Feature Request: Optional ability to restore without keeping MAC addresses
Mikrotik backup and restore do work pretty well for restoring a backup on the same device that originally created the backup.
- however -
When a restore is performed on a different router that did not originally create the backup , the interface MAC addresses on the 2'nd router are changed to now be the original MAC addresses from the router that created the backup.
There are times this re-write of MAC address may be desired or not desired.
My problem with this re-write of MAC address when restoring a Mikrotik :
As in ISP , we use hundreds/thousands of identically configured Mikrotik routers.
When we configure a new Mikrotik CPE , we restore a master configuration on the 2'nd Mikrotik - then must perform a
/interface ethernet reset-mac-address
for each interface.
Then after the MAC address resets, the new Mikrotik CPE router is ready to be installed and added to our customer ISP network(s).
This process is time consuming and subject to a technician forgetting to reset a MAC address ( which can create network problems ).
Also , a backup ( or updated backup configuration ) can't be restored to a 2'nd remote customer located Mikrotik CPE router. When the remote router reboots after a restore , the MAC address are changed and the remote Mikrotik CPE router is no longer communicating - which now will require an on-site technician to correct the issue. (( note - all networks must have unique MAC addresses for every device on that network ))
I request a feature to Mikrotik to update/modify the Mikrotik restore function to have a new option to not restore interface MAC addresses when a restore is performed.
IMO :
- This new feature in the Mikrotik restore function should default to re-write interface MAC addresses ( normal restore ).
- When restoring , a new optional selection to not restore interface MAC addresses.
*** This requested feature would also allow the ability to bulk update newer master configurations to all of my remote located customer Mikrotik CPE routers.
North Idaho Tom Jones
Mikrotik backup and restore do work pretty well for restoring a backup on the same device that originally created the backup.
- however -
When a restore is performed on a different router that did not originally create the backup , the interface MAC addresses on the 2'nd router are changed to now be the original MAC addresses from the router that created the backup.
There are times this re-write of MAC address may be desired or not desired.
My problem with this re-write of MAC address when restoring a Mikrotik :
As in ISP , we use hundreds/thousands of identically configured Mikrotik routers.
When we configure a new Mikrotik CPE , we restore a master configuration on the 2'nd Mikrotik - then must perform a
/interface ethernet reset-mac-address
for each interface.
Then after the MAC address resets, the new Mikrotik CPE router is ready to be installed and added to our customer ISP network(s).
This process is time consuming and subject to a technician forgetting to reset a MAC address ( which can create network problems ).
Also , a backup ( or updated backup configuration ) can't be restored to a 2'nd remote customer located Mikrotik CPE router. When the remote router reboots after a restore , the MAC address are changed and the remote Mikrotik CPE router is no longer communicating - which now will require an on-site technician to correct the issue. (( note - all networks must have unique MAC addresses for every device on that network ))
I request a feature to Mikrotik to update/modify the Mikrotik restore function to have a new option to not restore interface MAC addresses when a restore is performed.
IMO :
- This new feature in the Mikrotik restore function should default to re-write interface MAC addresses ( normal restore ).
- When restoring , a new optional selection to not restore interface MAC addresses.
*** This requested feature would also allow the ability to bulk update newer master configurations to all of my remote located customer Mikrotik CPE routers.
North Idaho Tom Jones
Statistics: Posted by TomjNorthIdaho — Thu Apr 17, 2025 7:33 pm