Overview

This manual introduces you with commands which are used to perform the following functions:

• system backup/restore - stores system configuration in binary format
• configuration export/import - plain text configuration management
• configuration reset - different methods of system reset to defaults

System Backup/Restore

System backup is the way to clone completely routers configuration in binary format. Backup file contains not just configuration, but also statistics data, logs etc.

Restoring backup file should be done only on the same router or on the similar router, when previous router fails. Backup must not be used to clone configuration on multiple network routers.

Example to save and load backup file:

[admin@MikroTik] > system backup save name=test password=123
Configuration backup saved
[admin@MikroTik] > file print
# NAME TYPE SIZE CREATION-TIME
0 test.backup backup 12567 sep/08/2004 21:07:50
[admin@MikroTik] >
[admin@MikroTik] > system backup load name=test password=123
Restore and reboot? [y/N]:
y
Restoring system configuration
System configuration restored, rebooting now

Import/Export

RouterOS allows to export and import parts of configuration in plain text format. This method can be used to copy bits of configuration between devices, for example clone whole firewall from one router to another.

export command can be executed from each individual menu (resulting in configuration export only from this specific menu and all its sub-menus) or from root menu for complete config export.

Following command parameters are accepted:

For example export configuration from /ip address menu and save it to file:

    [admin@MikroTik] > /ip address print
    Flags: X - disabled, I - invalid, D - dynamic
    #   ADDRESS            NETWORK         BROADCAST       INTERFACE
    0   10.1.0.172/24      10.1.0.0        10.1.0.255      bridge1
    1   10.5.1.1/24        10.5.1.0        10.5.1.255      ether1
    [admin@MikroTik] > /ip address export file=address
    [admin@MikroTik] > /file print
    # NAME                            TYPE         SIZE       CREATION-TIME
    0  address.rsc                     script       315        dec/23/2003 13:21:48
    [admin@MikroTik] >
    

By default export command writes only user edited configuration, RouterOS defaults are omitted.

For example, Ipsec default policy will not be exported, and if we change one property then only our change will be exported:

    [admin@rack1_b4] /ip ipsec policy> print
    Flags: T - template, X - disabled, D - dynamic, I - inactive, * - default
    0 T * group=default src-address=::/0 dst-address=::/0 protocol=all
          proposal=default template=yes
    [admin@rack1_b4] /ip ipsec policy> export
    # apr/02/1970 17:59:14 by RouterOS 6.22
    # software id = DB0D-LK67
    #
    [admin@rack1_b4] /ip ipsec policy> set 0 protocol=gre
    [admin@rack1_b4] /ip ipsec policy> export
    # apr/02/1970 17:59:30 by RouterOS 6.22
    # software id = DB0D-LK67
    #
    /ip ipsec policy
    set 0 protocol=gre

Notice the * flag, it indicates that entry is system default and cannot be removed manually.

Here is the list of all menus containing default system entries

Configuration Import

Root menu command import allows to run configuration script from specified file. Script file (with extension ".rsc") can contain any console command including complex scripts.

For example load saved configuration file

    [admin@MikroTik] > import address.rsc
    Opening script file address.rsc

    Script file loaded and executed successfully
    [admin@MikroTik] >

Import command allows to specify following parameters:

Auto Import

It is also possible to automatically execute scripts after upload to the router with FTP. Script file mustb be named with extension *.auto.rsc. Once the commands in the file are executed rsc file is replaced by *.auto.log file which contains import success or failure information

Configuration Reset

RouterOS allows to reset configuration with /system reset-configuration command

This command clears all configuration of the router and sets it to the factory defaults including the login name and password ('admin' with empty password). For more details on default configurations see the list.

After configuration reset command is executed router will reboot and load default configuration.

It is possible to override default reset behavior with parameters below:

For example hard reset configuration without loading default config and skipping backup file:

[admin@MikroTik] > /system reset-configuration no-defaults=yes skip-backup=yes
Dangerous! Reset anyway? [y/N]: y

And the same using Winbox: