Introduction
When it comes to Virtual Private Server (VPS) solutions, DigitalOcean is a popular choice for many users. If you have a DigitalOcean account and are interested in running Mikrotik's CHR (Cloud Hosted Router) in the cloud, you're in luck! In this article, we will guide you through the simple and hassle-free process of installing CHR RouterOS on a DigitalOcean droplet. Unlike other solutions that involve additional steps, such as installing a Linux distribution, DigitalOcean makes it incredibly easy to get started.
Step 1: Account Setup
Before you begin, ensure that you have a DigitalOcean account. If you don't have one already, you can create an account quickly on their website (referral 😜 or not referral 😢).
Step 2: Downloading the CHR Image
Visit the official Mikrotik website and navigate to the "Downloads" section. Look for the CHR section and download the stable version of the CHR RouterOS image (e.g., 7.7 stable). Make sure to download the raw disk image file.
Once the image is downloaded, extract the file to obtain the IMG file, which will be used for the installation.
Step 3: Uploading the Image to DigitalOcean
Log in to your DigitalOcean account and go to the "Images" section. Look for "Custom Images" and click on "Upload Image" in the "Downloads" section. Select the IMG file you extracted earlier and provide a name for the image. The distribution can be set as "Unknown" since it doesn't affect the installation process. Choose the region where you want the droplet to be hosted and proceed with the upload.
Step 4: Creating the Droplet
Once the image is successfully uploaded, click on "More" and then select "Start Droplet." Choose the type of droplet you prefer, and for the authentication method, select SSH key or password. However, keep in mind that the standard username for RouterOS is "admin" and not "root."
Click on "Create Droplet" to create your droplet. Make sure to copy the public IP address provided as you will need it to access your droplet.
Step 5: Basic Security
It is crucial to set a password immediately to secure your router against potential threats. Do not delay this step, as leaving your router unprotected can attract malicious activity.
To improve security, navigate to the user section and add a new username with a strong password. This step ensures additional protection for your router. After creating the new username, log in using those credentials and remove the default "admin" username for enhanced security.
Step 6: Fine-tuning Services
In the "IP Services" section, disable any unnecessary services that you don't require for your setup.
Later, you can configure the firewall and implement proper security measures to ensure the optimal protection of your RouterOS CHR.
Step 7: Licensing Considerations
By default, a free license is provided with a limitation of one megabit per second. However, depending on your requirements, you may want to request a trial license for a level one or level ten. These licenses remove the one megabit limit, providing greater flexibility. The trial license can be used until you decide to upgrade your RouterOS.
Conclusion
By following these straightforward steps, you can effortlessly install Mikrotik's RouterOS CHR on a DigitalOcean droplet. This powerful solution allows you to run Router
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