Hi,

currently, I am very happy with my CRS326-24G-2S+RM. However, I'd like to upgrade some connections to faster speeds and thinking about how to extend the setup properly.

What I want:

• mikrotik

• connect the following devices with speeds >= 5Gbe: my 3 Accesspoints (currently WIFI 6 AX, but should be upgradable to WIFI 7), my NAS and my home-server.

• 10GBASE-T (rj45), since the wirings in the house can not be easily changed

If I'd get the CRS304-4XG-IN, I could imagine the following setup:

• CRS326-24G-2S+RM as main switch

• CRS326 + Transceiver to SFP+ <-> NAS

• CRS326 + Transceiver to SFP+ <-> CRS304-4XG-IN

• CRS304-4XG-IN <-> 3 Access Points

but this way, I am missing one port for my home-server

Should I get two CRS304-4XG-IN (~360 €) - is there a better alternative without jumping in prices like upgrading to the CRS312-4C+8XG-RM?

I use a CRS309-1G-8S+ as my core switch.

It does have SFP+ ports but you can always use an RJ45 SFP+ converter. The only downside to that is that some of the cheaper ones might run hot.

I use a CRS309-1G-8S+ as my core switch.
It does have SFP+ ports but you can always use an RJ45 SFP+ converter. The only downside to that is that some of the cheaper ones might run hot.

I have the same setup, and yes, 10GBASE-T does run hot. I used S+RJ10 modules and they ran to 100 degrees C in summer. I gave up in the end and pulled fiber (OM3 multimode) with 10GBASE-SR modules. Much cooler. But the OP does not have that luxury probably.

unfortunately changing the wiring in the house is no option right now.
6-8 Ports + an SFP+ uplink (like a hypothetical CRS-304-6XG-2S-IN or CRS-304-8XG-2S-IN) would be a great fit for me right now.
The only thing that comes close is the CRS312-4C+8XG-RM, which is more than five years old.

Is it likely that mikrotik will introduce new 10g RJ45 devices in that range soon (like at MUM in March 2025)?
Or anything new in the 2.5GB entry level class?

The CRS312 is I think still a very capable switch (I have one running as a core switch) and I wouldn't be hesitant buying it now if you need ports than the CRS304 offers AND you have a use case for L3HW. For just a mid-sized 10GbE-T L2 switch with SFP+ for stacking, I have more reservations on its value for money (although I admit the market isn't big, it seems >40% more expensive than some alternatives, at least here in Europe). Another thing to keep in mind in a domestic environment, is that the CRS312 is NOT a quiet switch.

Using a 10GbE-T SFP+ module here and there shouldn't be a problem, as long as you don't plan on filling up an entire switch with the 10GbE-T modules side-by-side. I use two 10GbE-T and two 1GbE-T in a CRS309 (like @elbob2002 above, I have one running as a core switch in another location) without a problem. Unfortunately, if you're running a copper-dominant infrastructure, with the added cost for modules it won't be much cheaper than the CRS312 (albeit more quiet).
Depending your home climate control, my concern would be having two 10GbE-T modules side-by-side in the CRS326 without some forced cooling during summer. So I'd opt for a solution where you can at least use a DAC or (if you need longer runs) optics for stacking the switches.

I don't know if all the equipment is in separate rooms and dependant on existing copper, but if your NAS and/or home server would allow swapping to SFP+ NICs, but that would make a better case for CRS309 as a core/aggregation switch, a 10GbE SFP+ module connected to the CRS304 for your access points and a DAC to stack the CRS309 with the CRS326 as an access switch to the rest of the cabled network.
Alternatively settle for 2.5Gbps for your access points through a CRS310-8G+2S+. Running one of those here as well as a leaf switch.