How to Setup MikroTik RouterOS in VMware Workstation

Installing RouterOS on Virtual VMware Workstation

You don't always have a physical Mikrotik router with you, but need to learn RouterOS. In this case, you need a way to practice with RouterOS. 

VMware workstation can help!

This can create a virtual machine on your existing PC, where you install RouterOS and practice MikroTik basics.

To perform these activities, you need-

1. Any VMware Workstation Software, like version 10 or 11

2. An ISO file of RouterOS of any version

2. Winbox for accessing MikroTik RouterOS

First, install VMware and open it.

Now, click on "Create a New Virtual Machine"

On the popup window, select "Custom"

On the next window, select the last option as indicated in above photo.

On the next one, select " Other" for both as we don't know which version of RouterOS you are installing yet! right.

Now, give your virtual machine a Name. In my case "Mik" and select a location on your drive. It's better to select a drive other than C drive.

Allocate 512MB of RAM for your virtual machine.

Next, select Bridge Networking

N.B: Some of steps are not mentioned in this article. If popped select the default option. 

Now, select the folder you previously created on your drive

On next window, click on "Customize hardware"

Now, click on "Add"

From the left, select "Network Adapter"

Continue with Bridge Mode and finish

Now, look on the main control panel
Select the machine you just created. Now it's time to select the ISO file . Upon selecting the machine, on the right side, select the CD/DVD and select the ISO file.

Now, hit the play button as indicated on above.

It will give you the installation wizard, Fullscreen it. Otherwise, keyboard will not work.

How to Know the Serial Key in Windows for Reuse in Installation

Windows Serial Key/Product Key Finder in Windows 7,8 and 10

If you need to find the serial key of your activated windows for any purposes, the following be an easy fix. Sometimes you need to reinstall your windows but in this case, a valid serial key will be needed for activation.

You can do this easily by running this script

Or you can copy this following codes to notepad and save it as .vbs file.
The code is given below in between dashed line.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Option Explicit

Dim objshell,path,DigitalID, Result
Set objshell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
'Set registry key path
Path = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\"
'Registry key value
DigitalID = objshell.RegRead(Path & "DigitalProductId")
Dim ProductName,ProductID,ProductKey,ProductData
'Get ProductName, ProductID, ProductKey
ProductName = "Product Name: " & objshell.RegRead(Path & "ProductName")
ProductID = "Product ID: " & objshell.RegRead(Path & "ProductID")
ProductKey = "Installed Key: " & ConvertToKey(DigitalID)
ProductData = ProductName  & vbNewLine & ProductID  & vbNewLine & ProductKey
'Show messbox if save to a file
If vbYes = MsgBox(ProductData  & vblf & vblf & "Save to a file?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "BackUp Windows Key Information") then
   Save ProductData
End If



'Convert binary to chars
Function ConvertToKey(Key)
    Const KeyOffset = 52