Hi guys, i have been a frequent user of Mikrotik routers, recently I thought of running Router Os on one of my PCs as a dedicated firewall but I have no idea where to start, kindly advice

Better you explain what you really want to do...

You want install RouterOS inside, for example, Ubuntu, macOS or Windows and use RouterOS, inside the same machine, as firewall?

Not excatly on another OS but changing my pc to a router,a mikrotik router to be exact

On a long-term perspective on power consumption this may is not very wise, I belive…

Just my 2ct…

And you need at least
* 2nd NIC
* RouterOS x86 license

Yes, I have a quad-port NIC already mounted..How do I get the license and do I pay for it? On the issue of power consumption, this is just a test PC and will not place it on my network, only for testing purposes

I think he is aware of the power consumption

Best will be Some new/old ATOM cpu , laptop cpu , or downvoltage CPU on MB in that CPU
I do similar thing to my first/now old PC .. he is running now 24/7
i7 3770k, 16GB ram, no GPU . after tweaks .. i got 34W on iddle . 50W on medium work (no downclocing the clocks!)
Its not so mach.. according how many stuff or HV VM can launch on it ... vs raspberry pi or expensive small juice energy low PC/mini pc

Explain more what that machine is. And do you want it ONLY for Mikrotik os or do somethink more later.

Yes, I have a quad-port NIC already mounted..How do I get the license and do I pay for it? On the issue of power consumption, this is just a test PC and will not place it on my network, only for testing purposes

License need only For Dude if want fast speed load - FOR SURE - without is 1Mb max
And.. like i remember good... if need High lvl of function and layers? ..not sure now

Just get the x86 install image an burn it on a USB-Stick, boot & install.

https://mikrotik.com/download

CD image on a CD might work as well. I only used the ISO-file on VM before.

But beware: config is blank! No adress, no default firewall, etc. !

Later get a demo-license, Full even later... (see wiki, licenseing...)

Hi, there I managed to install the image on the pc and I am now using the PC as my router. I noticed a pop-up once I opened the interface via winbox alerting me that I only have access to the router for 24hrs then I will need a license key, should I be worried about it since I do not have one?

https://mikrotik.com/client

Create account, login, goto Routeros Keys -> Make a demo key

Thank you, I did that and now I have a demo key. Although I have noticed that the Router OS I installed does not have a VPN address, it uses my internal IP as a VPN address. Is it possible to get a VPN address?