In ISP networks, redundancy and higher throughput are very important. By configuring LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) between a MikroTik router and a BDCOM OLT, you can combine multiple physical uplinks into one logical link. This ensures load balancing and automatic failover.
Simply put, LACP allows you to combine two or more Ethernet connections to increase bandwidth and provide a backup link if one fails. For ISPs, this is very useful because it guarantees smooth internet delivery even if one fiber line is down.
Step 1: MikroTik LACP (Bonding) Configuration
Login to your MikroTik router and create a bonding interface with mode 802.3ad (LACP):
/interface/bonding> add name=LACP-OLT slaves=ether1,ether3 mode=802.3ad transmit-hash-policy=layer-2-and-3 disabled=no
Here, ether1 and ether3 are physical ports combined into LACP-OLT.
MikroTik router’s ether1 and ether3 will work with a total capacity of 1G + 1G = 2Gbps.When both ports are up, the bandwidth will be shared between them.If one port goes down for any reason, the other port will continue to carry the service with 0% interruption.This means both ports will work together as one high-speed logical connection.
VLAN Creation with LACP-OLT
On the MikroTik Router, I will create several VLANs on the LACP bonding interface, which will be used to provide services to the BDCOM OLT.
For example, I will create VLANs 100–104.
VLAN 100 will be used for OLT management.
VLAN 101 will carry services for EPON-1 port.
VLAN 102 will carry services for EPON-2 port.
VLAN 103 will carry services for EPON-3 port.
VLAN 104 will carry services for EPON-4 port.
You can create VLANs according to your own requirements.
/interface/vlan> add interface=LACP-OLT name=OLT-MGT vlan-id=100 add interface=LACP-OLT name=EPON-1 vlan-id=101 add interface=LACP-OLT name=EPON-2 vlan-id=102 add interface=LACP-OLT name=EPON-3 vlan-id=103 add interface=LACP-OLT name=EPON-4 vlan-id=104
IP Address Assign For MGMT
Now we are assigning an IP address under the VLAN 100 interface to manage the OLT.
/ip address add address=10.200.201.5/30 interface=OLT-MGT disable=no
Step 2: BDCOM OLT LACP Configuration
Now we will configure LACP on the BDCOM OLT side. We have selected ports G1 and G2 on the BDCOM OLT.
First, we will create a Port Channel, which is called a Port Aggregator on the BDCOM OLT.
Then, we will activate this aggregator on both ports.
Follow the commands below.
Switch>enable Switch#config Switch_config# interface Port-aggregator1 Switch_config_p1# switchport mode trunk Switch_config_p1# switchport trunk vlan-allowed 100-104 Switch_config_p1# no shutdown Switch_config_p1#exit Switch_config# Switch_config#interface gigaEthernet 0/1 Switch_config_g0/1# switchport mode trunk Switch_config_g0/1# switchport trunk vlan-allowed 100-104 Switch_config_g0/1# no shutdown Switch_config_g0/1# aggregator-group 1 mode lacp Switch_config_g0/1# exit Switch_config# Switch_config#interface gigaEthernet 0/2 Switch_config_g0/2# switchport mode trunk Switch_config_g0/2# switchport trunk vlan-allowed 100-104 Switch_config_g0/2# no shutdown Switch_config_g0/2# aggregator-group 1 mode lacp Switch_config_g0/2# exit Switch_config#
Port-aggregator1 is the logical LACP interface where physical uplinks (GE0/1 and GE0/2) are aggregated.
You can use more than 2 ports if your router supports them, which further increases reliability and bandwidth.
IP address assigns For MGT:
We can access OLT from our LAN side. It needs to assign an IP address. through which the OLT will be accessed. So let's assign an IP to VLAN 100 for olt MGT (remote management) access using the below command.
Switch_config# interface VLAN 100 Switch_config_v100# ip address 10.200.201.6 255.255.255.252 Switch_config_v100# exit Switch_config# ip route 10.200.201.5 Switch_config#
EPON Port Configure:
Now we need to configure the PON port. We have created 4 VLANs for 4 PON ports.
so let's start,
PON- 1:
Switch_config# interface epon 0/1 Switch_config_epon0/1# switchport mode access Switch_config_epon0/1# switchport pvid 101 Switch_config_epon0/1# exit
PON- 2:
Switch_config# interface epon 0/2 Switch_config_epon0/2# switchport mode access Switch_config_epon0/2# switchport pvid 102 Switch_config_epon0/2# exit
PON- 3:
Switch_config# interface epon 0/3 Switch_config_epon0/3# switchport mode access Switch_config_epon0/3# switchport pvid 103 Switch_config_epon0/3# exit
PON- 4:
Switch_config# interface epon 0/4 Switch_config_epon0/4# switchport mode access Switch_config_epon0/4# switchport pvid 104 Switch_config_epon0/4# exit
Configuration Save:
When the configuration is finished, the running configuration must be saved. If not saved, the configuration will be lost when the OLT reboots. So don't forget to save the configuration at the end. The command to save is given below.
saving Command:
Switch_config# Write all
Step 3: Verify LACP Status
Once configuration is done, check if LACP is running properly:
- On MikroTik:
Run
/interface bonding monitor LACP-OLTYou should see both ports are “active” in the bond. - On BDCOM OLT:
show interface port-aggregator 1This will confirm that both links are part of the channel-group.
Step 4: Testing
Now it’s time to test:
- Disconnect one uplink cable and see if internet still works.
- Run a bandwidth test between router and OLT, and check load balancing.
- Make sure VLAN or PPPoE sessions are passing through the bond interface.
Why LACP is Important for ISPs
Without LACP, each uplink works individually. If one uplink fails, your customers will lose connectivity. With LACP, traffic automatically shifts to the remaining active link. It not only prevents downtime but also increases speed by using multiple links at once.
For example, if each link is 1Gbps and you use two links in LACP, your total capacity will be 2Gbps. This is very helpful when customer traffic grows.
See also my related articles:
How do I Update my MikroTik Router Firmware
CCR 2116-12G-4S+ Full Review | MikroTik Router
MikroTik Introduction | What is MikroTik Router
Conclusion
By following this guide, you can easily configure LACP between a MikroTik router and a BDCOM OLT. This provides redundancy, better bandwidth utilization, and network stability for your ISP infrastructure. Even if you are new to MikroTik or BDCOM, the step-by-step commands here will help you set it up successfully without confusion.