Note: MikroTik's bootloader ( routerboot) may have a size limitation for TFTP images, approximately 7MiB. Once you are happy with the RAM-based operation of OpenWrt, proceed to the step of flashing OpenWrt in order to permanently write OpenWrt into your RouterBoard. If the RAM-based initramfs version you have selected works for you, feel free to try other versions of OpenWrt, such as Latest release or snapshot. When you power down your RouterBoard after loading an initramfs file, OpenWrt will simply vanish: a power down and reboot of the RouterBoard will revert to the prior version of firmware that is still in flash of the RouterBoard. Since an initramfs image is just a temporary image (only loaded into RAM), it is safe to test a particular version of OpenWrt by netbooting (using DHCP/BOOTP/ TFTP) and downloading the initramfs image. This is explained in the model specific wiki pages.įirst Things First: Don't Lose Your RouterOS License Prior versions of OpenWrt required a subsequent upgrade to once again boot OpenWrt using initramfs: with the current version of OpenWrt that now uses Unsorted Block images (UBI), the initial flash and subsequent upgrades can be performed directly in-place from the LuCI web interface.Īfter OpenWrt is installed to Flash, depending on the model, some platform configuration may be needed. In this way, an initial installation is treated exactly the same as a subsequent OpenWrt upgrade.

bin image into the flash of the RouterBoard. Once you have verified OpenWrt is working on your MikroTik hardware, use the LuCI web interface to permanently flash the appropriate sysupgrade.

This RAM-based initramfs OpenWrt image is first used to validate the desired OpenWrt version operates properly without overwriting any existing image in the NAND or NOR flash of the RouterBoard. elf (.bin in some instances) images via TFTP. RouterBoards can netboot OpenWrt initramfs.

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