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@jennifer/routeros

Interfaces

File: src/topics/interfaces.j. Path: /interface (INTERFACE_PATH).

Background

/interface is RouterOS's master list of every interface - physical ethernet ports (ether1...), and all the virtual ones other topics create (bridges, VLANs, PPPoE sessions, WireGuard tunnels). You cannot create interfaces here; you inspect and manage the ones that exist. Two flags matter: running (link is up, cable plugged, radio on) and disabled (administratively switched off).

Struct

jennifer
mt.Interface {
    id, name, kind,          # kind is RouterOS's "type": "ether", "bridge", "wlan", ...
    mac,                     # hardware address, "" for some virtual interfaces
    running, disabled,       # bools
    comment
}

Functions

FunctionPurpose
interfaces(c) → list of Interfaceeverything the router has
interfaceByName(c, name) → Interfaceone interface, error if absent
enableInterface(c, name)switch on
disableInterface(c, name)switch off (traffic stops)
renameInterface(c, current, next)give it a new name
commentInterface(c, name, comment)attach/clear a note

Examples

Inventory with status:

jennifer
def ifaces as list of mt.Interface init mt.interfaces($c);
for (def i in $ifaces) {
    io.printf("%s (%s) running=%t disabled=%t %s\n",
        $i.name, $i.kind, $i.running, $i.disabled, $i.comment);
}

Label the uplink and switch an unused port off:

jennifer
mt.commentInterface($c, "ether1", "uplink to ISP");
mt.disableInterface($c, "ether5");

Check a link before relying on it:

jennifer
def wan as mt.Interface init mt.interfaceByName($c, "ether1");
if (not $wan.running) {
    io.printf("ether1 has no link - is the cable plugged in?\n");
}

Pitfalls

  • Disabling the interface you are connected through cuts your own session off. routeros cannot protect you from that - check first.
  • running == false with disabled == false means a layer-1 problem (no cable, no link partner), not a configuration problem.
  • Renaming an interface does not update references to the old name in comments or external scripts; RouterOS itself updates its own references (firewall rules, bridge ports, ...).
  • bridges.md, vlans.md - create virtual interfaces that then appear in this list.
  • ip.md - put addresses on interfaces.