This document discusses how to set up a network simulation lab using Mikrotik RouterOS in a cloud hosted router (CHR) format. Key steps include downloading the CHR disk image, creating a RouterOS template in GNS3, adding router instances, and connecting them with links. The lab can then be accessed through Winbox by connecting to the loopback interface on the host machine. Other virtualization tools like VMWare, VirtualBox, and AWS can also be used to run the CHR image.

1. Network Simulation Using
Mikrotik RouterOS CHR
MUM @ Bangladesh 2016
By Md Arif Hossen
Consultant - Telecom & IT Domain

2. About Me
• 12+ years in Telecom & IT Domain
• Architect & Integrator for Telecom & IT Solutions
• Expert in Cloud – Vmware & OpenStack
• Expert in Hadoop® and HBase™
• So far Worked with -
– Aamra networks
– IBCS Primax Bangladesh
– Ericsson Bangladesh,
– Ericsson Egypt
– Nawras Oman
– Ericsson Libya
arif332@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/arifhossen
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

3. Objective of Simulation
• Virtual Lab Setup
• Training Class Setup
• Preparation for MikroTik Certification test
• Feature Test & Many more …
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

4. Network Simulation Tools
• Graphical Network Simulator
• Open source Software
• Run on windows/Linux/Mac
• Running Multivendor devices
• Simulate complex network
topologies
• Well know hypervisor
• QEMU
• Vmware
• VirtualBox
• Xen
• KVM
GNS3 Hypervisor MikroTik RouterOS ISO
• RouterOS has two
versions -
• Traditional X86 ISO
• CHR Image
• Different license
modality
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

5. Tools - GNS3
• Graphical Network Simulator
• Open source Software
• Run on windows/Linux/Mac
• Running Multivendor devices
• Simulate complex network topologies
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

6. What is Hypervisor
• Piece of computer software, firmware or
hardware that creates and runs virtual
machine
• Each virtual machine is call guest operating
system
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

7. Type of Hypervisor
• Type-1 native or bare-metal hypervisors
• Type-2 or hosted hypervisors
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

8. Example of hypervisor Software
• Bare Metal virtualization hypervisor
– Vmware ESX / ESXi
– Hyper-V
– Citrix Xen Server
– Oracle VM
• Hosted virtualization hypervisor
– Vmware Workstation/Fusion/Player
– Oracle VirtualBox
– Kernel based Virtual Machine (KVM)
– QEMU
– Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

9. MikroTik RouterOS
• Operating System Base on Linux Kernel
• RouterOS is used for -
– RouterBoard
– x86 based PC Hardware
• ROuterOS for Cloud which is know as Cloud
Hosted Router (CHR)
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

10. X86 PC ISO Vs CHR
• Both version of RouterOS support same
features
• Licensing model is different
– CHR has 4 licensing model
– X86/PC has 6 license level
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

11. RouterOS License Level for X86/PC
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

12. Licensing Model for CHR
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

13. Target/Demo Lab Setup
• Download & Install GNS3
• Download CHR Raw Disk Image
http://download2.mikrotik.com/routeros/6.34.2/chr-
6.34.2.img.zip
• Unzip the download file
• Open GNS3 GUI
– Click Edit  Preferences …
– Click “Qemu VMs” on the left side
– Create RouterOS Template (New -> Select Local Type: Default ->
Choose a name -> Choose amount of RAM to allocate for one
RouterOS instance: 64MB is suggested -> Chose disk image from
Extract folder
– Click newly created Qemu template and set up necessary network
adapter, Symbol, vCPUs, RAM
– Now RouterOS template is available from side panel
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

14. Target/Demo Lab Setup (Cont ..)
• Now Click GNS3  File  New blank project ..
– Drag and drop RouterOS Template on the main screen as many times as you
need
– Connect them with links
– To start right click on the router and start
– To connect router click right button on the device and select console
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

15. Connect to LAB Using IP/MAC
• Create Loopback interface
– To do so, execute command: 'hdwwiz.exe' (as Administrator) - Add
Hardware Wizard will open.
– Advanced -> Network Adapters -> Microsoft -> Microsoft Loopback
adapter/Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter should be chosen.
– Open 'Control Panel -> Network and Sharing center -> Change adapter
settings'. Rename the adapter to ‘Loopback’
• Restart Laptop
• Open GSN3 and start Demo Lab project
• Open Winbox to Connect Demo Lab using MAC/IP
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

16. Connect to LAB Using IP/MAC (Cont ..)
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

17. Connect to LAB Using IP/MAC (Cont ..)
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

18. Connect to LAB Using IP/MAC (Cont ..)
• Connecting issue via Winbox
– If there are problems with pinging Loopback
interface from the router or VPCS, check that your
antivirus and/or firewall is not blocking traffic
from virtual RouterOS instances to the host
machine.
– When using Windows 8, if there are problems
with pinging Loopback interface from the router
or VPCS, try reinstalling Winpcap and run it using
compatibility mode for Windows 7
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

19. Example of More Device in LAB
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

20. Simulation Using Other Hypervisors
• http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:CHR_VMWare_installation
• http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:CHR_VirtualBox_installation
• http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:CHR_AWS_installation
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

21. Questions?
• Email: arif332@gmail.com
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016

22. Thank you!
Arif Hossen @ MUM Bangladesh 2016