🖥️ Install MikroTik CHR

Overview

Install MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) as a Proxmox virtual machine. CHR is a lightweight RouterOS that runs on x86 hardware, perfect for testing MikroTik configurations in labs, creating virtual network appliances, or running isolated routers inside Proxmox clusters. CHR uses minimal resources (4GB RAM, 2 vCPU) while providing full RouterOS functionality.

info

What this does:

• Downloads MikroTik CHR image (Cloud Hosted Router)
• Creates Proxmox VM with optimized settings
• Imports CHR disk and resizes storage
• Creates a reusable template for rapid deployments

Prerequisites

• ✅ Proxmox VE installed and accessible via SSH/console
• ✅ Local storage pool available (local-lvm or similar)
• ✅ Internet access from Proxmox node to download CHR image
• ✅ Minimum 10GB free storage for VM disk
• ✅ VMID available (example uses 103)
• ✅ Network bridge configured (vmbr0)

warning

MikroTik CHR considerations:

• CHR requires valid license after trial period
• Disk resize operations cannot be undone easily
• Template creation is permanent (recommended for templates only)
• Changes to template won't affect existing clones
• Always backup configuration before major upgrades

Configuration Steps

Option A: Terminal Configuration

1. Connect to Proxmox node:

   ssh root@proxmox-ip

2. Navigate to working directory and download CHR image:

   cd /tmp
   wget "https://download.mikrotik.com/routeros/7.11.2/chr-7.11.2.img.zip"

   tip

   Check MikroTik download page for latest CHR version. Adjust version number as needed.

3. Extract the image:

   unzip chr-7.11.2.img.zip

4. Create the VM:

   qm create 103 --name "mikrotik" --ostype l26

5. Configure network interface:

   qm set 103 --net0 virtio,bridge=vmbr0

6. Add serial console (for headless access):

   qm set 103 --serial0 socket --vga serial0

7. Set CPU, cores, and RAM:

   qm set 103 --memory 4096 --cores 2 --cpu host

8. Import CHR disk:

   qm set 103 --scsi0 local-lvm:0,import-from="$(pwd)/chr-7.11.2.img",discard=on

9. Configure boot order:

   qm set 103 --boot order=scsi0 --scsihw virtio-scsi-single

10. Resize disk to 8GB:

    qm disk resize 103 scsi0 8G

11. Convert to template (optional but recommended):

    qm template 103

12. Verify configuration:

    qm config 103

Option B: Proxmox WebUI Configuration

1. Download CHR image to Proxmox node (via SSH as above)

2. Create VM via WebUI:

   • Click Create VM
   • VM ID: 103
   • Name: mikrotik
   • OS: Linux 6.x - 2.6 Kernel
   • Click Next

3. Configure Hardware:

   • CPU Cores: 2
   • Memory: 4096 MB
   • Network: Bridge vmbr0, Model VirtIO
   • Serial Port: Add (for console access)
   • Click Next

4. Do not create disk yet - click Finish

5. Import disk via SSH:

   qm set 103 --scsi0 local-lvm:0,import-from="/tmp/chr-7.11.2.img",discard=on
   qm set 103 --boot order=scsi0 --scsihw virtio-scsi-single

6. Resize disk in WebUI:

   • Select VM 103
   • Hardware → scsi0
   • Click Resize disk
   • Size: 8G → Resize

7. Convert to template (optional):

   • Right-click VM 103
   • Select Convert to Template

Understanding the Configuration

Installation Flow

Download CHR image → Extract → Create VM container
     ↓
Configure networking (VirtIO bridge) + Serial console
     ↓
Set hardware (CPU, RAM, storage type)
     ↓
Import disk image from file
     ↓
Set boot order (SCSI0 primary)
     ↓
Resize disk to desired size
     ↓
Optional: Convert to template for cloning

Configuration Components

Component	Purpose	Value
VMID	Proxmox VM identifier	103
OS Type	Guest OS classification	l26 (Linux 2.6+)
Network	Bridge connection	vmbr0 (VirtIO)
Serial Port	Console access	Socket (headless)
CPU	Processor count	2 cores
Memory	RAM allocation	4096 MB (4GB)
Disk	Storage type & size	SCSI, 8GB, discard on
Boot	Primary boot device	scsi0

Why These Settings?

• l26 OS type: Optimized for Linux kernel 2.6+
• VirtIO network: Better performance than e1000
• Serial console: Access router without VNC
• 4GB RAM: Minimum for stable RouterOS operation
• 2 vCPU: Sufficient for testing; scale up as needed
• SCSI disk: Better performance than IDE
• Discard enabled: Supports thin provisioning

Verification

1. Check VM exists:

   qm list | grep 103

   Should show: 103 mikrotik running

2. Review VM configuration:

   qm config 103

3. Start VM if not running:

   qm start 103

4. Connect via serial console:

   qm terminal 103

5. Log in to MikroTik:

   • Username: admin
   • Password: (blank, just press Enter)

6. Verify RouterOS:

   /system resource print
   /interface print

7. If template created, test clone:

   qm clone 103 104 --name "mikrotik-clone"

Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Solution
Download fails	Network issue or invalid URL	Check URL on MikroTik site, retry with --retry 3 flag
qm create fails with VMID exists	VM ID 103 already in use	Choose different VMID: qm list | grep vmid
Import fails: "import-from not found"	Incorrect path to CHR image	Use absolute path or check $(pwd)/chr-*.img exists
VM starts but no network	Bridge vmbr0 doesn't exist	Verify: ip addr show vmbr0 or use different bridge
Serial console shows garbage	Serial port misconfigured	Add serial port via: qm set 103 --serial0 socket
VM won't start	Insufficient resources	Check free RAM: free -h; reduce cores or memory
Disk resize fails: partition full	Disk too small before resize	Grow partition in RouterOS: /file print check usage
Can't access RouterOS webUI	Firewall blocking port 80/443	Check: /ip firewall filter print; Add allow rules
Template not cloning properly	Linked clone mode incompatible	Use full clone: qm clone 103 104 --full
SCSI controller missing	Hardware config incomplete	Verify: qm config 103 | grep scsihw
VM restarts constantly	Insufficient memory	Increase to 8GB: qm set 103 --memory 8192

Advanced Options

Create with custom VMID and larger disk:

qm create 200 --name "mikrotik-prod" --ostype l26
qm set 200 --net0 virtio,bridge=vmbr0
qm set 200 --memory 8192 --cores 4 --cpu host
qm set 200 --scsi0 local-lvm:0,import-from="$(pwd)/chr-7.11.2.img"
qm disk resize 200 scsi0 20G

Add second network interface:

qm set 103 --net1 virtio,bridge=vmbr1

Enable nested virtualization (for labs):

qm set 103 --cpu host,+vmx

Configure disk caching:

qm set 103 --scsi0 local-lvm:0,cache=writeback

Add cloud-init for automation:

qm set 103 --citype nocloud
qm set 103 --cicustom "user=local:snippets/init.yaml"

Create multiple CHR instances:

for id in 110 111 112; do
  qm clone 103 $id --name "mikrotik-$id" --full
done

Set memory hotplug for dynamic scaling:

qm set 103 --sockets 1 --numa 1
qm set 103 --memory 4096 --balloon 2048

Add TPM device (for security features):

qm set 103 --tpmstate0 local-lvm

Configure automatic snapshots:

qm set 103 --snapshots 1
qm snapshot 103 "initial-install" -description "Fresh CHR 7.11.2 install"

Completion

✅ MikroTik CHR installed in Proxmox!

Next steps:

• Access RouterOS CLI via serial console
• Configure network interfaces and bridges
• Set up management IP address
• Create backup/snapshot of template
• Deploy cloned instances for testing
• Access WebUI at http://<vm-ip>