Hello All -

I'm looking at upgrading my RoS platform in one of my busiest sites from the current x86 single-core to a single-socket or dual-socket quad-core platform (so four or eight cores total).

I understand that RoS 5 now has Receive Packet Steering, which (correct me if I'm wrong) will balance the packet routing load across all the cores, instead of binding each core to one ethernet interface. This is what I want, because I will have many more cores that I have interfaces in use, and I want to apply all the processor muscle to the cores I am using. Do I have this right?

Also, can RoS 5 support eight cores?

Thanks!
Ed

Have tested RPS works well but too many pps is causing issues with my router 8 cores..
IF you handle stuff with single core then 2core 4core with RPS will help

Thanks for sharing that info. I have been using single-core systems up to this point and I am wanting a performance improvement. Since I started this thread, I have built out an eight-core system but have not put it into service yet. Can you explain a bit as to what kinds of problems you are having with your eight-core system and high packet rates? What Ethernet chipset are you using, and what are the throughput test results on that? Some brands of Ethernet ports have drastically reduced performance when handling floods of small packets.

Thanks!
Ed

if you are ok with a single core you will have no problem with an 8core . I have a post here which outlines high cpu usage due to very small udp packets goign through our router and the route flaps out with 8 cores at 200kpps

Hi -

I think you forgot to include the link to your other post - please do so, I'd like to give it a read.

HEre it is http://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52236

Thanks for that, I gave it a look. So did you try the suggestions others posted, or find something else to get your CPU usage down? I read a bit of the Mikrotik docs on Receive Packet Steering and it seems it should be possible to get a significant increase in packet-rate capability with multiple cores. I'd be very disappointed if that is not the case as I just spend $3000 building out an eight-core system for RouterOS.

Again it depends on your packets per second. We couldnt keep up so we pushed out a chunk of pps via another router. It still doesnt solve the problem - just delays it by some time until we figure out a more powerful multicore system - at this time i am considering cisco or juniper too but for $$$$ you dont get what you get with MT