I bought Mikrotik RB952Ui-5ac2nD and I am happy with it.
When I learnt that RouterOS could be installed and run in VirtualBox I installed it to learn how to use its features without spoiling the configuration I have on physical router.
However, it requires buying licence. I created my account at Mikrotik but absolutelly do not understand licensing policy.
My plan was to clone the VM and learn Mikrotik to Mikrotik(s) interaction. How nany licenses do I need? When VM “dies”, will I need a new license?
If you haven’t had a look at CHR licensing manual, then I think it wraps things up quite neatly.
If you’re trying to play with CHR only, then you can live with free license. Functionality is all available, throughput is severely limited though.
And yes, in principle license is tied to a VM. You should use VM hypervisor methods of backing up the VM so in case anything crashes, you can recover your VM from backup (in which case license should still be valid). If your VM crashes and you have to build it from start, then you’ll need new license. AFAIK (but you have to verify that with MT support) CHR licenses are non-transferable, so you can not move license from one VM to another.
You can transfer CHR licenses between two VM!
Yes, you can. But the old CHR has to be running so the license can be released. If old VM crashes and can’t be restored, then …
Surely everyone consistently makes backups, right ?
And store those backups on another device ? Preferably even another location ?
Oh, it’s not so ? Really ?
Many thanx for the link. Everything there described clearly.
—> Free licenses
The free license level allows CHR to run indefinitely. It is limited to 1Mbps upload per interface. All the rest of the features provided by CHR are available without restrictions. To use this, all you have to do is download disk image file from our download page and create a virtual guest. <—
However, this is what I have exactly done. But receiving this msg:
RouterOS Welcome
ROUTER HAS NO SOFTWARE KEY
Your router does not have any valid key. Please, get valid key from www.mikrotik.com and enter it at “System | License”.
If you already have paid for this license, please,
press “Update Key” in “License Window”
Router will stop functioning after 23h and 20m if no valid key is entered.
Turn off the device to stop the timer
Current installation “software ID”: EZ9H-7XHD
License…
OK
No, it doesn’t have to run. You can do it on the website, even if the old VM doesn’t run.
There are two different type of “device”
Physical Mikrotik device with embedded license:
Or CHR device:
I think if your system asks to add or update Key than you made something wrong. The CHR hasn’t Software ID and a Mikrotik device doesn’t have System ID!