I have started using a MikroTik hEX Refresh (E50UG) with RouterOS 7.19.1 on a 1 Gbit fiber connection. I had to add just a few changes (PPPoE client and VLAN 32) to the default configuration to get it connected with the ISP.
To be honest, adding those changes to make the router connect to the ISP, was almost like vibe coding, figuratively speaking. It made me realize that I know very little about networking. So I would like to learn RouterOS.
If anyone could point me in the right direction to start learning the ropes, I would greatly appreciate it! (I already have a link to the RouterOS documentation )
The router os documentation is (usually badly, in the sense of incompletely) written by very knowledgeable and smart engineers that assume that the reader is already very familiar with networking concepts. Very rarely something is explained, the router os documentation tells the bare minimum needed to do something in the Mikrotik scripts/configuration. Probably it is not the right scope for a os documentation to be also a networking tutorial, but the good Mikrotik guys are particularly tight-fisted when It comes to practical examples.
So it is a good resource if you are already familiar with basic networking and know some of the Mikrotik jargon, but It will very likely confuse you if taken as a networking learning resource.
You will find better learning material here on the forum, if you like to learn from examples.
If you instead prefer to learn theory of networking, you should look for Linux networking material, since Ros is using - even if sometimes using different names and with slight differences - the Linux network approach.
The things I wished to know when I started fiddling with Mikrotik stuff I wrote here:
The VLAN Bible, it wasn’t there yet when I first encountered Mikrotik.
A real gem !
Taking out 1 port for mgmt access when messing around with VLANs (point 7 of the twelve rules).
SAFE mode can be a real friend. Use it. (item 20 on GP/CSA)
DON’T upgrade when not needed. And DEFINITELY not on a remote system you can not get to on short notice. Learned that lesson the hard way (on a private setup, so no real harm done apart for some personal inconvenience)
MikroTik is for home office / home use. I am a software developer but I am eager to get more acquainted with RouterOS and networking!
My short term goal is to be able to squeeze as much as possible from the 1 Gbit connection (to paraphrase someone ). Not that I often need so much bandwidth to be honest but I guess it would be oddly satisfying to see the 1 Gbit mark down and up on a speed test.
I started my adventure into networking with Mikrotik (Well I finished CCNA in my high school over 13 years ago but never touched CISCO gear nor did I worked in that field.) and with the help of this forum and a lot of great YouTubers with great tutorials I learned a lot (and I’m still learning). ROS can be scary but it’s great OS for learning networking because with ROS there are no shortcuts, no wizards. You need to know what are you doing. So if you really want to learn networking Mikrotik is great for that. Also as you get familiar with it you will see how powerful and flexible it is.
Thank you for your insights. All the tips and pointers are most helpful with the baby steps I am making in this exciting new world for me! BTW, I had to google what CCNA is, haha.
)
However when you master it, then it would be a pure pleasure.