCNA (MikroTik Certified Network Associate) exam.
Regarding research, MikroTik devices and RouterOS are also used to develop novel communication technologies, protocols and services. In particular, we have a laboratory where we showcase how ISPs can leverage the latest MikroTik routers and switches to create standards-based 10/100 GbE networks with good performance, low consumption and low cost. On top of the network we also showcase how ISPs can leverage Mikrotik devices and RouterOS to provide added value services to their customers, such as underlay (i.e., MPLS, LDP, VPLS) or overlay technologies (i.e., VXLAN) to create L2VPN and L3VPN services. In addition to showcasing technologies, the laboratory is also used in advanced MikroTik training courses (i.e., MTCRE, MTCINE, MTCSWE, among others), allowing students to use the latest equipment and understand the best practices to build advanced computer and telecommunication networks.
Currently, the Wireless Networks research laboratory can offer the following MikroTik certificates:
- MTCNA
- MTCRE
- MTCINE
- MTCSWE
- MTCUME
- MTCIPv6E
Finally, you can find more information about the Mikrotik Academy program in the following link: https://mikrotik.com/training/academy/