In this article, we will explore what Community configurations are, how they are used, and provide practical examples of their implementation in the MikroTik RouterOS operating system.

1. What are Community?

In the context of network routing, a Community is a numerical or alphanumeric label attached to a specific route.

Community configurations allow network administrators to group and control the flow of traffic within an AS.

Each Community has a predefined meaning that indicates how a particular route should be handled. These labels are used by routers to make routing decisions.

2. Community Settings Utilities:

2.1. Routing control

Community configurations allow network administrators to control traffic flow using routing policies based on specific labels.

For example, you can set a policy that prioritizes certain types of traffic or avoids specific routes to optimize network performance.

2.2. Route filtering

By assigning Community settings to routes, administrators can filter and control which routes are advertised or accepted in different parts of the network.

This allows granular control over which traffic is allowed or denied based on specific criteria, such as geographic location, service provider, or performance requirements.

2.3. Implementation of traffic policies

Using Community settings, administrators can apply detailed and specific traffic policies on their network.

For example, they can establish preferential routing policies for certain types of traffic, such as voice over IP (VoIP) or real-time streaming services, ensuring better quality of service (QoS) for these critical applications.