Hex S - can I change internet port?

RouterOS Beginner Basics
1

I’d like to change the internet port from ether1 to ether2 or another ether port. Can I do this on Hex S? Or am I limited to choose between SFP and ether1?
The reason is that I’d like to power the Hex S from a POE switch and ether1 is the POE input. When I try to move the internet to ether2 I lose internet connectivity.
I followed this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvMtn9y7Pkw but couldn’t get internet access.

2

No problem, all you have to do is:

/interface

  • change interface list (set ether2 to WAN, ether1 to LAN)

/interface bridge

  • change bridge (remove ether2 and add ether1)

/ip firewall

  • change NAT rule (change ether1 into ether2 in out interface)

while performing the above, make sure you are connected to ether3 - ether5

3

Yes, you can use any port for any role.
That depends only on how you configure your device.
There is no hardcoded roles for ports on mikrotik equipment.

4

I followed the above, except my NAT rule used out-interface list WAN. Would that matter? I'll try again using out interface instead of list.
Rgds,

5

You can continue to use default rule with interface-list, just modify the members of that list.

6

Indeed…did the steps by heart…

7

And remember to change the interface of your dhcp client or pppoe client from ether1 to ether2.

Before and after modifications, export your config to check for any “ether1” leftovers using text search.

8

I finally have it working using ether4 for the internet.

There was one more difference in my config compared to the above instructions. In interface list, LAN, the Interface is bridge. So I went to bridge and disabled the entry for ether2. The router then lost it’s local IP address. I checked DHCP server and it is assigned to Interface bridge.

I can now use ether2 for lan. But it seems I can’t use it for internet.
What’s happening?

9

Ether2 is the first port in the bridge. As soon as you remove that port, ROS assignes a new mac address (hw addr of ether3). Nothing to worry about, just reconnect and it will work. Or set an administrative mac to avoid this kind of flopping.