In a news post, we showed off the MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN a few months ago. Typically, it takes several months for a MikroTik product to go from announcement to availability. We were shocked when Patrick and Bryan found a box with the switch inside on the doorstep of the old STH studio in Austin, Texas. Since the studio has moved to Scottsdale, AZ, we have been testing the switch, and it is time for review.
Note: We are unsure who sent this switch since it was not on the DHL label. We assume it is MikroTik, so we will say they are sponsoring this article, but we might be wrong. Still, we have a video for this review:
As always, we suggest opening this in its own browser, tab, or app for the best viewing experience.
MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN Switch External Hardware Overview
On the front of the switch, we get the main ports. Eight 2.5GbE ports are making this the company’s first 2.5GbE switch.
Also, we get a reset button on the front, DC input (18-57V), USB port, and Power LED. However, We do not get an out-of-band management or console port. We will note in this review that the switch feels a bit like MikroTik had to balance using one of its primary Marvell switch chips while also trying to keep the switch low cost. Inside the switch, we will have more examples of that. A simple example is that there is not even a DC input retention hook as featured in other models like the MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+IN, which likely costs a few cents to add but helps prevent unwanted power down of the unit.
On the front, we also get two SFP+ ports for 10GbE.
On the side, we get a small vent.
On the other side, we also get a small vent. One will notice rack ear holes and our unit came with one short and one long rack ear to help with rack mounting the switch.
On the top, it says Cloud Switch. One minor but nice feature is that the cover comes off with only three screws. We have seen some low-cost switches come with a large number of unnecessary screws, so at least it was easy to get inside.
On the bottom, we have rack feet, but there are also two screws for mounting the switch.
There is another feature here. The label has the default “admin” username and the randomized password. This is actually the first MikroTik switch we have reviewed with a randomized password.
Next, let us get inside the switch to see how it is built.
While this looks great I want a 24×2.5 2×25 to replace my 1/10 CRS. It’s been 5yrs. So it’s time the tech turns over
Honestly the cooling and the fan it’s a no go for me. I’ll just wait for the TP-Link SG3210X-M2.
Love it but really want to see an 8 port qsfp28 crs for Christmas, please St. Patrick.
It’s really a shame that on basically every network device review done by STH, there is a lack of proper throughout testing. Saying that a device achieves xx gigabit per second, without specifying packet size and total session counts is useless.
Packet size in particular is incredibly important, because the difference in packet counts needed to reach even just 1 gigabit per second between a 64 byte and a 9000 byte MTU is astronomical.
In 2024, we’re lucky to have some 2.5gbit sprinkle on us, while home wifi 7 routers, NASes are now mandatory 10gbit. I already upgraded computers to 25gbit, but of course, nowhere to switch them. It will take a decade probably to get what we really deserve: managed 2xSFP28+8x10gbit(or 4x10gbit,4×2.5gbit) switches for affordable price. At that time, moderate ISP speed will be 25gbit. Damn, 2.5gbit is just 300MBs if you think of it. That’s a shame for a local network. That’s like a floppy disc.
This would have been good if it had 2 wired ports instead of the SPF+. Most SOHO users don’t have fiber, and investing both time and money in it, to get cheap switches defies the point, as the connectors eat the savings.
Many smaller networks can be made with wired connections alone. Few come with fiber or the need for it.
This switch would be close to perfect with wired 10-Gb ports instead. Now one has to buy the switch and two modules to get wired 10GB, and the modules cost as much as 2/3 of the switch here in EU. Then it is not that cheap anymore. They should make one with wired 10Ge as prices of 10GB NICs are decreasing.
The competing unmanaged 4×2.5Gb 2x10Gb is 2/3 the cost her in EU.
A big brother could be one with 8x 1Gb, 8×2,5GB and 2-4 10GB, as that would cover 60-70% of use cases.
Mikrotik recently updated the firmware and made SwOS available for this switch. The upgrade and change to SwOS went smoothly. It did default to no administrator password, so added that afterwards.