RouterOS is a stand-alone operating system based on the Linux kernel. As I have already mentioned, the RouterOS is the operating system of the MikroTik Routerboards.

As being based on Linux kernel, then if you have any Linux experience you will see that configuring MikroTik Routers/switches isn’t difficult for you.

In addition of having the RouterOS on Routerboards, it can also be installed in a dedicated PC/server. Also, MikroTik provide a Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) RouterOS image that you can install it in a Virtual Machine such as VMware, VirtualBox, ect…

The main function of the MikroTik RouterOS is to make your MikroTik Routerboard as:a dedicated router

• a bandwidth shaper
• a (transparent) packet filter
• any 802.11 a , b , g , n and ac wireless device
• And much more

You will see later in this course that in the same MikroTik Routerboard, you can make it as a router using the most advanced routing protocols such as RIP, OSPF, BGP, MPLS.

You can also make it a bandwidth shaper using the most advanced QOS queuing types such as PCQ, SFQ, RFQ, FIFO.

You can make it as a Firewall device using the firewalling feature that is available in the RouterOS.

You can make it a Wireless device and use the most advanced Wireless technology on it.

You can make it as a switch and use VLAN, STP, RSTP, MSTP.

And the list can continue…….