Hello guys,

I've been using MikroTik for few years now and I'm pretty happy with the devices. Currently I'm using hEX S as gateway router and 2 hAP AC^2. In addition I have two TP-Link switches, one that is powering my surveillance and one as main "smart" switch. I'm planning to upgrade the main switch with Mikrotik, but I'm on a crossroad on which model to pick. Initially I was targeting CSS610-8G-2S+IN but while reading the forum I found out that it's with SW OS Lite and it's still having some issues. My next stop was CRS112-8G-4S-IN, but unfortunately it doesn't have SFP+ which would be good but is not mandatory.

As for the requirements, I'd like a small switch that's why I targeted these models. In the future I'll get one more switch (probably POE) for the next floor and It would be great to have a fiber between them. Also it's mandatory to be with passive cooling as it's in an area where any noise would be irritating. Currently my 10 port PoE switch is connected directly to the NVR by copper and I have LC/LC from the switch to the hEX. The NVR/Cameras will be on a separate VLAN.

So I'm asking for an advice on which switch to go for or should I go for RB4011 instead and replace the hEX and the current 8 port smart switch with it? Is CSS610-8G-2S+IN a safe buy or I'd be better with CRS112-8G-4S-IN?

Just in addition - I've bough few S-85DLC05D SFPs and I was surprised that some of them came with a pretty sturdy metal casting casing and the others are like lower quality sheet metal. Do you know if there is a transition to the new metal casting case or it's is the opposite? There is also a difference on the model number S-85DLC05D vs S-85DLC05Di.

What switch you choose or not depends on your actual needs... For example if you need POE or not and how many, if it should have SFPs and if yes how many, number of ports, the switch chip features and so on....

Personally i would choose the CRS112, with or without POE...

However, between rb4011 and rb5009, i would choose the rb5009... It has an SFP+ port and also it supports hardware offloadin and Bridge VLAN filtering....

That is the 4011 on ROS 7.x as is the 5009 os from the start on ROS 7.x

Thank you for the reply. For this switch I would not need PoE. And it could even be powered from the hEX so I can save one power socket. I think that at least 2 SFP ports could be good but one is mandatory. The idea is that currently the PoE switch powering the cameras is 10 port 8xPoE 1xRJ45 and 1xSFP. The RJ45 is used for the link between the switch and the NVR (which is some 10m away) and the SFP port is currently connected to the hEX so I can have access to the NVR/Cameras. I want the PoE switch to be connected directly to the NVR so it doesn't depend on additional devices which forces me to use the SFP.

The second switch that I'd buy later on will be PoE as it will also power the AP's and I'll be able to run fiber between the switches. I guess 1x CRS112 and later on 1xCRS112 PoE could be a good pick. I probably can get away with 1x RB4011/RB5009 and later on 1x CRS112 PoE but the switching of RB5009 would be worst I think.

but the switching of RB5009 would be worst I think.

Worst in comparison with what device ?

Personally i would choose the CRS112, with or without POE...

why? WHY?
It’s old tech not in sync with the CRS3xx line …. The only positive IMO is that it look nice

but the switching of RB5009 would be worst I think.

Worst in comparison with what device ?

Compared to the switch variants which we are discussing.

Personally i would choose the CRS112, with or without POE...

why? WHY?
It’s old tech not in sync with the CRS3xx line …. The only positive IMO is that it look nice

What would be your proposal? I do not see small CRS3xxx models.

In the small switch category I suggest you look at either TP link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 or Ubiquiti US-8-150W

How about one CRS326-24G-2S+IN (https://mikrotik.com/product/crs326_24g_2s_in)? This is the desktop version, not the rack one.

One passive PoE in
2 SFP+
Passive cooling
24 gigabit RJ45
SwOS/RouterOS
28cm width.

How about one CRS326-24G-2S+IN (https://mikrotik.com/product/crs326_24g_2s_in)? This is the desktop version, not the rack one.

One passive PoE in
2 SFP+
Passive cooling
24 gigabit RJ45
SwOS/RouterOS
28cm width.

If it was smaller 8/16 +2S it would be a great choice. Unfortunately I would need two smaller switches instead of 24 port one as the network isn't so centralized.

In the small switch category I suggest you look at either TP link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 or Ubiquiti US-8-150W

The TP-Link looks good but at around 500€ i would say it's a bit over the budget for the purposes I want to use it moreover it isn't with passive cooling. Can look at the Ubiquiti tho.

The OP had CRS112 in comparison with other specific switches...

Ofcorse he can get a CRS3xx... But that is another discussion...
There was no comparison between CRS112 with any CRS3xx from my side ...

In the small switch category I suggest you look at either TP link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 or Ubiquiti US-8-150W

MikroTIK has great Switches ...

Well, the CRS112 don't have the SFP he wants. The CSS610 runs SwOS Lite - with teething problems. The closest thing I found, with 2 SFP+, a decent size (just 8cm bigger than the CRS) case, passive cooled, PoE in AND with 8 or more gigabit ports was... the CRS326-24G-2S+IN.

It isn't what he asked, true. But given the constraints, looked like a god bet.

If he accepts the SwOS Lite, then the CSS610 is a better choice.

@paternot,
you 're right... However SFP+ on the OP you can see that it is not mandatory...
Anyways, yes a CRS326 or CRS328 would be an optimal choice ...

The Switch OS isn't a problem however I see that this SW OS Lite have numerous problems and I would prefer to play it safe. The SFP+ isn't mandatory, it could be a good to have them and it's gonna be more future proof but it isn't mandatory. However a minimum of 1 (pref. 2) SFP ports are mandatory as the connection between the PoE switch of the cameras is connected via fiber. The main problem is that I can't fit CRS326-24G-2S+IN (for like 5-8mm....)in the area where it's gonna be used and next to the gateway router I need just 8-10 ports if it was smaller on this price point it would be a great option. However I really like the option to switch between SWOS/ROS and I will look if there will be a way to place it in the area I have.

I know the restrictions are a lot which is making the choice very hard, that's why I'm asking for help. Currently I have 2 ISPs and the fiber from the PoE switch straight to the hEX S, And from there a TP-Link Easy Smart switch behind the MT and another one behind it. So in reality I need 2 8/10/12/16 switches.

Which CRS326 are you looking ?
There is the desktop version as well https://mikrotik.com/product/crs326_24g_2s_in

That's the version I linked to him.

Which CRS326 are you looking ?
There is the desktop version as well https://mikrotik.com/product/crs326_24g_2s_in

Yes, exactly this one. There is no way to fit the rack mount model. And I'm pretty mad now that the width I have is 280mm and the switch is 285...

Sorry, I just stumbled on this old topic because I am suddenly interested in this comparison because I am on a budget.
Now there is the All POE version of the RB5009 which I do recommend, also there is the CCR2004 around not so far price-wise (but do not go for the fan-less version).

Two things that had me worried about this old topic:
- word "switch" next to RB4011 and RB5009
- also nobody realized that in like the 4th message of the topic: "And it could even be powered from the hEX so I can save one power socket"... How can you put hEX router (RB750) before these (still) powerhouse routers like RB4011 and RB5009?

Now before the flames comes to me as I did not said something constructive about this topic let me conclude with the fact that RB4011 does not have a USB port so if you are leaving yourself outside you cannot use a WOOBM-USB to get back in...

Kind regards.

NM....