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Backups and Upgrades in RouterOS 7

Ensure your MikroTik configurations are safe and your RouterOS version is up to date.

20-30 min

Backups and Upgrades in RouterOS 7

Maintaining your router involves keeping the firmware updated for security patches and new features, and keeping reliable backups so you can quickly recover from hardware failure or configuration mistakes.

1. Two Types of Backups

MikroTik offers two fundamentally different ways to save your configuration:

  1. Binary Backup (.backup): A complete image of the router’s state, including passwords, MAC addresses, and certificates. Crucial Limitation: This file should only be restored to the exact same physical router (or its identical replacement) because it hard-codes MAC addresses and interface names.
  2. Export Script (.rsc): A human-readable text file containing the CLI commands needed to recreate your configuration. This is the preferred method for migrating configs between different models or saving configs to version control (like Git).

Creating a Binary Backup

/system backup save name=my-router-backup dont-encrypt=yes

(To encrypt it, omit dont-encrypt and provide a password=)

  1. Go to Files.
  2. Click the Backup button at the top.
  3. Enter a Name. Optionally, check Don’t Encrypt or provide a password.
  4. Click Backup.

Creating an Export Script

/export file=my-router-export
  1. Open a New Terminal.
  2. Run /export file=my-router-export.
  3. Go to Files to locate the .rsc file.

Downloading Files to your Computer

To download these files from WinBox, simply open the Files menu, click and drag the .backup or .rsc file out of WinBox, and drop it onto your computer’s desktop or folder.

2. Upgrading RouterOS

RouterOS has several release channels. For production environments, it is highly recommended to stick to the Stable or Long-term channels.

  • Stable: The default channel, containing new features and fixes.
  • Long-term: Receives only important bug fixes, no new features. Best for mission-critical infrastructure.
  • Testing / Development: Unstable, do not use in production.

How to Upgrade

/system package update
check-for-updates
# Review the output to see what version is available
install
  1. Go to System → Packages.
  2. Click Check For Updates.
  3. Ensure the Channel is set to stable or long-term.
  4. Click Download&Install. The router will reboot automatically to apply the update.

3. Upgrading the RouterBOARD Firmware

A MikroTik device actually has two pieces of software to update: the operating system (RouterOS) and the bootloader firmware (RouterBOARD).

After upgrading RouterOS, you should always check if a RouterBOARD firmware update is also available.

/system routerboard print
# Compare "current-firmware" with "upgrade-firmware"
/system routerboard upgrade
# Press 'y' to confirm
/system reboot
  1. Go to System → RouterBOARD.
  2. Compare the Current Firmware with the Upgrade Firmware.
  3. If they differ, click Upgrade.
  4. A prompt will appear confirming the upgrade. Click Yes.
  5. The upgrade only takes effect after a reboot. Go to System → Reboot.