Does changing configs causes to a Flash write ?

Whenever configurations are changed - either via script or WebFig - does it perform a write to the Flash - or it writes to memory?

For example:

If executing a script with the Scheduler while the script has this line:

/ip firewall address-list set [ find comment="My address #1" ] disabled=yes

Then:

  1. If - before running the script - the config was “disabled=no” - would it write the new config (“disabled=yes”) to Flash?
  2. If - before running the script - the config was “disabled=yes” (which means nothing really changed) - would it write the new config (“disabled=yes”) to Flash?

All what is remembered after a reboot has been written into flash. The dynamic (D) items are kept in memory and are lost as soon you reboot.

When setting, a item that has already that status then only Mikrotik knows if it just overwrite the current status or that it only overwrites if the status is different.

When exactly does the device performs a write to Flash ?
Would configs be saved to Flash if an ungraceful shutdown (e.g. power cord to the device got suddenly disconnected) has happened about 1 minute after changing the config?

Do I need to send a question to Mikrotik via email?

SOP is to write changes imediately. MT stated that simply cutting power to device shouldn’t affect it in any way. However there are indications that marginal power supply might affect success of writes to flash in some way.


Yes, information about exact behaviour is not public.

What is “SOP” and “MT” ?

In that case, it seems that a script which is scheduled often could (potentially) degrade the Flash quickly which would subsequently adversely affect the device operation.

Standard Operating Procedure
MikroTik


Yes. So you should think of ways to make your script less “aggressive”. Or plan for router replacement in few years time. Whichever is easier for you.

I think that there is an option to not to write direct to the flash by using Safe Mode in Winbox. Left top of the screen and this could also be used as a delayed write.

http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/winbox-safe-mode/46117/24

https://blog.ligos.net/2018-02-22/Making-Mikrotik-Safe.html

https://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:Console#Safe_Mode

https://help.mikrotik.com/docs/display/ROS/Configuration+Management?src=contextnavpagetreemode