How to Back Up and Restore MikroTik Configuration

Backing up and restoring your MikroTik configuration is a critical task for any network administrator. It ensures that in the event of a failure, misconfiguration, or device replacement, you can quickly restore your settings.

Step-by-Step Guide

This process helps minimize downtime. MikroTik offers two primary methods to back up and restore: Backup Files (binary) and Export Files (script-based). Each serves a different purpose and should be used appropriately for effective backup and restore procedures.

A. Creating a Backup (Binary Method)

1. Open Winbox, WebFig, or SSH Terminal
   • Connect to your MikroTik router.
2. Go to System > Backup
   • In Winbox or WebFig, navigate to System > Backup.
   • If you go to System and do not see the Backup option, you can go to Files. Some Mikrotik models may have different options a little bit.
3. Create the Backup
   • Enter a name for the backup (optional).
   • (Optional) Set a password to protect the backup file.
   • Click Backup.
4. Download the Backup File
   • Go to the Files section.
   • Right-click the backup file (e.g., backup.backup) and select Download to save it to your computer.

Note: This file is binary and can only be restored on the same or very similar MikroTik device.

Click on Files => Backup, you need to enter the folder name and password, and click on Backup

After you click Backup, it will save a file on your Mikrotik router. Then you need to save it to your computer or hard drive by right-clicking on that file and clicking Download

Save the file to your location, done.

B. Exporting the Configuration

We can use the (Script/Text Method)

1. Open Terminal (Winbox or SSH)
2. Run the Export Command /export file=config-backup in your MikroTik to back up and restore settings easily.
3. Download the Export File
   • Go to Files.
   • Download config-backup.rsc to your PC.

After you have run the command as above, go to Files, and you will see the backup files. Just right-click and download it to your computer.

This method creates a human-readable script of the configuration and is suitable for restoring settings across different MikroTik models.

C. Restoring from a Backup (Binary File)

1. Upload the Backup File
   • Drag and drop the .backup file into the Files section of your MikroTik router.
2. Go to System > Backup
   • Click Restore.
   • Select the backup file and confirm.
   • The router will reboot and apply the saved configuration from your backup.

When you need to restore your configuration files, after logging in to Mikrotik, just go to Files => Upload, it will browse to your file backup and select your file => Open

When you have uploaded the file to Mikrotik => select the file => click on Restore

Then enter the password of the backup file that have created when you made the backup => Restore. It will ask to reboot your Mikrotik router => Yes. So all your configurations will be backed up to normal.

D. Restoring from an Export File (.rsc Script)

1. Upload the .rsc File
   • Copy the .rsc file to the Files section.
2. Import via Terminal /import file-name=config-backup.rsc
3. Configuration is Applied
   • The commands in the script will be executed and added to the current configuration, making the backup and restore efficient.

To make you clear, now I will reset the configurations from Mikrotik and restore.

The Mikrotik, after we have reset, will clear the IP address. We cannot log in to the Mikrotik router at the Address. log in, IP Address, but we can login to Mikrotik via MAC Address.

When we can log in to the Mikrotik router, go to the upload script file to Mikrotik

Now, the script file that we have backed up is uploaded to Mikrotik

From the Terminal option, run the command as below and hit enter,

Use the below command to reboot the Mikrotik

Now all the configurations have come back.

Be cautious: This does not remove existing settings unless explicitly instructed in the script.

Regularly backing up and restoring your MikroTik configuration is an essential part of maintaining a stable and recoverable network. Use the binary backup method for quick restoration on the same hardware. Utilize the export method for flexible recovery or migration to other devices. Always store backups securely and verify their success after creation.

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