Configuring PCC for Dual WAN Load Balancing and Link Redundancy on MikroTik

Geeks, readers, and network administrators out there interested in enhancing your network's reliability and performance by merging multiple WAN connections might find this article quite valuable. Specifically, if you're exploring or already have multiple WAN connections (or planning to), the MikroTik RouterOS offers robust solutions like Parallel Connection Cloning (PCC) for both load balancing and link redundancy. PCC not only ensures maximum uptime but also distributes traffic efficiently across your multiple WANs.

Why Choose PCC for Your Network?

When considering Load Balancing and Link Redundancy solutions for MikroTik networks, MikroTik RouterOS provides a variety of methods, among which the ECMP (Equal Cost Multi-Path) and PCC (Parallel Connection Cloning) are notable.

ECMP Load Balancing

ECMP is known for its ease of configuration and provides a highly efficient load balancing solution. It establishes multiple parallel paths (routes) of equal cost to distribute network traffic. However, ECMP, while excellent in smaller networks or specific scenarios, can present challenges and limitations in larger topologies, including potential issues with route convergence and scalability.

PCC Load Balancing

PCC, a multi-link and multi-path load balancing technology, offers unparalleled reliability and redundancy. PCC creates separate and independent connections for each WAN link, ensuring that the network always has a viable path to the internet. It's particularly useful in scenarios where you need seamless failover and consistent performance, even when one or more links go down. Despite its robustness, the configuration of PCC can be more complex than ECMP.

Previous Experience

In my previous article, I discussed how to configure ECMP Load Balancing and Link Redundancy on MikroTik RouterOS. Now, I will guide you through the detailed steps to configure PCC Load Balancing and Link Redundancy using MikroTik RouterOS v6.38.1 with a dual gateway setup.

Setting Up PCC Load Balancing on MikroTik RouterOS

To set up a load balancing and link redundancy network with PCC on your MikroTik Router, follow these steps:

Core Devices and IP Information

I am using a MikroTik RouterOS v6.38.1 with two ISP connections and a LAN network (refer to the core devices and IP information below for a clearer understanding).

ISP 1: Public IP: 192.168.1.1, Private IP: 192.168.10.1
ISP 2: Public IP: 192.168.2.1, Private IP: 192.168.10.2
LAN Network: 192.168.10.0/24

Step-by-Step Guide

The following steps explain the process of configuring PCC on your MikroTik Router.

Step 1: Setting Up the Interfaces and IPs

First, assign the public interfaces to the respective ISP connections and assign private IP addresses to the LAN interface.

[interface]
add name"ether1" contentsether,arp,noipdefaultgw add name"ether2" contentsether,arp,noipdefaultgw
[ip address]
add address192.168.1.1/24 interfaceether1 network192.168.1.0
add address192.168.2.1/24 interfaceether2 network192.168.2.0
[ip address]
add address192.168.10.1/24 interfaceether1 network192.168.10.0
add address192.168.10.2/24 interfaceether2 network192.168.10.0

Step 2: Configuring PCC Links

Create two PCC groups, each representing one of the ISP connections. Then, enable the links within these groups.

[interface pcc link]
add grouppcc_group1 linkether1 ether2 modeloadbalancing add grouppcc_group2 linkether2 ether1 modeloadbalancing
[system pcc group]
add namepcc_group1
add namepcc_group2
[/system pcc group]
[/interface pcc link]
[/system pcc link]

Step 3: Enabling PCC for Routing

Finally, enable PCC for routing by setting the /routing pcc configuration to use the PCC groups you configured.

[routing pcc]
set default grouppcc_group1
add grouppcc_group2

Conclusion

By configuring PCC, you can achieve a highly reliable and performant load balancing and link redundancy solution in your network using MikroTik RouterOS. This setup ensures that your network remains robust, even in the event of a link failure, while also providing optimal traffic distribution. While the configuration might require more hands-on work compared to ECMP, the benefits in terms of reliability and redundancy are significant.

Next Steps

Given the complexity and the critical nature of these configurations, it is advisable to test your network thoroughly after deployment to ensure that PCC is performing as expected. If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, refer to the official MikroTik RouterOS Wiki for more guidance and troubleshooting tips.