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Mikrotik RouterOS Downgrade Issues

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Fri, 06/23/2023 - 18:47
#1
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Mikrotik RouterOS Downgrade Issues

I received a Mikrotik hAP AC Lite from a frustrated new user, who'd been unable to load AREDN software on it.   He didn't apparently read the memo about having to downgrade the RouterOS prior to sending it to me.  This particular device has RouterOS v6.49.8.

However, in trying to downgrade the version of RouterOs:

1-  the hAP fails to retain the new password after rebooting.  Am I missing a step here?

2 - Prior to rebooting, I uploaded the routeros-arm-6.45.7.npk into the #Files area, went to System/Upgrade and clicked Downgrade
After it reboots it comes back to the main screen with ERROR: Internal Server Error (and no Admin password)

Is this possibly a bad unit?

Orv W6BI
 

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Fri, 06/23/2023 - 18:58
KK6LSK
Mikrotik RouterOS Downgrade Issues

I was about to post about this issue. I have a new Mikrotik hAP AC Lite and am having the same identical issue trying to downgrade the software.

Larry Taylor KK6LSK
 

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Fri, 06/23/2023 - 19:04
(Reply to #2)
w6bi
w6bi's picture
routeros password?
Does yours retain a new password after reboot, Larry?

Orv W6BI
 
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Fri, 06/23/2023 - 21:50
K6CCC
K6CCC's picture
You can't downgrade a
You can't downgrade a Mikrotik router to anything below the factory firmware (not the RouterOS version).
Not aware if that is an issue when flashing for AREDN - I know I did not have to do anything special for the new hAPac3 I bought a few months ago.
Also, for newer units, it MAY not have the long time default RouterOS UserID / Password of admin / <blank password>.  Due to requirements in all of the EU and California, each device has to have a unique default password.  There should be a password sticker on the unit and the box.  Again, not sure if that applies after flashing for AREDN.


 
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Sat, 06/24/2023 - 14:29
(Reply to #4)
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Downgrade
Jim, this was added to the Mikrotik first install procedure about a month ago:

OpenWRT firmware (and therefore AREDN®) may experience a boot loop during installation of the sysupgrade file on Mikrotik devices with RouterOS v6.45.8 or newer. If your Mikrotik device came with a factory operating system newer than v6.45.8, you should downgrade Mikrotik RouterOS prior to flashing with AREDN®. Follow the instructions on this page for further details on this process: OpenWRT - downgrading RouterOS
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Sat, 06/24/2023 - 15:48
(Reply to #5)
K6CCC
K6CCC's picture
That is likely going to be a problem.
That is likely going to be a problem.  6.45.8 was released in May 2020.  Mikrotik devices have a factory firmware version (which can be updated), and also a RouterOS software version (which can also be upgraded).  Even if the firmware is upgraded, the original factory firmware version is still there and can be restored if needed.  However, you can never downgrade to any version lower than that factory firmware version.  This comes up every few months on the Mikrotik Forum.  Since 6.45.8 is quite old, any newer devices are certain to have newer factory firmware versions and will not be able to downgrade to 6.45.8
 
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Sat, 06/24/2023 - 16:28
(Reply to #6)
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Mikrotik still viable?
If that's correct, and the AREDN devs can't find a way around it to load their software, then new Mikrotik purchases will be off the table.
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Sun, 06/25/2023 - 18:36
(Reply to #7)
w8erw
w8erw's picture
I know I did not have to do anything special for the new hAPac3
Hi Jim,  I also picked up pair of the Mikrotik hAP AC3 units a couple of months ago and had no luck at all flashing them with AREDN.  Might I have missed something?  I was quite careful to observe the Mikrotik process.  Thanks for any advice you might offer.  Jim W8ERW
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Sun, 06/25/2023 - 19:19
K6CCC
K6CCC's picture
I had no trouble flashing my hAPac3 to AREDN.
I had no trouble flashing my hAPac3 to AREDN.  I don't know what RouterOS version it had to start with.  According to Amazon, it was delivered to me on 9 Feb. of this year.
 
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Sun, 06/25/2023 - 20:11
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Info on Mikrotik flashing

Tim KN6PLV helped me flash a new hAP AC Lite that I was having difficulty with and we found several things:

  • The AREDN documentation for first Mikrotik installation talks about having to downgrade the Mikrotik RouterOS.   It turns out that Mikrotik devices need the MIPSBE version of RouterOS, EXCEPT for the ac2 & ac3 - they require the ARM7 version of RouterOS.
  • I found that if you put in an invalid new user password in RouterOS, it doesn't validate it, and logs you in.  Subsequent logins seem to fail, possibly because it's either an invalid password, or it never saved it in the first place.  I resolved it by putting in a reasonably-complicated password.
  • Going from RouterOS to the latest nightly build didn't work (Symptom:  "Bad Gateway").  By going to prod release first then to NB, we were able to install successfully.  Tim's investigating.

Orv W6BI

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