Can You Run MikroTik in the Cloud? (Yes — with CHR)

Can You Run MikroTik in the Cloud? (Yes — with CHR)

Traditionally, MikroTik is known as a hardware-based router — RouterBOARD devices running RouterOS.
But what if you don’t want physical hardware?

What if you want to:

  • Build a lab
  • Run routing in the cloud
  • Use MikroTik on Proxmox or a virtual environment

Good news: MikroTik officially supports this.

In this article, we’ll explore MikroTik CHR (Cloud Hosted Router) and walk through deploying it on Proxmox, including image conversion, networking, and licensing.

What Is MikroTik CHR?

MikroTik CHR (Cloud Hosted Router) is an official MikroTik product designed specifically for virtual environments.

It runs the same RouterOS you find on MikroTik hardware, but inside a virtual machine.

You still get:

  • Routing
  • Firewall
  • BGP / OSPF
  • VLAN
  • QoS
  • VPN features

The only difference is that CHR runs on virtual CPUs and virtual NICs instead of physical hardware.

Where Can MikroTik CHR Run?

MikroTik CHR can run on:

  • Proxmox VE
  • VMware
  • VirtualBox
  • KVM
  • Public cloud platforms (AWS, Alibaba Cloud, etc.)

Some cloud providers even offer MikroTik CHR directly in their marketplace, allowing one-click deployment.

MikroTik CHR Image Formats

From the official MikroTik website, CHR is available in multiple formats, including:

  • OVA
  • RAW
  • VMDK
  • VHD

You simply choose the image format that matches your virtualization platform.

The Problem with Proxmox

Proxmox requires QCOW2 format, but MikroTik does not always provide QCOW2 directly.

So how do we solve this?

Solution: Convert RAW Image to QCOW2

We can convert the RAW image into QCOW2 using qemu-img, a standard Linux tool.

This conversion can be done on:

  • Proxmox server
  • Any Linux machine

Step-by-Step: Deploy MikroTik CHR on Proxmox

1. Create a New VM (No Disk)

Create a new VM in Proxmox with these settings:

  • OS: Do not use any media
  • Disk: No disk attached
  • Network: Use your standard bridge
  • Remember the VM ID

This VM will act as a container for the imported disk.

2. Download and Prepare CHR Image

  1. Download the RAW CHR image from the MikroTik website
  2. Extract the ZIP file
  3. Transfer the .img file to the Proxmox server

If you are on Windows, WinSCP is a simple tool to copy files using SCP over SSH.

Place the file in:

/tmp

3. Convert RAW to QCOW2

Access the Proxmox shell and run:

qemu-img convert -f raw -O qcow2 chr-6.40.3.img vm-<VMID>-disk-1.qcow2

Verify the file exists:

ls

At this point, you have successfully created a QCOW2 image.

4. Import Disk into Proxmox

Import the QCOW2 disk into the VM:

qm importdisk <VMID> vm-<VMID>-disk-1.qcow2 local-datavm

Then:

  • Open the VM → Hardware
  • Edit Unused Disk
  • Attach the disk

(Optional) Resize the disk if you need more storage.

5. Configure Boot Order

Go to:

VM → Options → Boot Order

Set the imported disk as the first boot device.

Start the VM.

Access MikroTik CHR Using Winbox

After network configuration:

  • Open Winbox
  • Connect using IP address or MAC

You are now inside MikroTik RouterOS, running fully virtualized.

MikroTik CHR Licensing

MikroTik CHR uses a software-based license, and performance depends on the license level.

To activate:

  1. Go to:System → License
  2. Log in using your MikroTik account
  3. Assign a CHR license key to the System ID

Licenses can be purchased through authorized MikroTik distributors.

Use Cases for MikroTik CHR

MikroTik CHR is ideal for:

  • Network labs and learning environments
  • Homelab routing
  • Cloud routing and VPN gateways
  • BGP and firewall testing
  • Production virtual routers

Final Thoughts

MikroTik CHR proves that you don’t need physical hardware to run RouterOS.

With Proxmox and CHR, you get:

  • Full RouterOS features
  • Flexible deployment
  • Cloud-ready routing

If you’re learning networking or building modern infrastructure, MikroTik CHR is a powerful and affordable solution.