DHCP client stuck searching

RouterOS Beginner Basics
1

I must be missing something obvious. I just got a Mikrotik CRS112-8G-4S-IN 8 port Gigabit Cloud Router Switch and I need to use it as a router. I’m starting from scratch (Reset Configuration > No Default Configuration). I want to use port1 as WAN for Internet, so I connect it to my fiber ONT. I understand to establish connectivity to ISP I need to set up a DHCP client on that interface, but when I do so it just stays stuck searching. I’ve tried a variety of different configurations based on tutorials and documentation including Reset Configuration > No Default Configuration > QuickSet > Router. Documentation makes it sound like a breeze and tutorials show it as bound after 1 second so I must be missing something.

# apr/11/2024 21:51:33 by RouterOS 6.49.14
# software id = **ELIDED**
#
# model = CRS112-8G-4S
# serial number = **ELIDED**
/interface bridge
add name=bridge1
/interface ethernet
set [ find default-name=ether1 ] name=ether1-WAN
set [ find default-name=ether2 ] name=ether2-LAN
/interface wireless security-profiles
set [ find default=yes ] supplicant-identity=MikroTik
/ip hotspot profile
set [ find default=yes ] html-directory=hotspot
/ip pool
add name=dhcp_pool0 ranges=10.10.10.2-10.10.10.254
/ip dhcp-server
add address-pool=dhcp_pool0 disabled=no interface=ether2-LAN lease-time=1d \
    name=dhcp1
/interface bridge port
add bridge=bridge1 interface=ether8
/ip address
add address=192.168.1.100/24 interface=ether1-WAN network=192.168.1.0
add address=10.10.10.1/24 interface=ether2-LAN network=10.10.10.0
/ip dhcp-client
add disabled=no interface=ether1-WAN
/ip dhcp-server network
add address=10.10.10.0/24 dns-server=8.8.8.8 gateway=10.10.10.1
/ip firewall nat
add action=masquerade chain=srcnat out-interface=ether1-WAN
/ip route
add distance=1 gateway=192.168.1.1
/system clock
set time-zone-name=US/Mountain
2

Postel’s ghost help you, then. That’s a gigabit switch, not a gigabit router.

Yes, it can route, but at tens of megabits per second with a likely configuration, low hundreds at best with a highly-optimized one.

A far better choice for this would be an RB5009, a proper router.


I want to use port1

Call it by its proper name: ether1. I make the distinction because your device also has “sfp1”, which I’d think would be more logical as the WAN port in a “fiber” setup.


I need to set up a DHCP client on that interface, but when I do so it just stays stuck searching.

DHCP isn’t the only option. Do you have evidence that your ISP isn’t using PPPoE instead?

Your configuration depends on the ONT to be in bridge mode. Is it?

Does the ISP-supplied router work with DHCP in this setup?

Aside from these best guesses, all I’ve got are nits in your config:


/ip address add address=192.168.1.100/24 interface=ether1-WAN network=192.168.1.0

What’s the purpose of this if you’re going to get an IP via DHCP on that path?

Mind, it’s perfectly legal to multi-home that interface, but the question remains, “Why?”


/ip route add distance=1 gateway=192.168.1.1

This appears to be part of the prior item, but again, why does it exist? The default DHCP client config establishes a default route.


/interface bridge port add bridge=bridge1 interface=ether8

What’s this doing?

The normal configuration for a router-class device in situations like this is to have all the ports except the WAN port on the bridge, creating two networks. You’ve got three. Why?


Reset Configuration > No Default Configuration

That’s left you without any firewall other than the NAT layer, exposing network services on the router (WinBox, at minimum) to the big bad Internet.

You might want to read my guide to the default configuration.

3

Does a computer get an IP address if directly attached to the ISP connection (so without the router in between)?
This way you can test if it is router related or caused by something mentioned above (in the great and complete answer).