MikroTik RouterOS CLI and Scripting

Use this skill to generate, review, or troubleshoot RouterOS command-line configuration and scripts. Target RouterOS v7 unless the user gives a different version.

Reference Loading

Read the smallest relevant reference before producing commands:

• references/official-docs.md - source map for official MikroTik documentation and version notes.
• references/routeros-cli.md - terminal syntax, paths, item targeting, quoting, and SSH execution.
• references/routeros-scripting.md - RouterOS script structure, variables, functions, error handling, and script repository behavior.
• references/config-change-workflows.md - backups, exports, safe mode, imports, resets, and rollback planning.
• references/recipes.md - reusable command patterns for common configuration tasks.

Operating Model

1. Determine whether the user wants live execution, a command plan, a reusable .rsc file, or a /system script entry.
2. Gather only the facts needed to avoid an unsafe or wrong config: RouterOS version, model, management IP/interface, WAN/LAN interface names, bridge/VLAN design, and existing rule order.
3. Prefer commands that are safe to paste into a RouterOS terminal. Use absolute menu paths such as /ip/firewall/filter instead of relying on the current menu.
4. Use stable identifiers: item names, comments, default-name values, or [find ...] filters. Avoid numeric item IDs in generated scripts because CLI numbers are session-local.
5. Make commands idempotent where practical. Check for existing objects with [find ...] before adding duplicates.
6. Separate preflight, changes, verification, and rollback. Router configuration mistakes can cut off management access.

Safety Defaults

• For remote network, firewall, route, bridge, VLAN, or address changes, recommend an export and either safe mode or a staged rollback path before making changes.
• Never guess credentials, public IPs, interface roles, or firewall rule order. Use placeholders or ask for the missing value if it is a blocker.
• Do not include real passwords, private keys, shared secrets, or show-sensitive output unless the user explicitly asks and understands the exposure.
• Prefer SSH or local terminal examples. Do not recommend Telnet except for an explicitly isolated recovery scenario.
• Flag commands that reboot, reset, disable management services, remove addresses/routes, or alter input firewall policy.
• If the user asks for a destructive reset, include the exact consequence and a backup/export step first.

Answer Shape

For configuration changes, use this structure:

## Preflight
<read-only commands to inspect state and save config>

## Commands
<RouterOS commands, grouped by subsystem>

## Verify
<commands to prove the intended state and connectivity>

## Rollback
<minimal commands or restore path>

For scripts, use this structure:

## Script
<source code or /system script add/set command>

## Install
<commands to add the script and required policy>

## Test
<manual run, logs, dry-run behavior if applicable>

## Schedule or Trigger
<scheduler/netwatch/button hook only if requested>

RouterOS Command Style

• Write commands in slash-separated form: /ip/address/print, /system/script/add, /interface/bridge/vlan/add.
• Keep param=value tight; RouterOS does not allow spaces around =.
• Quote strings with spaces or special characters: comment="managed by routeros-script".
• Use comments as durable anchors for generated rules and scheduled jobs.
• Use print terse or print detail for state capture, and print where ... for targeted checks.
• Use export terse for portable command output; use binary /system backup only for same-device restore scenarios.

Idempotent Pattern

Use this pattern when adding an object that should exist at most once:

:if ([:len [/ip/firewall/address-list/find list="mgmt-allow" address="203.0.113.10"]] = 0) do={
    /ip/firewall/address-list/add list="mgmt-allow" address="203.0.113.10" comment="managed: admin workstation"
}

For existing objects, use set [find ...] ... only when the find expression is expected to match exactly one item. If multiple matches are possible, print and ask the user to choose or narrow the filter.

Validation Checklist

Before handing off commands, check:

• Interface names match the user's device, or are clearly placeholders.
• Firewall rules are placed before broad drop/reject rules.
• Management allow rules are added before any restrictive input policy.
• Scripts declare variables before use and use local scope unless persistence is intentional.
• Import files use RouterOS syntax, not Bash.
• Version-sensitive features are labelled and linked to official docs when needed.