Mikrotik Export Configuration ((free)) File
By default, /export includes sensitive data like passwords. You must use /export hide-sensitive to exclude them.
Ultimate Guide to MikroTik Export Configuration: Backing Up and Migrating RouterOS Settings
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.
The current (broken) config scrolled by—short, missing entries. Then she opened her latest backup file from a week ago: backup-jan-12-2025.rsc .
: This generates a plain-text .rsc file containing the precise RouterOS CLI commands needed to replicate your setup. It is readable, editable, and highly portable across different MikroTik hardware models. Basic Export Commands mikrotik export configuration
To export a MikroTik configuration, you use the /export command in the terminal to generate a script-based .rsc file. Unlike binary .backup files, these are plain-text and human-readable, making them ideal for auditing or migrating settings between different hardware models.
And her new favorite script—run by the router itself every Sunday at 3am:
To view your entire configuration directly in your terminal window, type: /export Use code with caution. Export to a File
/system reset-configuration keep-users=no no-default-configuration=yes Use code with caution. Step 2: Upload and Run the Script By default, /export includes sensitive data like passwords
You can run an export from the at any level of the menu hierarchy. Running it from the root ( / ) exports everything, while running it within a submenu (like /ip firewall ) only exports that specific section.
All configuration export operations are performed via the RouterOS Command Line Interface (CLI), accessible through WinBox (Terminal), SSH, or Telnet. 1. Export to the Terminal Screen
To explicitly strip out the default factory configuration lines and keep your file clean, use: /export hide-default file=custom-only Use code with caution. Partial Configuration Exports
/export show-sensitive=no file=safe-to-share This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted
Drag and drop your edited .rsc file into the section of the new MikroTik router. Step 3: Run the Import Command Open the Terminal on the new router and execute: /import file-name=my_config.rsc Use code with caution.
Commands change between RouterOS v6 and v7 (especially regarding routing, wireguard, and switch menus). Ensure both routers run the same major software version, or manually update the syntax in your text editor.
In the world of networking, especially when dealing with powerful, versatile devices like MikroTik Routers running RouterOS, the ability to backup, move, and audit configurations is crucial. While MikroTik provides a quick "backup" button, the superior method for managing, editing, and migrating configurations is the feature.