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MTCNA Class 01: Introduction to MikroTik RouterBoard & RouterOS

 

Objectives -

  1. What is the MikroTik Router?
  2. Advantages of MikroTik and Use Cases
  3. Introduction to Winbox, Webfig (GUI Based Config)
  4. Introduction to SSH & Telnet (Command Line Based) 
  5. Overview of MikroTik RouterOS and its features
  6. About RoMON (Router Management Overlay Network)



Mikrotik Routerboard -

MikroTik Routerboard is a Latvian company that manufactures network hardware and develops network software.

It is popular for cost-effective, high-performance networking solutions used by ISPs, enterprises, and small businesses.


MikroTik RouterOS

RouterOS is the operating system that runs on MikroTik hardware (RouterBOARD) and virtual environments (CHR – Cloud Hosted Router). It is based on the Linux kernel and provides powerful routing and networking features.

Key Features of RouterOS:

  • Routing – Static & dynamic (OSPF, BGP, RIP)

  • Firewall & NAT – Packet filtering and network address translation

  • Wireless – AP and client modes

  • Bandwidth Control – Queues, traffic shaping

  • VPN – PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN, IPsec

  • VLANs & Bridging

  • Hotspot – Captive portal for user authentication

  • Load Balancing & Failover

License Levels: RouterOS has different license levels (L3–L6) that define feature availability.

Discussed about Winbox

Winbox is a graphical configuration tool for MikroTik routers, available for Windows. It allows administrators to configure RouterOS using a GUI instead of only the command line.


Advantages of Winbox:

  • Easy to use and fast.

  • Connect via IP address or MAC address.

  • Full configuration access to RouterOS features.

  • Can work even without IP configuration (using MAC connection).


Accessing MikroTik with Winbox, Webfig, Telnet & SSH

Winbox Steps: 

  • Connect to the router using an Ethernet cable.

  • Open Winbox → Click Neighbors to discover devices.

  • Select the device (by MAC or IP).

    • Login:

      • Default username: admin

      • Default password: (blank)

Webfig Steps: 

  • Basic connection should be done.

  • Open the Browser => type the ip address of MikroTik Router


By Webfig :




Telnet Steps:


SSH Steps: 



RoMON in MikroTik Router:

It is a MikroTik proprietary Layer-2 management protocol that allows administrators to manage MikroTik devices through other MikroTik routers, RoMON creates a management tunnel/overlay between MikroTik devices. Following Cases RoMON working:

  • IP connectivity is unavailable.
  • Devices are in different subnets.
  • Firewall rules block access.
  • Routing is broken.

  • A router has no IP address configured.
  • RoMON assigns each MikroTik router: a unique RoMON ID (MAC-like).




    • Configuration Process for both MikroTik Routers:

    Step-01: from "Tools" => Click on "RoMON"


    Step-02: Check "Enabled" & Set the Secrets as optional. or
                    Terminal: /tool romon set enabled=yes secrets= * * *
                                    /tool romon print
                                    /tool romon discover


    Step-03: from RoMON Settings => click "Discovery" or
                   Terminal: /tool/romon/discover
                                 /ip/neighbor/print




    Step-04: Verify the RoMON Configuration.


    Initially, MikroTik Core Router Connected by RoMON.



    Finally, Connect the MikroTik Client Router while connecting RoMON Agent.




    N:B: at the RoMON settings, all connected MikroTik Routers would be same login credential.


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