I wish to reset them and connect them to a home built router running OpnSense [which, editorializing, . . . makes much more sense to me than opaque RouterOS webfig (or WinBox)]
The wAP ac s were updated to RouterOS 7.1.5 and corresponding firmware before the "decommissioning" of the hEX-S a few days ago. [ The SECOND of these units was just upgraded to 7.2 as I just realized that was released in the past day or two -- as I somewhat miraculously still have access to the unit. ]
The FIRST unit I tried to reset (both with webfig and ultimately the physical reset button on the device) and I am getting nowhere quickly -- except I can no longer access the device, except (sometimes!) the Mikrotik Android app -- which does NOT seem apply the configuration options I choose (sometimes it just times out, others it seems to "take" but then disconnects)! The reset was at least partially "successful" as it now (sporadically, depending on how I manage to work the reset function) broadcasts a default "Mikrotik-someletters&numbers_here" SSID
The unit should pull an MAC-linked assigned IP address from my DHCP server, but after and and all resets (and Android-app invoked setup it is no longer doing that.
The short manual which accompanied the device suggests pressing the reset button for 5 seconds on boot (with longer options for CAPsMAN and Netinstall options, which I do not want). Somewhat ambiguously the "manual" says that if the button is held BEFORE applying power, then a "backup RouterBOOT loader" will be loaded.
So, what is the magic "sauce" on resetting this device and getting it to pull my preferred IP address so I can once again get in using webfig?
If possible, please give me the EXACT steps I need to take to reset these devices so:
- ALL residual configuration is deleted
- they take an IP address from a DHCP server so that I can configure each wAP ac device using webfig (or WinBox which I can run from a virtualized install of Windows on this network -- if "necessary")
The only "reliable" tool(s) I think I have at this point to deal with these frustrating devices is/are:
- the reset switch on wAP ac #1
- the reset switch on wAP ac #2 and webfig -- likely ONLY so long as I don't reset anything on it (but it NEEDS to be reset as it is trying to take its config from CAPsMAN -- which is no longer available on this network . . .)
- ability to plug in either wAP ac directly into a computer with a crossover cable (if that is of any benefit to control it without the complexity of a network "in the way"
Thanks in advance for any insights!