RouterOS Guide · Installation

Installing RouterOS on x86

Running RouterOS on a PC or virtual machine instead of dedicated MikroTik hardware gives you flexibility in specs and deployment — but a few storage and licensing details need attention before you start.

On this page

  1. Before you start
  2. Installing RouterOS
  3. First boot and finding your Software ID
  4. A note on storage and licensing
  5. Verifying the install

Before You Start

  • Download the official RouterOS installation image (ISO for physical/VM install, or the appropriate CHR image for cloud/hypervisor deployment) directly from MikroTik’s own download page — see our Download Guide for what we can and can’t provide directly.
  • Decide on your target disk before installing — see the storage note below, since changing it later can affect your Software ID.
  • Have your virtualization platform (if applicable) configured with a supported disk controller type before install, since some controller changes after the fact can alter the Software ID.

Installing RouterOS

  1. Boot from the official installation media

    Attach the official ISO to your VM, or boot a physical machine from a USB flash drive written with the official image.

  2. Select packages

    The installer lets you choose which RouterOS packages to install — for most routing/ISP use cases, the default system package set is sufficient.

  3. Confirm the target disk

    The installer will ask which disk to install to and typically prompts to erase it. Double-check you’ve selected the correct disk, especially in a VM with multiple attached volumes.

  4. Let the installer complete and reboot

    Remove the installation media (or detach the ISO) so the system boots from the newly installed disk rather than the installer again.

⚠ Destructive step

The installer erases the selected target disk. In a VM with multiple virtual disks attached, confirm you’re installing to the intended one before continuing — there’s no undo once the install proceeds.

First Boot and Finding Your Software ID

On first login after install, RouterOS runs in an unrestricted trial mode for a short window. Your Software ID is visible immediately — on an x86 install it’s shown right on the login screen the first time you log in, as well as under System > License. See our Software ID Guide for every access method (Winbox, WebFig, terminal).

A Note on Storage and Licensing

Once you’ve noted your Software ID and are ready to buy a license, avoid touching the disk’s partitioning or reformatting it before your key arrives and is imported. The Software ID on x86 is generated from the storage device’s MBR — changing the disk configuration between now and importing your key can generate a different Software ID, making the key we issue unusable. Full detail in our x86 Licensing guide.

Verifying the Install

Confirm the install is healthy before buying a license:

Terminal 
/system resource print
/system license print

The first command confirms the RouterOS version, architecture, and free disk space; the second shows your current license level (typically a trial state) and Software ID.

Related guides

Find My Software ID Browse RouterOS Licenses

Technical reference

MikroTik RouterOS documentation — RouterOS x86 Licensing. This page is an independent, original explanation written by our team, not an official MikroTik publication.

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