The MikroTik API serves as a powerful bridge between network administration and software development, allowing for the automation of complex tasks that would otherwise be tedious in the Winbox GUI or command-line interface (CLI). By leveraging the API, network engineers can programmatically manage configurations, monitor real-time traffic, and build custom user-facing portals for ISP management Core Functionality and Architecture
The MikroTik API operates on a proprietary protocol, typically using TCP port for insecure connections and
for SSL-encrypted sessions. In RouterOS v7, MikroTik also introduced a standard , which utilizes HTTP methods such as
with data exchanged in JSON format. This modernization allows developers to use standard tools like
to interact with their routers without needing specialized libraries. Practical Implementation Examples
Across various programming languages, the API enables diverse use cases ranging from simple health monitoring to full-scale zero-touch provisioning. API - RouterOS - MikroTik Documentation
The MikroTik API allows for high-speed, real-time management of RouterOS devices. It is primarily split between a proprietary binary protocol (standard API) and a more modern REST API introduced in RouterOS v7. 1. Initial Configuration & Access Before using the API, it must be enabled on the device. mikrotik api examples
Enable Service: Run /ip/service set api disabled=no in the terminal. Default Ports: Standard API: Port 8728 (unencrypted) or 8729 (SSL/TLS). REST API: Typically uses standard HTTPS port 443.
Permissions: The user account must have appropriate "api" and "write/read" permissions. 2. Standard API Examples
The standard API uses a sentence-based messaging system over raw TCP. Commands follow the CLI structure but use a specific syntax for attributes. Python Example (librouteros)
Using popular libraries like librouteros or routeros_api simplifies the low-level byte exchange.
from librouteros import connect # Establish connection api = connect(username='admin', password='password', host='192.168.88.1') # Example: Get IP addresses ip_info = api(cmd='/ip/address/print') print(ip_info) # Returns a list of dictionaries Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Basic Command Syntax Command Line Interface - RouterOS - MikroTik Documentation
Here’s a practical guide to working with the MikroTik API, including common examples in Python and bash. The API uses plain text commands over TCP port 8728 (or 8729 for SSL). The MikroTik API serves as a powerful bridge
Library: librouteros (recommended) or raw sockets.
This guide covers using the MikroTik RouterOS API (the binary/API or the REST-like RouterOS API depending on RouterOS version) and includes examples in three common languages: Python, Go, and curl (REST API). Assumes RouterOS v6+ (API) or RouterOS v7+ (REST API available). Use username/password with an account that has API access; enable the API service in IP > Services if needed.
1. One-to-One Mapping with CLI
This is the API's greatest strength. If you know how to do something in the terminal (e.g., /ip firewall filter add chain=forward action=drop), you know how to do it in the API. There is no proprietary abstraction layer to learn. You send the command path and the arguments; the router executes it.
2. Speed and Efficiency Unlike screen-scraping (SSH/Expect), the API is incredibly fast. It parses responses into a structured format (typically dictionaries/arrays in Python or hashes in Perl) instantly. You can query a router with 50,000 firewall entries and get a usable dataset back in seconds without the overhead of rendering a terminal interface.
3. The Ecosystem (Python Libraries) The raw API is difficult to work with (it requires handling sockets, lengths, and end-of-sentence markers manually). However, the community has built excellent wrappers.
resources = connection.path('system', 'resource').get()
print(f"CPU Load: resources['cpu-load']%")
print(f"Uptime: resources['uptime']")
identity = api.get_resource('/system/identity').get() print(f"Router Name: identity[0]['name']") RouterOS-api (Python): The gold standard for simple scripts
routeros_api library)Python is the most popular language for MikroTik automation. This example requires the library: pip install routeros_api.
Scenario: Connect to a router, add a simple queue, and print system identity.
import routeros_api
Conclusion
The MikroTik API is a powerful gateway to automate every aspect of RouterOS. From simple configuration management to complex event-driven automation, integrating the API into your workflows can reduce human error, save hours of manual labor, and enable real-time network adaptivity.
The examples provided—covering Python, authentication, firewall rules, queues, monitoring, and real-world use cases—should serve as a solid foundation for your automation projects. Start small: write a script to back up your config via API, then expand to dynamic firewalls or scheduled bandwidth changes.
Remember to always test automation scripts in a lab environment before deploying to production routers. Now go automate your MikroTik network!