> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://altostrat.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Onboard Your First Router
> Create your first SDX site, run the bootstrap command on RouterOS, and verify that the router is online.
Use this guide to onboard one MikroTik router as an SDX site. By the end, the router should appear as online in the portal and be ready for management, monitoring, backups, policies, and automation.
## Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
* A MikroTik router with working outbound internet access.
* RouterOS terminal access through WinBox, SSH, or a local console.
* An Altostrat SDX user with permission to create and manage sites.
* A control plane policy to apply during onboarding. The default policy is suitable for a first site unless your organization has a stricter standard.
Run onboarding during a maintenance window if the router is already carrying production traffic. The bootstrap script installs SDX management configuration and may change management-plane behavior.
## Onboard the Router
Create the logical site that will represent this router in SDX.
1. Open the SDX portal.
2. Go to **Sites**.
3. Select **Add**.
4. Enter a clear site name, such as the location or customer-facing service name.
5. Save the site.
Use a name your operations team will recognize in alerts and reports. You can add tags and notes after the site is online.
Generate the RouterOS command that binds the physical router to the site.
1. Open the new site.
2. Select **Add Router** or the onboarding action shown in the site view.
3. Select the control plane policy you want SDX to enforce.
4. Copy the generated bootstrap command.
The bootstrap command is site-specific. If you abandon the onboarding attempt or suspect the command was copied incorrectly, generate a fresh command from the portal.
Execute the command on the target router.
1. Open the router terminal through WinBox, SSH, or console.
2. Paste the full bootstrap command.
3. Press **Enter**.
4. Wait for the command to finish before closing the session.
The router connects outbound to Altostrat, adopts into the site, and begins the management relationship used for heartbeats and device jobs.
Return to the SDX portal and open the site.
Confirm that:
* The site status changes to online.
* Last seen updates after the router checks in.
* Device identity and RouterOS details appear on the site.
* The site appears in the fleet list and dashboard widgets.
If the site does not come online, start with outbound internet reachability, DNS resolution, the full copied command, and outbound access to the management VPN endpoint. See [Troubleshooting](../resources/troubleshooting) for a structured checklist.
## Next Steps
After the router is online, do these next:
Learn where SDX shows status, inventory, notes, tags, faults, metrics, and site settings.
Review the control plane policy applied during onboarding and create a stricter one if needed.
Request and review a configuration backup before making larger changes.
Add useful operational metadata before you build reports and workflows around the site.