What does Action=redirect allow you to accomplish in a MikroTik configuration?

The Action=redirect option in MikroTik is primarily associated with redirecting HTTP traffic to a local proxy server. This is essential for implementing a transparent HTTP proxy, which intercepts and processes HTTP requests without requiring users to modify their settings.

When you configure a rule that employs Action=redirect, it effectively causes the router to intercept HTTP requests sent by clients on the network and redirects these requests to a designated local proxy server for processing. This functionality is useful for enhancing caching, filtering content, or monitoring Internet traffic.

In contrast, while transparent DNS caches do exist, they don’t utilize the Action=redirect specifically for their operation. Instead, DNS requests are handled differently, typically not requiring such redirection mechanisms. Other options, such as forwarding DNS to another IP or enabling local services, don’t accurately represent the primary function of Action=redirect, which is mainly centered around HTTP traffic management. Thus, selecting the action based on its capability to manage HTTP traffic through redirection results in a clearer understanding of its role in the MikroTik configuration.