I’m currently TRYING to use Netinstall reliably, to address other issues (kernel failures) that forum advice has suggested to use Netinstall.
Everyone seems to talk up Netinstall like its some type of miracle worker… sounds wonderful – I’d just be happy if it worked as the manual suggested.
Hardware: Groove A-52HPn (PoE only, no serial line)
Desired RouterOS: RouterOS ver6.2 (standard upgrade package) + 6.2 ntp package
PC: Dell running Windows7 Professional
Netinstall Packages tried:
For RouterOS6.3
For RouterOS6.1
For RouterOS5.6
I have 6 x Groove A-52HPn I want to configure – I am having very mixed and generally poor results.
I have managed to successfully update only ONE router out of 6 (installed OS6.2, NTPv6.2 and my config script using Netinstall)
The main issues are:
Even while holding down the reset button the router does not go to the network to boot – about 20% of the time.
If the router does appear in Netinstall – then the RouterOS doesn’t load – hangs on “Sending offer” and nothing happens, then it returns (see attached)
If you then try to Install again – an error pops up – “Could not stat key file” ? what does that actually mean?
Another issue – after hit Install “Partitioning Drive..etc”, stays on just flashing and flashing…only Cancel will stop this.
Another issue – after hit install – nothing… no feedback, then returns without installing anything.
Another issue – if the RouterOS is the same as the one you want to install, then it wont install (maybe this is expected, but I would have though this program would still partition and install a fresh install) – so it seems that I have to roll back before rolling forward, correct?
The process I am using:
Set Laptop IP address:
a. IP: 192.168.88.10/24
b. DG: 192.168.88.1
Open Netinstall
Set Netinstall server to load IP: 192.168.88.2
On Groove, hold down Reset button, insert RJ45 to boot router (PoE)
Hold reset button until Groove MAC appears in Netinstall window.
Select Configuration script to load
Select RouterOSv6.2 and NTPv6.2 packages to load. Select Install
This has only successfully loaded the RouterOS once – all the other times one of the above failures occurred…
I tried multiple cables at my disposal - no change, still useless.
Tried “run as administrator” - no change, still useless.
Closed all programs, firewalls off and antivirus off - no change, still useless.
Tried 3 different PC’s - others were Windows XP - repeating the same tasks above - no change, still useless.
Tried 3 versions of Netinstall - no change, still useless.
I did managed to get just one other Groove to update (this was the one where Partitioning and formatting hard drive was flashing previously continuously) , I still have 4 Groove A-52HPn’s that will not play nice using Netinstall, so either the Groove hardware is at fault or Netinstall is at fault, the fact I managed to get two working OK, but others wont accept anything from Netinstall is extremely frustrating, either way very poor quality in hardware, software, OS and testing…
The reason I need to get this sorted as I have a customer site where the hardware is failing with Kernel failures and the MikroTik forum generally suggests a Netinstall fix…which I would love to use, if it actually worked… It seem that I may have to advise our business to drop our ongoing commitment to MikroTik hardware and look for an alternative comms solution (Ubiquiti surely could not be any worse!) as our mining radar platforms require something reliable, predictable, sustainable, serviceable, all of which is MikroTik is currently failing.
Netinstall is the ultimate tool to access a routerboard which has become unresponsive. That means that you have a great chance that you can not access it even with netinstall. If the routerboard is software damaged, netinstall can fix it, but if is a hardware problem you can not repair it with netinstall, you will need to change it. In windows 7 you always need to run it as administrator. I have also seen that Acronis Snap Image conflicts with netinstall, they are listening on the same port (I don’t know which port it is).
You are free to choose another route from MikroTik, but just be sure that it is not the fault of the MikroTik devices, otherwise you can find yourself in the same situation. I am saying this because very very rarely I have encountered problems with routerboards or netinstall for that matter.
The definitive tip on Windows 7 (run as admin) is good advice, noted, shame it makes no difference to the result for me here.
At present I can update the hardware with RouterOS without issue using Winbox, so I may assume at this stage the HW is OK.
Interesting that you have had long term use of Netinstall without issues, where I (and my team back in Australia) are experiencing very poor performance, something is simply not right, success with only 2 out of 6 units is not a good success rate.
Some questions if I may:
what type of PC are you running Netinstall, including OS?
is there any issues in the process I undertake listed in my original post?
what version of Netinstall do you always use?
how many times can you use Netinstall on a device? (I originally installed RouterOSv6.2 OK on the units, but then realised that I had forgotten to load NTPv6.2 package at the same time - could this be the cause of my problems?)
Once again, thanks for the advice…
PS: interesting no-one was concerned (or asked about) about the kernel failures I’m seeing - I feel that this is a genuinely serious OS issue!
Well, netinstall is very good on routerboards with serial port, on the other ones like the Groove52 you are trying on, is a little bit tricky with that reset button. It depends whether you are able to boot the device in netboot or it is just resetting itself. But, if the device shows up on the netinstall window, then you are doing it right. If netinstall is not capable of sending the packages to the router, or the process hangs on partitioning, then I would guess a hardware problem.
I have used netinstall on Windows XP and Windows 7 as well, never had problems unless the routerboard was damaged of course.
right now I am using v6.0, but used previous versions as well.
Don’t know that. But practically it is the same as formatting, so I guess it is not limited. Keep in mind that I am not using netinstall every day, I use it rarely because faulty units that would need it are not very common.
The NTP package is not an essential to run the routerboard, so it can not cause any problem. You can always load it afterwards using winbox.
Remarkable!
I am facing issue with disappearing if the Is install files, once router gets detected in Netinstall, I have tried various versions. I am using Window 7 need help to figure out.
tl;dr 6.48.5
Although this is a belated reply, I’m adding this here to potentially help another user whose search index lands them here: After two days of struggling to rescue a “bricked” hAPac², and testing versions 7.1.x, 6.47.x, 6.49.x, I finally landed on 6.48.5 which finally reformatted the drive. I am not 100% certain if the reliability was because this was an ARM device. In November I rescued a 4011 (also ARM) and 6.48.5 was the winner. Also, switching cables between ether1 of the hAPac² and the Windows10 laptop with onbard ethernet did not resolve this issue but adding a USB 3.0 to ethernet adapter did work. Thanks to the recently released YouTube videos from Normis and Oskars as well.
Select Install