MikroTik Encyclopedia

MikroTik RouterOS documentation-first workflow for MikroTik-specific questions, troubleshooting, command planning, live CLI/API work, config review, log analysis, security review, performance tuning, and diagnostics. Use when the request is clearly about MikroTik or RouterOS: MikroTik devices, RouterOS, RouterBOARD, CAPsMAN, WinBox, RouterOS CLI/API/SSH access, or networking topics specifically in a MikroTik context such as firewall, NAT, filter/raw/mangle, bridge, switch, VLAN, DHCP, DNS, queues, wireless/WiFi, routing, packet flow, connection tracking, or device management. Do not use for generic networking theory, generic firewall design, or generic Linux router/admin work unless the MikroTik/RouterOS context is explicit.

Overview

Use a docs-first workflow for MikroTik work. Prefer the official MikroTik documentation at https://help.mikrotik.com/docs/, consult cached local copies under .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/ before re-fetching, and record useful official-doc excerpts plus environment-specific operational learnings so future work gets faster and safer.

This skill is for the MikroTik RouterOS/device layer. It should trigger for real RouterOS behavior, configuration, and device-management questions — not for generic networking advice or generic Linux firewall/router administration.

Workflow

1. Classify the task

   • Decide whether the task is a MikroTik question, troubleshooting task, command-planning task, config review, or live SSH/API task.
   • Use this skill when the request is clearly about MikroTik hardware, RouterOS behavior, or a networking/admin task in a MikroTik context.
   • Do not use this skill for generic networking theory, vendor-neutral firewall design, or generic Linux firewall/admin work unless the MikroTik/RouterOS context is explicit.

2. Check local cache first

   • Use .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/ as the local knowledge/cache root.
   • Check these locations first when relevant:
     • .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/docs/help.mikrotik.com/docs/...
     • .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/devices/...
     • .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/patterns/...
     • .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/inventory/...
   • If a cached page or note already answers the question well enough, use it.

3. Consult official MikroTik docs before answering or touching devices

   • Before answering direct or indirect MikroTik questions that depend on RouterOS behavior, syntax, feature boundaries, security posture, or version-sensitive details, consult the official docs unless the answer is already well-supported by the local cache.
   • Before performing direct SSH/API access against a MikroTik device, consult the relevant docs first when:
     • the exact command path matters
     • feature semantics are easy to misremember
     • the action could affect routing, switching, bridge behavior, VLANs, CAPsMAN, DHCP, firewalling, or management reachability
   • Do not improvise high-impact MikroTik commands from memory when the docs are easy to check.

4. Cache consulted docs locally

   • When you consult a MikroTik doc page, save a normalized markdown/text cache copy under .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/docs/help.mikrotik.com/docs/....
   • Mirror the official docs path structure as much as practical.
   • Cache only pages actually consulted; do not try to mirror the whole docs site eagerly.
   • Use scripts/cache_doc.py when appropriate.

5. Separate official documentation from local observations

   • Store official-doc-derived material under .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/docs/....
   • Store environment-specific operational knowledge under:
     • .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/devices/
     • .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/patterns/
     • .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/inventory/
   • Distinguish clearly between:
     • official documented behavior
     • observed local configuration/state
     • inferred best-practice guidance

6. Record useful local learnings

   • After useful live work, save durable notes such as:
     • device roles and naming
     • management-access methods
     • discovered topology relationships
     • CAPsMAN/controller placement
     • repeated gotchas or RouterOS command patterns
     • safe/unsafe operational boundaries for the environment
   • Prefer concise durable notes over re-learning the same topology later.

Live Access Rules

• Treat official docs lookup as the default preflight for non-trivial MikroTik work.
• Prefer read/inspect first when entering a device you have not recently reviewed.
• Treat edge routers/firewalls, bridge/VLAN changes, CAPsMAN changes, and management-service changes as high-sensitivity areas.
• When uncertainty remains after checking cache + docs, say so and avoid bluffing.
• When answering a question, mention when useful whether the answer comes from cached official docs, a fresh official docs lookup, or live observed device state.

Data Root

Use this workspace-local root for cache and notes:

• .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/

Expected structure:

• .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/docs/help.mikrotik.com/docs/...
• .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/devices/...
• .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/patterns/...
• .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/inventory/...

Use scripts/init_workspace.py to create or repair the expected directory structure.

Note Destinations

• Device-specific observations → .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/devices/<device-name>.md
• Reusable RouterOS patterns/gotchas → .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/notes/patterns/<topic>.md
• Environment-wide topology/access info → .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/inventory/*.md
• Cached official docs → .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/docs/help.mikrotik.com/docs/...

Secrets / Sensitive Data

• Do not store plaintext credentials, API keys, session tokens, private URLs, recovery codes, or other secrets in the encyclopedia notes/inventory tree.
• If a note needs to mention access details, keep it high-level and redact or omit secret material.
• Treat these workspace notes as operational memory, not as a secrets vault.

Resources

• scripts/init_workspace.py — create or repair the .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/ directory tree.
• scripts/cache_doc.py — fetch and cache a consulted official MikroTik docs page under .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/docs/....
• references/workflow.md — detailed operating workflow and evidence-handling rules.
• references/cache-layout.md — canonical .MikroTik-Encyclopedia/ directory structure.
• references/topic-map.md — useful MikroTik topic groupings for faster doc lookup.

Good Outcomes

• Answer a MikroTik question using cached or freshly checked official docs instead of guesswork.
• Inspect a live MikroTik device after checking the relevant docs and record any new local topology knowledge.
• Build a growing local MikroTik knowledge cache that makes later work faster, safer, and more grounded.
• Turn one-off RouterOS discoveries into durable notes so future work does not rediscover them from scratch.

Avoid

• Answering RouterOS-specific questions purely from memory when docs are easy to consult.
• Treating local observed behavior as if it were guaranteed official documented behavior.
• Dumping large amounts of low-value docs into the workspace without a reason.
• Writing device-specific observations into the official-doc cache tree.
• Making high-impact live changes before checking the relevant docs when exact behavior matters.