Backup

The RouterOS backup feature allows saving the router configuration in a binary format file, which can then be re-applied on the same device. The system's backup file also contains the device's MAC addresses, which are restored when the backup file is loaded.

You should restore the backup on the same version of RouterOS.

If The Dude or User-manager is installed on the router, the system backup does not contain configuration from these services. Use the provided tool mechanisms to save and export configuration from these services.

warning

System backups contain sensitive information about your device and its configuration; always consider encrypting the backup file and keeping the backup file in a safe place.

Saving a backup

Backup file is generated by running /system/backup/save command. See the CLI reference for parameter descriptions.

Generated backup file is located in /file menu, which can be downloaded by using FTP or other management tools.

danger

If a password is not provided in RouterOS versions earlier than v6.43, the backup file is encrypted with the current user's password, except if the dont-encrypt property is used or the current user's password is empty.

Loading a backup

Backup file is loaded by running /system/backup/load command. See the CLI reference for parameter descriptions.

Example

To save the router's configuration to the file test with a password:

[admin@MikroTik] > /system/backup/save name=test password=<YOUR_PASSWORD> 
Configuration backup saved 

To see the files stored on the router:

[admin@MikroTik] > /file/print 
# NAME TYPE SIZE CREATION-TIME 
0 test.backup backup 12567 2018-09-08 21:07:50 
[admin@MikroTik] >

To load the saved backup file test:

[admin@MikroTik] > /system/backup/load name=test 
password: <YOUR_PASSWORD> 
Restore and reboot? [y/N]: y 
Restoring system configuration 
System configuration restored, rebooting now

Cloud backup

You can securely store your device's backup file on MikroTik's Cloud servers. See the IP/Cloud page for more details.