Router manufacturers always look to patch their firmware to improve the stability and security of their equipment. MikroTik is no exception and, from time to time, provides updates for its products that improve the performance of this router by updating MikroTik.
Setting up a router is a very time-consuming task, and it is always recommended to back up your router settings so you can use it in an emergency.
Mikrotik update tutorial
There are two ways to update Mikrotik:
1. Update Mikrotik: Online
The online method is simple. Note that Mikrotik must be connected to the Internet, and DNS must be set up to use the online method.
From the menu on the left side of winbox, select System and then package.
You will see an image like the one below:
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By clicking Check for Updates, the System will notify us if there is a new update. As in the image below, by clicking Download & Install, the new version of RouterOS will be downloaded and installed on the router board:
*Note that after downloading, the router will be restarted for installation.
2. Update Mikrotik: offline
This method is used if the router does not have access to the Internet.
This way, we receive the new updated packages from the Mikrotik site. For each product, there are two packages on the Mikrotik website, which you can see in the image below:
To update Mikrotik, download the Extra Packages file and unzip it.
Then select the file option in inbox from the left menu.
Transfer the contents of the downloaded file to the router (either Drag & Drop or copy and paste). Then restart the router to update automatically.
The Extra Packages file contains all MikroTik packages, and you can transfer only the packages you need to the router to update them.
This way, you should get the package suitable and compatible with your router from the site.
In cases where no new packages are installed after restarting, it is better to restart manually once.
Make a backup copy of Mikrotik settings.
To take a backup, go to the File menu from MikroTik settings and click on Backup.
You will see another window. Here you can give a name for the backup file or even a password.
By clicking Backup, a file will be created that you can transfer to your computer and, if necessary, transfer to the router and restore the settings.
To restore a backup file, click Restore in the file window.
In the Backup file section, select the desired backup file. If you entered a password during Backup, enter it and click Restore.
Conclusion
Be careful not to back up from one router to another router (with a different model). This article discussed how to backup and update Mikrotik in two ways, offline and online. Good luck.