CHR: Installing on VirtualBox

CHR: Installing on VirtualBox

This guide provides detailed instructions for installing Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) on VirtualBox. VirtualBox is a free, open-source hypervisor that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux hosts.

Prerequisites

Before beginning the installation, ensure you have:

• A host system with 64-bit processor and virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)
• Sufficient system resources (minimum 256MB RAM for CHR, 1024MB recommended)
• Latest version of VirtualBox installed
• CHR virtual disk image in VDI format

Download Required Software

VirtualBox

Download and install the latest version of VirtualBox from the official VirtualBox website. VirtualBox is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux hosts.

CHR Image

Download the Cloud Hosted Router VDI image from the MikroTik download page in the Cloud Hosted Router section. Choose between:

• Stable: Recommended for production deployments with proven stability
• Testing: Latest features with potential for bugs
• Development: Early access to new features under development

Extract the downloaded archive to access the .vdi disk image file.

Create Virtual Machine

Step 1: Launch Virtual Machine Creation

1. Open VirtualBox application
2. Click New to create a new virtual machine
3. Configure the basic settings:

Setting	Value
Name	MikroTik_CHR (or your preferred name)
Type	Linux
Version	Other Linux (64-bit)

Always select the 64-bit version to ensure CHR can utilize available RAM and CPU resources efficiently.

Step 2: Configure Memory

Allocate memory for the virtual machine:

RouterOS Version	Minimum RAM	Recommended RAM
RouterOS v6	256 MB	512 MB
RouterOS v7	256 MB	1024 MB

The formula for calculating minimum RAM is:

# RouterOS v6
RAM = 128 + [ 8 × (CPU_COUNT) × (INTERFACE_COUNT - 1) ]

# RouterOS v7
RAM = 256 + [ 8 × (CPU_COUNT) × (INTERFACE_COUNT - 1) ]

For most deployments, allocate at least 1024MB of RAM for stable operation.

Step 3: Configure Processors

Select the number of virtual CPUs based on your throughput requirements:

• Single CPU: Sufficient for basic routing and small networks
• Multiple CPUs: Required for multi-core routing, fast path processing, and higher throughput

Step 4: Create Virtual Hard Disk

1. Select Use an existing hard disk file
2. Click the folder icon to browse
3. Navigate to and select the downloaded CHR .vdi file
4. Click Choose to attach the disk

Step 5: Review Settings

Verify all configuration settings before creating the virtual machine:

Component	Recommended Setting
Memory	1024 MB or more
CPUs	1-4 depending on workload
Disk	CHR VDI image
Boot Order	Hard Disk first

Click Finish to create the virtual machine.

Configure Virtual Machine Settings

System Settings

1. Select your newly created VM
2. Click Settings
3. Navigate to System tab
4. Adjust boot order:
   • Move Hard Disk to top position
   • Remove Floppy from boot order
   • Keep Optical if you need to attach ISO images later

Processor Settings

1. Navigate to Processor tab
2. Select desired number of virtual CPUs
3. Enable PAE/NX if available (provides access to additional CPU features)

Network Configuration

Network adapters are critical for CHR functionality:

Adapter Mode	Use Case
NAT	Simple internet access, default gateway for VM
Bridged Adapter	Direct network access, VM appears as separate device
Internal Network	Isolated network between VMs
Host-Only	Management access from host system only

Configure adapter settings:

1. Navigate to Network tab
2. Enable Adapter 1
3. Select appropriate attachment type
4. Configure advanced options as needed

Bridged Adapter Configuration

For production deployments where CHR needs direct network access:

1. Select Bridged Adapter from the dropdown
2. Choose the host’s physical network adapter
3. Verify MAC address if needed

NAT Configuration

For testing or simple routing scenarios:

1. Select NAT from the dropdown
2. CHR will use VirtualBox’s NAT gateway
3. Configure port forwarding if inbound connections are needed

Storage and Other Settings

Review additional settings:

• Audio: Disable if not needed (CHR does not use audio)
• USB: Disable if not required
• Shared Folders: Configure if you need file transfer between host and CHR

Start Virtual Machine

Boot Process

1. Select the CHR virtual machine
2. Click Start to power on
3. Observe the boot sequence

The CHR will boot from the VDI image and display the RouterOS login prompt.

Login Credentials

Default login credentials:

Field	Value
Username	admin
Password	(none - leave blank)

RouterOS 7.x
MikroTik login: admin
Password:

Change the default admin password immediately after first login for security.

Initial Configuration

Basic Setup Commands

After logging in, perform basic configuration:

# Set admin password
/user set admin password="your-secure-password"

# View current interfaces
/interface print

# Configure IP address on ether1
/ip address add address=192.168.1.1/24 interface=ether1

# Configure default gateway
/ip route add gateway=192.168.1.254

# Set hostname
/system identity set name="CHR-VirtualBox"

Network Verification

Verify network connectivity:

# Test gateway connectivity
ping 192.168.1.254

# Test internet connectivity
ping 8.8.8.8

# Check resource usage
/system resource print

Enable Remote Access

WinBox connects to routers using TCP port 8291 (the default port). Configure remote management access:

# Enable WinBox on port 8291 (default)
/ip service enable winbox

# Enable API on port 8728
/ip service enable api

# Enable webfig on port 80
/ip service enable www

# Restrict access to management services
/ip service set winbox address=192.168.1.0/24

First Boot Recommendations

After initial setup:

1. Update RouterOS: Check for and install latest updates
2. Configure NTP: Set time synchronization for license management
3. Setup DNS: Configure DNS servers for name resolution
4. Create Backups: Export configuration after testing
5. Configure Firewall: Secure management access

VirtualBox-Specific Considerations

Performance Optimization

For optimal CHR performance on VirtualBox:

Setting	Recommendation
Memory	Allocate minimum 1024MB
CPUs	2+ vCPUs for production
Network Adapter	Virtio if available, otherwise Intel PRO/1000
Disk Controller	SATA or IDE (not SCSI for system disk)
VT-x/AMD-V	Enable for hardware acceleration

Guest Additions

VirtualBox Guest Additions are not required for CHR but can provide:

• Better mouse integration
• Shared folders for file transfer
• Improved video resolution

Resource Monitoring

Monitor CHR resources within VirtualBox:

# View resource usage
/system resource print

# View interface statistics
/interface print detail

# Monitor CPU usage by process (RouterOS v7 syntax; duration in seconds)
/tool/profile duration=3

Troubleshooting

VM Will Not Start

Issue: Virtual machine fails to start with error about VT-x/AMD-V

Solution:

• Enable virtualization in host BIOS/UEFI settings
• Disable hyper-threading if causing conflicts
• Ensure 64-bit version of CHR is being used

No Network Connectivity

Issue: CHR cannot reach external networks

Solutions:

• Verify VirtualBox network adapter is attached
• Check bridged adapter is connected to correct host interface
• Verify CHR IP configuration and gateway settings
• Test with NAT adapter mode first

Slow Performance

Issue: CHR experiences poor throughput

Solutions:

• Allocate more RAM to the VM
• Add additional vCPUs
• Use Intel PRO/1000 network adapter
• Ensure hardware virtualization is enabled
• Reduce VM memory overhead from host applications

Cannot Access Management Interface

Issue: Cannot connect via WinBox, WebFig, or API

Solutions:

• Verify IP address is configured correctly
• Check firewall rules on CHR
• Ensure VirtualBox is not blocking connections
• Test with ping first to verify IP connectivity
• Verify services are enabled: /ip service print

Disk Space Issues

Issue: CHR reports low disk space

Solutions:

• Expand virtual disk size in VirtualBox settings
• Clean up log files: /log print and clear old entries
• Remove unused packages: /system package print
• Consider using RAW disk image for larger allocations

Related Topics

• Cloud Hosted Router, CHR
• CHR Licensing
• Virtual Disk Images
• Backup and Restore