MikroTik is a popular and mostly used router worldwide because of having a lot of networking functionalities and its cheap price. If we buy a MikroTik Routerboard (like MikroTik Routerboard 450G, MikroTik Routerboard 1100 AH etc.), we will find a machine where MikroTik RouterOS is prebuilt but the machine contains limited processing resources such as limited RAM and limited processor core. So, our network could be slow if you use a MikroTik RouterBoard for maintaining a large network.
On the other hand, if we install MikroTik RouterOS on a PC or on a Server, we will get a faster processor with sufficient RAM. So, it will be easy and faster for maintaining a large network with this MikroTik PC Router.
As MikroTik PC Router is a better solution for a larger network, this article is designed to show necessary steps to install MikroTik OS on a PC or a Server.
Requirements
We must have at least two network cards to turn a PC or Server into a MikroTik Router. One card will be used as LAN connection and another card will be used as WAN connection. It is also better to use more than one core and sufficient memory for processing millions of network packets. We also must remember that IDE HDD is required for installing MikroTik RouterOS on a PC or Server Computer.
MikroTik PC Router Installation
MikroTik RouterOS can be installed on a virtual machine or on a physical machine. If we interested to install MikroTik RouterOS on a virtual machine, download VMware Workstation to create a virtual machine and then follow my video tutorial about Setup MikroTik OS on VMware Virtual Machine.
If we interested to install MikroTik RouterOS on a physical machine, download MikroTik OS ISO and burn the ISO in a blank CD or DVD or in a USB flash drive and then follow my below steps to install MikroTik RouterOS a physical machine.
- Boot the PC or Server from bootable media such as CD or DVD ROM. If everything is OK, MikroTik RouterOS will be started to install and format the disk. If you use a large disk, it will take more time to format. So, be patient to wait. After formatting the disk, it will ask for selecting packages those will be installed.
- To install all packages, press ‘a‘ or press ‘M’ for minimal installation and then press ‘i‘ for starting installation.
- It will now ask whether it will keep old configuration or not. Press ‘n’, because it will be better to delete old configuration in the disk. It will now show a warning message. Press ‘y‘ for continue installation. All selected packages will be installed and then it will ask to hit ‘Enter‘ key to reboot the system. Hit ‘Enter‘ key now.
- After rebooting, it will ask to provide login credential. MikroTik default username is ‘admin‘ and password is blank. So, type ‘admin‘ for MikroTik login and password left blank and then hit ‘Enter‘ key.
- MikroTik CLI will appear now. It will also show a Software ID in the login screen. Write down this Software ID because it will be required when we want to purchase a license from MikroTik.
MikroTik PC Router is ready now. We can type MikroTik command in CLI to configure MikroTik Router or we can use Winbox software to configure MikroTik Router.
You should follow above steps carefully to install MikroTik RouterOS on a PC or Server. If we face any problem to do above steps, please follow the below video tutorial about Setup MikroTik OS on VMware Virtual Machine (MikroTik PC Router).
How to install MikroTik RouterOS in a Physical Machine to make a MikroTik PC Router has been discussed in this article. A video is also uploaded to reduce any confusion. However, if you face any problem to install MikroTik RouterOS ISO on a physical machine, feel free to discuss in comment or contact with me form Contact page. I will try my best to stay with you.