MikroTik

I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE AD: However, I know there are some people that will find this of interest to them!
Link Technologies, Inc, along with the Author, Dennis Burgess, is proud to offer the FIRST, Mikrotik RouterOS book on the market. Learn RouterOS, will take you though RouterOS configurations, features, options, and best practices. Screenshots, walkthroughs, and recommendations are just the start, as we include how to use Mikrotik “The Dude” Application, and v3 of the free Radius and hotspot controller, User Manager! A full year in the making, Learn RouterOS covers most of the deployment issues with RouterOS. Shows you how and what features to use, and includes lots of information from experienced Mikrotik Certified Engineers!

You can purchase on-line via the link below, or contact Link Technologies, Inc, at 314-735-0270 directly for purchasing assistance. Shipping times may be delayed due to current demand.

http://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php? ... nt=7505131

Once again Dennis is spamming the forum.

Wow, it's a book. jwcn, I think there is no competing book about RouterOS out there, so I guess this is just useful information for everyone. I can't say about the contents of this book, and the quality, but anyway - nice job, Dennis.

Does any body have it's ebook ?

There is no ebook published, just softcover. YOu can order on-line at htt://www.routerosbook.com though. It should be on amazon in a few weeks.

Dennis,
This is really great! I am interested in the book, but I would like to actually preview some of the content. The preview page for your book only gives the covers and index. I would like to know if this book is actually informative and well written, hence the request for some actual content preview. I don't mean any offense by this, I just want to know that I'm making a good investment and I'm not buying a bunch of dead tree.

Thanks!

I have bought the book.

Sadly, I would not recommend it to anybody.

To give you an idea, the table of contents at the front runs to ten pages (with no logical sections, this makes the ToC worse than useless), the word 'interface' doesn't appear in the index (this is a book on RouterOS and there's no mention of 'interface' in the index?). As a result, it's almost impossible to find a section on X (where X is the subject you're interested in). The author overuses the word 'typically' and uses the abbreviation 'etc.' too much. Another pet hate of mine is the use of the word 'setup' when the phrase 'set up' is meant.

One paragraph from the book discussing the 'random' parameter in firewall filters....

"Using random can be fun. I will use the example that when me and my wife are not getting along, I use the random command to drop 30% of her web traffic and trust me, I get a response in about two minutes from enabling that rule. I don't know what is worse, actually using that rule, or the fact that I just enable and disable when I need it!

As the random switch implies, it allows you to setup [sic] a random matching ability. Besides aggregating [sic] the wife with it, it can also do some good...."

So, there you go, the only good example the author can come up with for the random feature involves annoying his wife. Sadly this is the theme throughout the book.

Some of the content is useful, but given that the book is so badly organised, actually finding the useful bits is a task in itself. The book is in great need of proof-reading and editing and as published is very much a brain dump.

I wouldn't recommend that anybody buy it until the book has been edited, structured and padded with more relevant examples - about half of its present content can quite safely be cut, and I'd add the same number of pages back with more examples.

I would like to know if this book is actually informative and well written

In my opinion it is neither.

I also purchased a copy, at the USA MUM and have to agree with the previous comments, the book is very poorly organised, has grammar worse than my own and nothing is covered that is not on the wiki. In fact, the majority of the illustrations are from the wiki!

I think the intention is good, but Dennis needs to employ a technical writer to help with the next edition.

I think it's a good reference for a beginner. Of course it doesn't cover everything, but no book does (plus this is the only RouterOS book). Sometimes our manual covers a setting only in one sentence, but here is a specialist with experience who can give additional information to that.

I respect the effort that Dennis has put into it.

I think it's a good reference for a beginner.

I disagree. There is no "This is what RouterOS does and these are the concepts behind it" chapter which is pretty fundamental in a book for beginners.

Of course it doesn't cover everything, but no book does (plus this is the only RouterOS book).

As far as I am aware, none of the criticism is due to a lack of coverage of any topic. I do, however, consider it reasonable to expect that there is an entry for 'interface' in the index.

I respect the effort that Dennis has put into it.

As do I. He has quite clearly spent a considerable amount of time in pulling the book together. Unfortunately, just because effort was put in doesn't make the end result any more useful.

I should add that none of the images, graphs or photographs used appear to be credited even though some of these appear to have been taken directly from MT's site. I don't know what agreement the author and MT had, but I find it hard to believe that MT said "Yes, sure, use our stuff free of charge and don't credit us".

There is no "This is what RouterOS does and these are the concepts behind it"

Well, there is (kind of). Pages 18-20

some of these appear to have been taken directly from MT's site

not sure if you are right about their sources (need to check) but anything taken from our site has to be linked back or credited.

expect that there is an entry for 'interface' in the index.

index really doesn't have Inteface, but it's there in the TOC. maybe a mistake

There is no "This is what RouterOS does and these are the concepts behind it"

Well, there is (kind of). Pages 18-20

Well, two thirds of page 18!

expect that there is an entry for 'interface' in the index.

index really doesn't have Inteface, but it's there in the TOC. maybe a mistake

Yes. Perhaps a mistake, but my point is that it's a pretty fundamental mistake and is pretty indicative of how the whole book has been put together (in my opinion). I gave up wading though the ToC - ten pages of complete mish-mash and nigh on impossible to find what you're looking for.

I personally think that _a_ book is better than _no_ book

Let's hope all this get's improved in the next edition.

I personally think that _a_ book is better than _no_ book

I know what you mean, but I think I disagree - in this instance, the book is clearly (to me) very amateurish and as such makes ROS look amateurish.....

Let's hope all this get's improved in the next edition.

Absolutely.

In the meantime, are there any people here who would like to collaborate on an open document book for ROS?

Well, I'm very new to RouterOs. I did also purchase this book at the MUM in Texas. I have read about three quarters of the book, and in all honestly have found it helpfull. It has been a nice reference for me, but that is my two cents.

Don't get me wrong, I think this is a great effort on Dennis's part, I just hope he sees this and gets the next copy proof read by a professional technical writer.

...I think this is a great effort on Dennis's part

Absolutely. I have had a few e-mails which have chastised me for my comments above (Dennis, you have a fan club!!) and I would like to point out that a) I am in agreement with everybody else in this thread when I say that Dennis has put a lot of effort into the book, and b) That my comments were made because I really, really wanted the book to be good - I need a good book to recommend and I wanted it to be this one. With some help, the second edition could well be that book.

"In the meantime, are there any people here who would like to collaborate on an open document book for ROS?"

Absolutely, please count me in on a FOSS book for RouterOS. The RouterOS technical documentation is really pretty good, but few people learn well straight from the technical documentation and therefore there is certainly a niche for a book (if not a series for beginners, intermediate, and advanced) helping people get introduced to RouterOS and then taking them through more and more complex scenarios and examples.

An additional point, different people learn different ways and thus we need to provide well rounded and complete examples. This leads to the FOSS RouterOS book being iterative and continually growing in the examples and depth.

The first step to a project such as this may be coming up with a proposed list of topics to be covered / addressed and then working on that list until complete. As the primary audience of the work being described is beginners / an introduction to RouterOS the topics should support that idea and avoid advanced topics until later.

Several well written chapters might do quite a bit in advancing the publicity of RouterOS.

Thoughts?

well, you always can go to wiki.mikrotik.com and create your own page for book contents and start writing. that way materials would be accessible to everyone willing to read.

If you are willing to start doing that, you can ask normis to create new section for you, so things start to happen and does not stop just at talk talk.

well, you always can go to wiki.mikrotik.com and create your own page for book contents and start writing. that way materials would be accessible to everyone willing to read.

If you are willing to start doing that, you can ask normis to create new section for you, so things start to happen and does not stop just at talk talk.

100% agree.

What I miss most on the wiki, that many articles seem to be old, referring to old versions i.e. of freeradius, but do not state that!

So what I would like is, that any article starts with a short summary on which versions where used. I took quite some time to find that some configuration fragments where for a freeradius 1.0 and not ment to work with v2 etc.

And the price is still huge, and a soft cover ? I DONT WORK WITH PAPER as neither anyone that I know

There is one point here to be made: how might we best approach the topics needed to help people learn RouterOS? Books do work and some of us still love paper (highlighting, notes in the margins, etc).

The Wiki is great as it's more up-to-date. A book may have problems as RouterOS is constantly evolving, with new features, changing existing features, etc... The official Mikrotik manual is really out of date, so the Wiki might be a better option for Mikrotik RouterOS documentation repository.

The Wiki is great as it's more up-to-date. A book may have problems as RouterOS is constantly evolving, with new features, changing existing features, etc... The official Mikrotik manual is really out of date, so the Wiki might be a better option for Mikrotik RouterOS documentation repository.

http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Category:Manual

The Wiki is great as it's more up-to-date. A book may have problems as RouterOS is constantly evolving, with new features, changing existing features, etc... The official Mikrotik manual is really out of date, so the Wiki might be a better option for Mikrotik RouterOS documentation repository.

http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Category:Manual

Nice! Btw, I really like the new Wiki visual layout, it looks nice and clean.

Nice! Btw, I really like the new Wiki visual layout, it looks nice and clean.

I'll second that. Much better layout and considerably easier to find what is being looked for.

Sorry for bumping an old thread but is there a follow-up on this book? I do have some relevant information to add and I have done some mental editing of this book since it was, well, not so well edited in the edition I have...

Dennis said he is working on a new edition, so send him any suggestions you have. Contact details are in his posts.

Yep, I am working on a Second Edition.

I also wanted to note that there is a iBook and a Kindle version of Learn RouterOS now as well!

http://www.amazon.com/Learn-RouterOS-eb ... 953&sr=8-2

That would be the link for the amazon version.

I am very curious about the QoS information the new edition might contain.

Dennis, feel free to use my WiKi article http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/NetworkPr ... of_Service if it would be of any help.

If you can send me a copy of the second edition, when it's finished, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Don't see where that information is not covered in the existing version 1 of "Learn RouterOS".

Hi Dennis,

when the second edition of Learn RouterOS is going to be live?

Kolpano

tis coming

Thanks Dennis,

do you "see" it in some days , a month or more ?

I am asking this because i wouldn't like to spend money to buy version 1 and in lets say two weeks time to se that version 2 is available.

Thanks

Kolpano.

My assumption is still a month or two out at the soonest. I may have a preview copy at the MUM in Budapest. But that would just be that. We currently do offer ibook and Kindle editions, they are both reduced from the list price so, might be a way to get started

I also have put a call out for any updates, suggestions, recommended topics, etc. support@linktechs.net is always open.

Thanks Dennis,

i will probably go on with the current ibook version and probably when the second version goes live, there will be an extra discount for those that have purchased the first edition

Thanks.

I purchased this book wishing to know more about routeros before I went ahead and purchased a soho one.. the routerboard 750 was my initial thought or the 751.

The Book does have some grammatical errors ?

Page 53 Basic Firewall It says this is the ONLY time that you can specify a public interface. ? Does this mean that I was was for arguments to change the wan interface to port 5 that I couldn't change it back ?

Page 63 the book sorta implies that each item in the winbox menu is a subsection under the command line ? Is this correct ?
i.e /interface, /ip route
At the bottom of page 63 it says in the command line you would simply type wireless interfaces ?

Page 73 cREATING EDITABLE Text Backup Files. A bit vague and a bit flakily done. What I am asking could you backup specific options say the interfaces and the look at the text file for reference as to what has been changed. I feel that making use of the text backup file could be of immense importance when people are learning ad more should of been made of this feature.

I am currently on Page 96 though I find some of the information interesting I beleive this book misses a trick. There needs to be more made of the command line for people who genuinely wish to get to the guts of the system. Ok I skipped ahead to note some of the other pages and Page 430 the command line reference incomplete would of prefered a breakdown of all the major subsections referenced and what each section does. And then You go onto the Appendix and mention features only available in the command line. This would of been better if youd have put this in with the command line section.

Sorry to whine at you dennis. It does provide a basic ground on where to start.

Once I have read the boo and feel confident about what I have read I will then look at buying a routerboard probably 750 as this is the cheapest and then set about playing about with it.

Basic things that I wanted to do.
1 Switch round the ports and generally play about. Not sure if it is possible but thought id give it a try to move the wan port from one to 5.

2 Use an Old DG834G use that as a modem only, have this router behind and play about with ipv6 through tunnelling.

3 I have a ta612v an old voip box from Netgearl Putting this onto the router and configuring things like qos to handle voip calls.

If anyone can point me in the direction to do these via the command line id be extremely gratefull

normis should be writing a routeros book too

He is. It's called MIKROTIK WIKI.

Pages 101 - 103 seem disjointed and seem to babble on. Not clear enough

My current impressio n of the book has changed. I feel the book tries to cover too much in not a large amount of space.

I also found this boook

http://shop.learnmikrotik.com/product.php?id_product=10

RouterOs by Example Stephen Discher

The book shows that the person who is writing is clearly knowledgable but the spelling mistakes. the inconsitency and lack of in depth coverage concerns me.

The book is very passionate when it comes to security but it is not a book i would recomend.

There is a corrected book out now. Also a different book has been published as an alternative, so you have more choice:

http://www.mikrotik.com/mfm?category=5

I have read Discher's new book and it does a great job of taking a new user through RouterOS. It is well organized and I would recommend it. I bought it at http://learnmikrotik.com/book

I have read Discher's new book and it does a great job of taking a new user through RouterOS. It is well organized and I would recommend it. I bought it at http://learnmikrotik.com/book

Ditto !!!

I have read Stephen Discher's book and I would recommend it.

I bought it at http://www.ispsupplies.com/s.nl?sc=16&s ... %20example.

It has workable examples.

Don James
Henderson, Texas USA

I can surely recommend Stephen Discher's book "RouterOS by Example". Its informative and well organized with many working examples. Although it doesn't cover 100% of mikrotik, but surely its something that I would always like to keep with me as a reference book.
Level: Beginner to Medium.

I can surely recommend Stephen Discher's book "RouterOS by Example". Its informative and well organized with many working examples. Although it doesn't cover 100% of mikrotik, but surely its something that I would always like to keep with me as a reference book.
Level: Beginner to Medium.

agree with Mr.aacable