License Management
| Document revision: | 3 (Tue Jul 13 13:04:07 GMT 2004) |
| Applies to: | V2.8 |
General Information
Summary
MikroTik RouterOS software has a licensing system with Software License (Software Key) issued for each individual installation of the RouterOS. RouterOS version 2.8 introduces a new licensing scheme with different key system. You should upgrade your key when updating to 2.8 version from 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7 versions.
Specifications
Packages required: systemLicense required: Level1
Submenu level: /system license
Hardware usage: Not significant
Description
The Software License can be obtained through the Account Server at www.mikrotik.com after the MikroTik RouterOS has been installed. The Software ID of the installation is required when obtaining the Software License. Please read the MikroTik RouterOS Basic Setup Guide for detailed explanation of the installation and licensing process.
RouterOS allows you to use all its features without registration for about 24 hours from the first run. Note that if you shut the router down, the countdown is paused, and it is resumed only when the router is started again. During this period you must get a key, otherwise you will need to reinstall the system. A purchased license key allows you to use RouterOS features according to the chosen license level for unlimited time, and gives you rights to freely upgrade and downgrade its versions for the term of one year since the key was purchased. A free registred license key (referred as a SOHO key further on) allows you to use a restricted set of functions for unlimited period of time, but does not allows upgrading and downgrading versions.
There are 6 licensing levels, each providing some additional features. Level 0 means that there is no key and all the features are enabled for one day. Level 2 is a transitional license level, that allows to use all the features were allowed by your original license key for a previus version.
| Level number | 1 (SOHO) | 3 (ISP) | 4 (WISP) | 5 (WISP AP) | 6 (Controller) |
| Wireless Client and Bridge | - | - | yes | yes | yes |
| Wireless AP | - | - | - | yes | yes |
| Synchronous interfaces | - | - | yes | yes | yes |
| EoIP tunnels | 1 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| PPPoE tunnels | 1 | 200 | 200 | 500 | unlimited |
| PPTP tunnels | 1 | 200 | 200 | unlimited | unlimited |
| L2TP tunnels | 1 | 200 | 200 | unlimited | unlimited |
| VLAN interfaces | 1 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| P2P firewall rules | 1 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| NAT rules | 1 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| HotSpot active users | 1 | 1 | 200 | 500 | unlimited |
| RADIUS client | - | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Queues | 1 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| Web proxy | - | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| RIP, OSPF, BGP protocols | - | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Upgrade | configuration erased on upgrade | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Note that Wireless Client and Bridge means that wireless cards can be used in station and bridge modes. Bridge mode allows one wireless station to connect it.
When upgrading to 2.8, you can update your existing key for version 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7 for free, if the existing key upgrade term is not over, during the three-day demonstration period either manually on our accounting server or with a console or WinBox command. This three-day term allows you to use all the existing key features present in the previous version. There is also a possibility in 2.8 version to upgrade your key (i.e. to extend licensing term) from the console or WinBox.
Note that the license is kept on hard drive. You can move the hard drive to another system, but you can not move license on another hard drive. License transfer to another drive is a paid service (unless your hard drive has crashed). Please contact support@mikrotik.com to arrange this. Also note that you must not use MS-DOS format or fdisk utilities or you may loose the license.
Important: the abovementioned limits depict the limits enforced by the license. The actual number of concurrent tunnels, rules, queues, users, etc. will vary depending the combination of features used and the load they place on the MikroTik RouterOS.
License Management
Submenu level: /system licenseDescription
There are three methods of entering a key to the system console:
- import a file that should be sent to you after you will require a key (you should upload this file to the router's FTP server)
- simply copy the received key as a text and paste (or type) in to the router's console (no matter in which submenu)
These methods also apply to WinBox, with the difference that key importing and exporting is happening through the Windows host PC itself. The options available:
- Paste Key - get a new license from the Windows Clipboard
- Import Key - get a new license from a file stored locally on the Windows PC
- Export Key - save the existing license as a file on the Windows PC
- Upgrade/Get New Key - the same as new-upgrade-key command in system console
- Update Key - the same as update-key command in system console
Property Description
key (read-only: text) - software license key that unlocks the installationlevel (read-only: integer: 0..6) - license level of the installationsoftware-id (read-only: text) - ID number of the installationupgradable-until (read-only: text) - the date until which the software version can be upgraded or downgradedCommand Description
import - import a key filefilename (name) - file name to use as a key
server (IP address) - key server's IP address
user (text) - username to log into the key server
password (text) - password to log into the key server
level (integer: 2..6) - license level to request
pay-method (credit-card | credit-keys | credit-money | debit-keys | debit-money) - Payment method to use
do (text; default: "") - script to execute while the command is running
interval (time; default: 1s) - how frequently to execute the given script
once - if specified, executes the sctipt once, and then terminates the command Return Values
status - command's execution status
server (IP address) - key server's IP address
user (text) - username to log into the key server
password (text) - password to log into the key server
do (text; default: "") - script to execute while the command is running
interval (time; default: 1s) - how frequently to execute the given script
once - if specified, executes the sctipt once, and then terminates the command Return Values
status - command's execution status