The Perfect Compact Homelab Switch? - Mikrotik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

There are very few applications where a Mikrotik switch or Router is not the ideal choice. The cheapest Mikrotik Switch/Router has about a million more possible configurations that the most expensive products cisco offer. RouterOS is by far the most versatile network toolbox that could ever be run on a network device. There is almost nothing they can't do and at a rock bottom price point.

I really only ever see computers with 1gb or 10gb never had anything 2.5 except some access points.
But anything server/pc for sure go for a cheap 10gb NIC it will be cheaper and better performing than something between.

A barrel jack for power on network equipment like this is bad design as they don't lock in any meaningful way. I also hate the fact that they put it on the front panel adjacent to a USB port! Pull the wrong cable (or more likely, the power cable intertwined with the USB cable) and the entire switch goes down.

How do you get this to boot to switchos? Every time I try it fails to boot and I have to reset.

Mine arrived today, can't wait to have it set up!

Hello, may I ask if this machine supports LACP? Because I have this need, thank you.

I grabbed the generic version of this non-managed for $70 , SFP+ ports are empty, but I think I can grab the managed version of this for like $100. I still think 10g network cards and 10g SFP+ ports are a little over priced for a home network, but I like that I can upgrade later when it becomes more financially sensible. That and the fact that they seem to work fine on all standard cat5e runs is also a plus.

There is a constant link down and link up on the SFP+ port on one of my devices.

Might pick one of these up for my lab corner at work. Nice to have.
CSS610 are available as well but can only run SwOS/Lite wich can be a disadvantage sometimes.

For my home im planning to run RB5009 PoE version, then combined with a CRS326 connected to each other via a DAC 10gig. Then add a cAP AX XL connected to the RB5009 on PoE and the RB5009 going to be used as AP controller. I know i can just get a "all-in-one" but whats the fun with that :D

Some kind of a hardware firewall between WAN and the RB5009 router would be nice. But dont know what. Maybe a L009? any suggestions?

I always get link down and link up at 10G speed on the SFP+ port with Mikrotik DAC cable. The LAN port of another device became 100M half duplex. Bad series?

2.5GB networking is this weird in-between standard that isn't a standard and all it does is distract non-network knowledgeable consumers from realising the natural jump from 1G to 10G SFP+, cheap 10G single mode transceivers, cheap fibre and cheap, low power 10G DAC cables. 10G enterprise switches are being refreshed all across the world by 100G infrastructure to the server and this 10G gear is flooding the market for cheap. Also there are more and more 10G SFP+ eight switchport options available new from new players, perfect for home labs.

Will the 2.5Gb ports negotiate down to 1Gb link?

Can the RJ45 ports also just do gigabit as well?

Hi, it makes me wonder what kind of router do you use to pair this switch up with?

I have brought a unknown brand 4*2.5+2*10G SFP+ in $60 at Amazon. It is a steal. It uses Realtek solution and it has no fan and runs cool. So far, so good: no fan and full speed without throttling. There is no feature but a plain unmanaged switch which does its job. This is a no brainer if you have SFP+ transceiver and 2.5G connections.

Will_Poulter.jpg: Wait, you guys are getting MikroTik switches

We need a small quantum switch in the home lab!

You have my attention for Soho home use. Does it have poe+ for wifi extenders?

Should have shown it to them first, they would have told you how Mikrotik is pronounced.

Nice

I love 2.5gb !
It drives down the price of 1gb equipment.
You nerds toss it and leave it
And I pull up quick to retrieve it

I've been looking for a router 2.5gb/10gb sfp upgrade and this would fit perfectly for the office/homelab layer. I've got a 10gb mikrotik already so this would pair nicely...just need to figure out the vlan tagging.

@CraftComputing since the routing is weak would it be better to load switchOS instead of RouterOS?

So is it not recommended to use this as the main router with a multigig internet? Say I if have 1.5g internet, would it not be able to push that NAT while also providing 2.5g switching?

10gig homelab running lancache to 5 2.5gig gaming-PCs is great for our Christmas LAN!

No I think the mikrotik crs312 12-port cloud router switch crs312-4c+8xg-rm is the best. 12 10Gb switch and router all in one. With routerOS there is nothing it can't do

ZimaCube once that device comes in this might be the ideal device to bond the 4 2.5Gb ports the device comes with into a 10Gb piple, if the device will allow such a thing. Don't actually know yet.

I have 2 servers with Mellanox 544QSFP ConnectX-3 NICs and 3 client computers that have 2.5GBe. what cable would I need to go from QSFP to SFP+. this switch would be in the rack with the servers.

if it was 99 and not 199 i'd be interested

Just ordered mine. My Ruckus switch (came with the house) has 2 SFP+ ports but require a license to upgrade and is very pricey. I mainly want to connect my NAS via 10G (already connected directly to my main Linux PC via 10G) to more of the network. I have the smaller Microtic 5 port switch.

cant wait until multi gig switches can be had for pennies on the dollar as gigabit can now. That will be a glorious time.

Try saying "CRS310-8G+2S+IN" five times as fast as you can.

I'm fairly impressed with the price I have a similar switch I'm my home by TP-link from the Omada services of SDN products. It is a TL-SG3210XHP-M2 and cost about $400 new.

Im looking for a affordable 2.5g/10g managed switch with poe.

I will stick with my Ubiquiti Enterprise 8. It's the same as this but has PoE+ on the 2.5Gb ports.

12 ports at 1gbe, 12 ports at 2.5gbe, and 5+ sfp+ ports. All the 1gbe ports need poe, the 2.5ports need poe++. Really all i want is one switch for the whole house. 3 servers, 1 nas, 1 rouer on 10gbe, wifi6e and fast clients on 2.5gb, and legacy stuff on the 1gbe (cameras, consoles, tvs, etc.). If the switch cant do firewalling at line rate, then it'd be nice to have a couple of 25gbe ports for uplink to the router/firewall so i could do 10gb bi directional to the nas.

No sooner than you say $199, this chinese company jacks the price to $239

What about the Hasivo S1100W-8XGT-SE an 8x10GBE

I want one.

MIKE RO TIK. Not Mic ro tik.
Its like calling Walmart... Wal mert.

What about the Zyxel XGS1010-12?

I'm pretty sure Ubiquiti still only has a POE 8 port model in this factor for 2.5x more. Not sure why they keep 2.5 to their "Enterprise" models so far. Which seems basically switches to do their U6 Enterprise APs backhaul.

Can you run SwitchOS on this or does it have to run RouterOS?

i really love what Microtik does with their hardware but i really dont like their gui

Geoff, do your beers ever get spilled on your desk/electrical devices?

Isn’t it pronounced my-crow-tick?

Hi Jeff I am still looking for for this beer "All you have learn 987" where can I find it?

A very interesting 2x 10gbe plus 8x 2.5gbe managed switch for home labbers.
Thank you.