MikroTik's Fast Path feature bypasses normal packet processing for improved performance, but it also prevents accurate data usage tracking and RADIUS accounting. If your MikroTik hotspot shows zero data usage or bandwidth statistics aren't updating, Fast Path is likely the culprit.
This guide shows you how to disable Fast Path on your MikroTik router to enable proper data usage tracking for your Spotipo captive portal. The fix takes less than 5 minutes.
What you'll accomplish:
Disable MikroTik Fast Path to enable data usage tracking
Restore RADIUS accounting functionality
Enable bandwidth monitoring and data cap enforcement
What you'll need:
MikroTik router with admin access via Winbox
Understanding that disabling Fast Path may slightly reduce routing performance
To disable, go to IP -> Firewall -> Filter Rules. Look for the fast forward rule and disable it.
Restart the Router to make these changes into effect.
Data Usage Tracking Now Works
After disabling the fast-forward rule and restarting your router, MikroTik will properly track data usage and send accounting information to Spotipo. You can now enforce data limits and monitor guest bandwidth consumption.
What to do next:
Verify data usage appears correctly in Spotipo dashboard after guest connections
Configure data limits on packages if desired
Monitor router performance to ensure acceptable throughput
Performance impact: Disabling Fast Path may slightly reduce routing performance on high-traffic networks. For most guest WiFi deployments, the impact is negligible and accurate accounting is worth the tradeoff.
Still not tracking data usage? Contact Spotipo support via live chat or email us at [email protected].