Comparativa de eficiencia, seguridad y estabilidad entre RouterOS de MikroTik y Cisco IOS, en entornos de ingeniería en redes

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency, security, and stability of MikroTik’s RouterOS operating systems and Cisco’s Internetwork Operating system (IOS) in network environments for Internet service providers (ISPs) in Ecuador. A methodology combining theoretical and exploratory analysis was employed, using data from the ISP company "JEAPC." Aspects such as geography, static and dynamic routing, Network address translation (NAT), network segregation, Google Cache, and bandwidth limitation were evaluated. It was found that "JEAPC" has a robust data transfer capacity, serving 2800 clients, primarily in El Triunfo and La Troncal regions. Significant differences between Cisco and MikroTik devices were identified. For instance, the Cisco ASR 920 displayed versatility in routing but lacked NAT and bandwidth limitation features for individual clients. In contrast, the MikroTik CCR2004-16G excelled in route stability, NAT capability, and client-level bandwidth limitation, proving to be scalable and efficient for mediumsized environments. The findings highlighted the importance of considering current needs and future scalability when choosing between MikroTik and Cisco devices. MikroTik was identified as an efficient solution, particularly beneficial for companies with tight budgets and moderate growth, whereas Cisco emerged as a solid choice for companies with expansion ambitions. The right choice will depend on the long-term strategy of each ISP in Ecuador.