The legendary RB2011 product line has provided affordable, flexible, and robust connectivity for over a decade. In fact, it was our very first router with SFP. Finally, it’s time for an upgrade. But don’t worry: we’ve kept and improved all the key elements and features of the beloved RB2011. Even the red color scheme and the appealing price!

There are three main reasons to choose the L009: better performance, more features, and some interesting quality-of-life improvements. Let’s start with the raw power and performance improvements.

L009 features a powerful dual-core ARM CPU. It offers significant improvement when it comes to routing and filtering, complex firewall rules, IPsec hardware encryption, and various advanced RouterOS features. ARM CPU architecture provides significant advantages over older MIPS-based devices. Like using all the latest Linux Kernel features. Or implementing your own container projects. The combination of a modern ARM CPU and a full-sized USB port is perfect for running custom container projects. You could run a Pi-hole adblock on this router, for example. Or you could use the USB to add an LTE modem of your choice. Imagination is the real limit here.

L009 is up to 4 times faster than RB2011 in most cases and setups, from simple fast path routing to complex bridge filters. And L009 IPsec hardware encryption ensures lower CPU usage without measurable performance degradation compared to the regular driver. You can expect around 60-90 Mbps throughput using a 1400 byte packet size.

All the ports are now Gigabit Ethernet ports. There’s PoE-in on the first port. You can use it instead of the DC jack to power the unit. And there’s PoE-Out* on the last port – for powering other devices. Another helpful addition is an SFP cage that supports both Gigabit and 2.5 Gigabit connectivity. We have tested a variety of MikroTik SFP modules and cables that support higher speeds – the 2.5G capability makes a sysadmin’s life so much easier– there’s a console port for quick direct-access configuration!

At the heart of it all we have a speedy Marvell Peridot Switchchip which offers an impressive 2.5 Gigabit full duplex connection to the CPU to all the ports except Ether1. The first port has its own Gigabit full duplex line to the CPU. That means – countless configurations with no bottlenecks!

The new enclosure is a spectacular innovation on its own. It’s the same form-factor you might have seen with our highly sought-after RB5009 devices. It has several extremely useful properties. First of all, the case acts as a massive heat-sink, protecting your setups from overheating. But here’s the fun part: it comes with everything you need to fit up to four of these routers in a single 1U rackmount space.

Here at MikroTik, we’re the world champions of server room tetris. So here’s our latest lifehack for the most efficient server rooms: grab an RB5009 with PoE-out ports. And mount it together with seven L009 routers in just two 1U rackmount spaces. You’ll become a living legend among system administrators, setting a new example of efficient space management and simple, reliable powering. This RM version of L009 is almost the same as the IN version – except for the 2.4 GHz wireless. It comes with all the necessary mounting accessories and allows you to cut costs even further.

RB2011 will always remain a networking legend, but it’s time to take it up a notch. And the L009 product line is the perfect upgrade that will help you save time, money, and server room space like never before!