WiFi Device Factory Reset and Normalization Guide...Normalization Guide. Overview This guide provides instructions on factory resetting and normalizing the MikroTik Access Point (AP)

WiFi Device Factory Reset and Normalization Guide

Overview

This guide provides instructions on factory resetting and normalizing the MikroTik Access Point (AP) and MikroTik Network Controller (NC) so that they can be properly staged.

This process can occur any time before installation – it does not need to happen immediately before installation.

Connection to Viasat satellite infrastructure is NOT required for normalizing or factory resetting these devices. Furthermore, the Network Controller MUST NOT be connected to an internet source during normalization.

REQUIRED ITEMS: • One Mikrotik Network Controller (NC) • One Mikrotik Access Point (AP) • One NC power cord (The power cord that comes with the AP is not needed) • One NC PoE injector (The PoE injector that comes with the AP is not needed) • A laptop with an ethernet port and Winbox installed

o Winbox can be downloaded at https://mikrotik.com/download (the installation type will depend on whether a 32-bit or 64-bit machine is being used)

• Two pre-tested Ethernet cords • Working power outlet • Paperclip or other fine-pointed object

NOTE: A different model may be used for the MikroTIK items pictured in this guide, but the process is identical.

Network Controller (NC) Access Point (AP) PoE Injector

NC/AP Factory Resetting Instructions: 1. Plug the NC power cord into the PoE injector as shown below and connect the power

cord to a functioning power outlet. Plug an ethernet cable to the other end of the PoE injector, a light on the injector indicates successful connection to power. DO NOT CONNECT THE PoE TO A MODEM OR ANY OTHER INTERNET SOURCE.

2. Perform a Factory Reset on the NC: Hold down the NC reset button (circled below) THEN insert the other end of the ethernet cable connected to the PoE injector into Port 1 of the NC as shown below. The reset button must be held down BEFORE connecting the ethernet cable.

Hold the reset button down for 5 more seconds starting from the moment the ethernet cable is plugged into the NC.

The NC power light will flash if the factory reset was successful.

NOTE: If the reset button is held down too long the LED will turn solid. If this happens, unplug the ethernet cable and perform another factory reset.

3. Plug the AP power cord into the PoE injector as shown below and connect the power cord to a functioning power outlet. Plug an ethernet cable to the other end of the PoE injector, a light on the injector indicates successful connection to power. DO NOT CONNECT THE PoE TO A MODEM OR ANY OTHER INTERNET SOURCE.

4. Perform a Factory Reset of the AP: Hold down the AP reset button (circled below, this may require a paper clip or other small object to reach) THEN connect the other end of the ethernet cable from Port 5 of the NC to the AP’s ethernet port as shown below. Hold the reset button down for 5 more seconds starting from the moment the ethernet cable is plugged into the AP. The AP power light will flash if the factory reset was successful. NOTE: The reset button must be held down BEFORE connecting the ethernet cable.

NOTE: If the reset button is held down too long the LED will turn solid. If this happens, unplug the ethernet cable and perform another factory reset.

NC/AP Normalization Instructions: Purpose: To normalize WiFi devices that do not match the factory configuration advertised by Mikrotik.

1) The following processes must be followed for both the AP (Groove) and NC (Network Controller), but with one device at a time. To normalize the AP (Groove), begin by connecting an ethernet cable from your laptop with Winbox installed to the ethernet plug of the powered PoE injector connected to the ethernet port (ether1) on the AP.

To normalize the NC (Controller), begin by powering on the controller by plugging an ethernet cable from Port 1 of the controller to the PoE injector connected to a working power outlet. Then connect a second ethernet cable directly from your laptop to Port 2 (ether2) of the Controller.

Port 2

2) Open Winbox and inspect the “Neighbors” tab. If nothing appears in the list, try to

press “refresh” a couple of times – space attempts by at least 5 seconds and repeat no more than three times. If that does not work, manually enter the ether1(or ether2 if using an Omnitik) mac address in the “Connect To” field.

3) Press “Connect” to establish a session with the device. Username is “admin” and

password is blank by default. 4) On the left pane, there is a “New Terminal” button that opens a command line

interface session. Press it to open one.

5) Input the following command:

“/system reset-configuration no-defaults=yes caps-mode=no” When prompted with the warning, answer with “y” to proceed.

6) Wait for the device to come back up after reboot, which can take up to three

minutes. Once available, reconnect to it with WinBox. 7) Download the zip file (“CommandFiles”) underneath the webpage title on the

eguide and open it up to find the InstallDefaultsGroove.rsc for the AP (Groove) devices and InstallDefaultsOmnitik.rsc for the NC (Omnitik) devices. Place these files on the local computer filesystem that is being used to interface with routerOS. Once the files are available on the computer filesystem, push them routerOS using the “File” management menu on the left-hand pane:

8) Select the “Upload” option and specify the path to pull the file from on the local

computer filesystem. Note that only a single file should be transferred for execution, which should correspond to the device type being normalized.

9) Open a “new terminal” and run “/import InstallDefaultsGroove.rsc” or “/import

InstallDefaultsOmnitik.rsc” depending on which device type is being normalized and which file was transferred. It should return a successful output, similar to the following:

The Normalization process is now complete, please note that normalization must be done for all NC and AP devices. NOTE: Now that normalization is complete, these devices SHOULD NOT be factory reset again. If they are, they will need to go through the entire normalization process once more. NOTE: These devices still need to be staged before use in an install. Staging should occur directly before leaving for an install.