Hey guys! Ever thought about having your router chilling in the cloud? Well, with MikroTik CHR (Cloud Hosted Router), you totally can! It's like having a super-powered router, but instead of being a physical box, it lives in a virtual environment. How cool is that? Let's dive into what MikroTik CHR is all about, why you might want to use it, and how to get it up and running. Trust me, it's easier than you think!

What is MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR)?

Okay, so what exactly is MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR)? Simply put, it's a virtualized version of MikroTik's RouterOS. RouterOS is the operating system that powers MikroTik's physical routers, known for their flexibility and extensive features. CHR allows you to run this same powerful OS as a virtual machine on various platforms, including cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or even on your own hypervisor like VMware or Hyper-V. This means you can leverage the robust routing, firewall, VPN, and traffic management capabilities of RouterOS in a scalable and cost-effective way, without being tied to physical hardware.

Think of it like this: You know those super versatile MikroTik routers that everyone loves? CHR is basically that, but instead of a physical device, it's software that you can run on a server in the cloud or on your own virtual machine. This gives you a ton of flexibility and opens up a whole new world of possibilities for networking.

The beauty of MikroTik CHR lies in its versatility. You can use it to create VPN gateways, manage network traffic, set up firewalls, and a whole lot more, all from the comfort of your cloud environment. It’s perfect for small businesses that need a reliable routing solution without the upfront cost of hardware, or for larger organizations that want to extend their network into the cloud. Plus, because it's software-based, you can easily scale your resources up or down as needed, giving you ultimate control over your network infrastructure.

But wait, there’s more! MikroTik CHR isn't just a router; it's a complete network management solution. It supports a wide range of protocols and features, including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, and more. This means you can use it to build complex network topologies and integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure. Whether you're setting up a simple home network or managing a large enterprise network, CHR has got you covered. It's like having a Swiss Army knife for networking, but instead of blades and screwdrivers, it has routing protocols and firewall rules.

And let's not forget about the cost savings! With MikroTik CHR, you don't have to worry about the costs associated with buying, maintaining, and replacing physical hardware. You only pay for the resources you use, which can be a significant advantage for businesses of all sizes. Plus, you can take advantage of the pay-as-you-go pricing models offered by cloud providers, allowing you to scale your network resources up or down as needed without breaking the bank. So, if you're looking for a cost-effective and flexible routing solution, CHR is definitely worth considering.

Why Use a Cloud Hosted Router?

So, why should you even bother with a Cloud Hosted Router? Well, there are a bunch of reasons! Let's break it down:

• Flexibility and Scalability: This is a big one. Need more bandwidth? Just upgrade your virtual machine. Need to add another router to your network? Spin up another CHR instance. It's all super easy and doesn't involve any physical hardware changes. You can scale your network resources up or down as needed, without having to worry about the limitations of physical hardware. This is especially useful for businesses that experience fluctuating traffic patterns or need to quickly adapt to changing business requirements.

• Cost Savings: Think about it – no more buying expensive routers, no more maintenance costs, and no more worrying about hardware failures. You just pay for the resources you use in the cloud. It's a much more cost-effective way to manage your network infrastructure, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Plus, you can take advantage of the pay-as-you-go pricing models offered by cloud providers, allowing you to optimize your costs and avoid unnecessary expenses.

• Remote Management: You can manage your router from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. No need to be physically present to configure or troubleshoot your network. This is a huge advantage for businesses with remote offices or for IT professionals who need to manage networks from different locations. You can access your CHR instance through a web browser or using MikroTik's WinBox software, giving you full control over your network configuration.

• Redundancy and High Availability: Cloud platforms offer built-in redundancy and high availability features. If one server goes down, your CHR instance can automatically failover to another server, ensuring that your network stays up and running. This is a critical requirement for businesses that rely on their network for mission-critical applications. You can also set up multiple CHR instances in different availability zones to further enhance your network's resilience.

• Testing and Development: CHR is perfect for testing new network configurations or software updates without impacting your production network. You can easily spin up a new CHR instance, test your changes, and then deploy them to your production network with confidence. This is a valuable tool for network engineers and administrators who want to ensure that their network is always running smoothly and efficiently.

In short, using a Cloud Hosted Router gives you more control, flexibility, and cost savings compared to traditional hardware-based routers. It's a smart choice for anyone who wants to modernize their network infrastructure and take advantage of the benefits of the cloud.

Setting Up MikroTik CHR

Alright, let's get down to business. Setting up MikroTik CHR might sound intimidating, but it's actually pretty straightforward. Here’s a general outline of the steps involved:

1. Choose a Cloud Platform or Hypervisor: Decide where you want to host your CHR instance. Popular options include AWS, Azure, GCP, VMware, and Hyper-V. Each platform has its own set of instructions and requirements, so make sure to choose one that fits your needs and budget.

2. Create a Virtual Machine: Create a new virtual machine on your chosen platform. Make sure to allocate enough resources (CPU, RAM, storage) to handle your expected network traffic. MikroTik provides different CHR images with varying performance tiers, so choose one that matches your requirements. For example, if you're planning to use CHR for a small home network, you can start with a lower-tier image and upgrade later if needed.

3. Download the CHR Image: Download the appropriate CHR image from the MikroTik website. They offer different image formats for different platforms, so make sure to download the correct one. The images are usually available in ISO or VMDK format, depending on the platform you're using.

4. Upload the Image: Upload the CHR image to your cloud platform or hypervisor. This step will vary depending on the platform you're using. For example, on AWS, you would upload the image to an S3 bucket and then create an AMI (Amazon Machine Image) from it. On VMware, you would upload the image to a datastore and then create a new virtual machine from it.

5. Create a New Instance: Create a new instance using the uploaded image. Configure the network settings for your instance, including assigning a public IP address and setting up firewall rules. Make sure to allow access to the instance through SSH or WinBox, so you can configure it later.

6. Connect to the CHR Instance: Connect to the CHR instance using SSH or WinBox. The default username is admin and there is no password. You'll be prompted to set a new password the first time you log in. It's important to choose a strong password to protect your CHR instance from unauthorized access.

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7. Configure RouterOS: Configure RouterOS to your liking. This includes setting up IP addresses, configuring routing protocols, setting up firewalls, and more. You can use the command-line interface (CLI) or the WinBox graphical interface to configure RouterOS. WinBox is a Windows application that provides a user-friendly interface for managing MikroTik routers.

8. Activate your License: Depending on the bandwidth you need, you might need to purchase and activate a CHR license. MikroTik offers different license levels with varying bandwidth limits. You can purchase a license from the MikroTik website or from a MikroTik reseller. Once you have purchased a license, you can activate it on your CHR instance using the RouterOS CLI.

That's the basic process! Of course, the specific steps might vary depending on the cloud platform or hypervisor you're using, but this should give you a good starting point.

Basic Configuration Examples

Now, let's look at some basic configuration examples to get you started with MikroTik CHR. These examples will cover some of the most common tasks you'll need to perform when setting up your CHR instance.

Setting an IP Address

To set an IP address on an interface, use the following command:

/ip address add address=192.168.1.1/24 interface=ether1

This command sets the IP address of the ether1 interface to 192.168.1.1/24. You'll need to replace ether1 with the actual name of the interface you want to configure.

Configuring a Default Route

To configure a default route, use the following command:

/ip route add dst-address=0.0.0.0/0 gateway=192.168.1.254

This command sets the default gateway to 192.168.1.254. This means that any traffic destined for an IP address that is not on your local network will be sent to this gateway.

Setting Up a Firewall

To set up a basic firewall, you can use the following commands:

/ip firewall filter add chain=input protocol=tcp dst-port=22 action=accept comment="Allow SSH"
/ip firewall filter add chain=input connection-state=established,related action=accept comment="Allow established connections"
/ip firewall filter add chain=input action=drop comment="Drop all other input"

These commands create three firewall rules. The first rule allows SSH traffic to your CHR instance. The second rule allows established and related connections. The third rule drops all other input traffic. This is a basic firewall configuration that will protect your CHR instance from unauthorized access.

Setting up NAT

To set up NAT (Network Address Translation), you can use the following command:

/ip firewall nat add chain=srcnat out-interface=ether1 action=masquerade

This command sets up NAT for traffic originating from your local network and going out through the ether1 interface. This allows devices on your local network to access the internet using the public IP address of your CHR instance.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few extra tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your MikroTik CHR:

• Use WinBox: WinBox is a powerful GUI tool that makes it easy to manage your MikroTik CHR instance. It's much easier to use than the command-line interface, especially for beginners. You can download WinBox from the MikroTik website.

• Secure Your Router: Make sure to secure your router by setting a strong password, disabling unnecessary services, and keeping your RouterOS software up to date. This will help protect your CHR instance from unauthorized access and security vulnerabilities.

• Monitor Your Resources: Keep an eye on your CHR instance's resource usage (CPU, RAM, storage) to make sure it's not being overloaded. If you notice that your CHR instance is running out of resources, you may need to upgrade your virtual machine or optimize your configuration.

• Back Up Your Configuration: Regularly back up your RouterOS configuration so you can quickly restore it in case of a problem. You can use the /system backup save command to create a backup file. Make sure to store the backup file in a safe location, such as a cloud storage service.

• Explore the Documentation: MikroTik has excellent documentation available on their website. Take the time to explore the documentation and learn about all the features and capabilities of RouterOS. This will help you get the most out of your CHR instance.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! MikroTik CHR is a powerful and flexible solution for running your router in the cloud. It offers a ton of benefits, including scalability, cost savings, and remote management. Whether you're a small business owner or a network engineer, CHR is definitely worth checking out. Give it a try and see how it can improve your network infrastructure! You'll be amazed at how easy it is to set up and manage, and you'll love the flexibility and control it gives you over your network. Happy routing!