We have several RB500 with Software 2.9.23 installed.
I do want to upgrade to an current release but have the problem that on this Version License allows only upgrading until 2007.
I have read through the FAQ and it states that upgrading is still possible through netinstall.
But my RB500 are all mounted inside outdoor Antenna housings on towers, buildings and other exposed locations.
So it is not really easy to get there with a serial console.
Is there any other way ?
Upgrading to 2.9.30 to 40 first (with clock set backards) and then to then to the latest one.
Where could I get such an old software file ?
Unfortunately I have only 2.9.44 in my archive and that is 2 months to young.
regards
you have to buy a new license key.
no, you don’t. you can use Netinstall to upgrade this router, and there will be no need for purchases.
I know it works with netinstall.
I have tried that successfully in the lab.
Is there absolutely no other way ?
I mean without serial console cable ?
All those routerboards (approx 10 pieces) are mounted in sealed outdoor antenna enclosures on masts and towers.
And it is a real pain to open those all and attach serial console.
If there is no other easy way I will have to replace one by one, get them back in the lab, upgrade - replace and so on.
That is the easiest, but you could set the BIOS to boot from Ethernet through WinBox’s New Terminal or Telnet/SSH. Just make sure you have a Netinstall server running on the same L2 network (ie. no routers) and have any firewalls disabled.
TIP1: I’ve found that on some laptops (especially with Intel or other ‘decent’ network chips), if you plug the laptop straight into the RB’s ethernet port, the autonegotiation takes too long after the RB reboots, and netinstall fails. It’s best to put a switch (as cheap and as dumb as possible works best!) between the RB and the laptop when doing Netinstalls.
TIP2 (Important!): Make sure you choose ‘Try Ethernet First, Then NAND’ so if it doesn’t work the box will boot into RouterOS. If you set it to ‘Boot From Ethernet Only’, you end up with a board which just keeps trying to boot off Ethernet, even after the upgrade, and the only way to change it back is through serial console.
TIP3: Avoid upgrading straight to v.3. First upgrade to the latest version of 2.9 (currently 2.9.51), THEN upgrade to v3 from there if that’s what you want to do.
TIP4: Have your riggers ready.. you never know 