# Manual Network Setup (No Default Configuration)
> How to manually set up a MikroTik router that has no default configuration: reset to a clean state, create a bridge, assign a LAN IP address, and configure a DHCP server using CLI or WinBox/WebFig.
# Manual Network Setup (No Default Configuration)
Most MikroTik routers ship with a [default configuration](./configuration-management/default-configurations) that already provides a bridge, a LAN IP address, a DHCP server, and a basic firewall. If you keep the default configuration, you can skip this page.
Follow the steps below only if your device has **no default configuration**, or if you have reset it to a clean state.
## Start from a clean configuration
1. Connect the Internet cable to the router's **ether1** port.
2. Connect your computer to any other **Ethernet** port.
3. Open WinBox and locate the router using Neighbor Discovery. For detailed instructions, see the [WinBox article](../management-tools/winbox).
4. Select the router's MAC address and click **Connect**.
To start with a completely clean configuration, run the following command:
```ros
/system/reset-configuration no-defaults=yes skip-backup=yes
```
The router will reboot without any default settings, firewall rules, or services configured.
Or from WinBox:
## Create a bridge and assign an IP address
Since a MAC connection can sometimes be unreliable, the first step is to enable IP connectivity. This involves three main tasks:
- Create a bridge interface and assign bridge ports
- Assign an IP address to the bridge interface
- Configure a DHCP server
Create a bridge interface, add the desired Ethernet port as a bridge port, and assign the IP address to the bridge:
```ros
/interface/bridge/add name=bridge1
/interface/bridge/port/add interface=ether2 bridge=bridge1
/ip/address/add address=192.168.88.1/24 interface=bridge1
```
1. Open the **Bridge** window, ensuring the **Bridge** tab is selected.
- Click the **New** or **+** button to open a new dialog box. You can either enter a custom bridge name or retain the default **bridge1**, then click **OK** to proceed.
2. Switch to the **Ports** tab and click the **New** or **+** button to open another dialog box.
- Select **ether2** as the interface and **bridge1** as the bridge, then click **OK**. Repeat this step for each additional port that you want to add to the bridge.
- You may close the bridge dialog.
3. Access the **IP** menu and navigate to the **Address** dialog.
- Click the **New** or **+** button to open a new dialog box.
- Enter IP address **`192.168.88.1/24`** and select interface **bridge1** from the dropdown list.
- Click **OK** to confirm the settings.
## Set up a DHCP server
To simplify and expedite this process, run the setup command. Most of the configuration options are automatically determined, so you simply need to press Enter to accept each value:
```ros
[admin@MikroTik] > ip dhcp-server/ setup [enter]
Select interface to run DHCP server on
dhcp server interface: bridge1 [enter]
Select network for DHCP addresses
dhcp address space: 192.168.88.0/24 [enter]
Select gateway for given network
gateway for dhcp network: 192.168.88.1 [enter]
Select pool of ip addresses given out by DHCP server
addresses to give out: 192.168.88.2-192.168.88.254 [enter]
Select DNS servers
dns servers: 192.168.88.1 [enter]
Select lease time
lease time: 1800 [enter]
```
The DHCP Server Setup wizard is also available in [WinBox](../management-tools/winbox) and [WebFig](../management-tools/webfig):
- Navigate to the **IP → DHCP Server** window, ensuring the **DHCP** tab is selected.
- Click the **DHCP Setup** button to open a new dialog.
- Select **bridge1** as the **DHCP Server Interface** and click **Next**.
- Follow the wizard to complete the setup.
Following these steps, the connected PC should obtain a dynamic IP address automatically. You can then close WinBox and reconnect to the router using the IP address **`192.168.88.1`**.
When IP connectivity is working, continue with [Configuring the internet connection](./first-time-configuration.md#configuring-the-internet-connection-wan) and the rest of the first-time guide.