Notes

Dual-WAN Failover with Recursive Routing

20/2/2026

Recursive routing lets MikroTik pick a gateway based on real reachability (ping/route-check) instead of just link state.

Why recursive?

  • More stable than netwatch setups that “flip-flop”
  • Supports priority + fallback chains

The common pattern

  1. Default routes with gateway-check (check-gateway=ping)
  2. A route to a target IP that is “always up”
  3. Routing tables + distance for primary/secondary

Tips

  • Use reliable targets (e.g. 1.1.1.1 / 8.8.8.8)
  • Pick a sensible ping interval
  • Test it: unplug WAN1 and watch the switch-over