Update / Upgrade confusion

RouterOS Beginner Basics
1

Sorry i have this noob question .
I am a bit confused by RouterOS update process..:

So the “Check for Updates” section in the quick set panel shows me the installed version is 6.49.7, but on the routerboard panel it shows 6.47.10 as the current firmware..
So i guess that means the OS and the Firmware are independent right? I understand if i click the UPGRADE button in Routerboard the firmware then shows updated…
I always though the update took care of everything but looks like i was never upgrading the firmware. Does this mean the router was always exposed to the existing security holes
with the previous versions or the updates alone take care of that regardless of the firmware installed?

Configuring wireless on wAP R from zero
2

yes, firmware and operating system are not related.
also, there are no security holes in firmware. there is no reason to upgrade it all the time.

check for updates menu is the one you need to use

3

@axotik
RouterBOOT = firmware = “BIOS / EFI” (for other user that currently do not are on this topic: no matter the precise and correct scientific name)
RouterOS = software (like Ubuntu / Windows / MacOS)

You can have different versions, but is important to have latest firmware/RouterBOOT,
because if you read the changelogs, often some fix are possible only if laters RouterBOOT/firmware is used.

For examples, latest RouterOS changelogs: (not exist one RouterBOOT changelog, but is like this, at the end)
7.6

*) routerboard - set “Delete” as default key to enter booter menu (> “/system routerboard upgrade” required> );

7.9

*) routerboot - added “preboot-etherboot” and “preboot-etherboot-server” settings (> “/system routerboard upgrade” required> ) (CLI only);

7.10 (from rc5)

*) routerboard - fixed memory test on CCR2116-12G-4S+ (> “/system routerboard upgrade” required> );
*) routerboard - improved RouterBOOT stability for Alpine CPUs (> “/system routerboard upgrade” required> );

MikroTik, from version 6 onwards, has taken on the bad and detestable habit of calling the firmware with a new name every time,
even if absolutely nothing changes inside.

4

Ok thank you guys for the clarifications..
Now i have another router. A hAP AC2 with up to date 6.49.7 OS/Firmware.
I downloaded the available upgrade here in the product page: https://mikrotik.com/product/hap_ac2#fndtn-downloads
So i got the file: routeros-arm-7.9.npk
I uploaded the file to the mikrotik router and typed:

/system package update install file=routeros-arm-7.9.npk

Immediately a new text file showed up in the root of the disk with the following:

# may/18/2023 17:27: 9 by RouterOS 6.49.7
# software id = LNA4-IPRD
#
            channel: stable
  installed-version: 6.49.7
     latest-version: 6.49.7
             status: System is already up to date

So it looks like the router is not upgrading to 7.9.


Why?

5

oh you redirected the output of the command to a file (with the “file=…” parameter, which is not needed here)

take a look at the documentation for more infos on updating/upgrading rOS
https://help.mikrotik.com/docs/display/ROS/Upgrading+and+installation#Upgradingandinstallation-Manualupgrade

6

From screenshot, you use winbox…
On drop-down menu select upgrade (7.9) and click download and install (at your own risk)
or simply drag & drop file on open winbox (without any windows opened inside) and reboot without check if the file is visible or not.

7

Coming from ros6 you also need to change channel.

8

Is better use netinstall to skip any problem…

9

Agree but you made the reference to winbox method :laughing:

10

also, do not forget to backup your v6 config

11

also, do not forget to backup EXPORT your v6 config

12

:man_facepalming: both