MikroTik CRS328-4C-20S-4S+RM Smart Switch
Key Features
Brand MikroTik
Number of Ports 28
Included Components Dual Power Supplies and a RJ45 console port
Compatible Devices Desktop
Switch Type Store-and-Forward
1 Year Warranty
Ultimate Review of MikroTik CRS328 4C 20S 4S+RM Smart Switch
The MikroTik CRS328 4C 20S 4S+RM is an exceptionally versatile rackmount switch designed for high density optical distribution networks and service providers. This smart switch bridges the gap between high port counts and flexible deployment options by integrating multi speed fiber connections and combo ports. Here is everything you need to know about optimizing this device for your enterprise infrastructure.
Key Hardware Specifications
This network switch is engineered to deliver extensive fiber density with built in media adaptability.
- Core Processor: 98DX3236 single core CPU running at 800 MHz.
- Memory Capacity: 512 MB RAM paired with 16 MB storage flash memory.
- Combo Ports: Four independent combo ports usable as either Gigabit Ethernet or 1G SFP.
- Standard Fiber Ports: Twenty dedicated 1G SFP interfaces for local optical distribution.
- High Speed Uplinks: Four 10G SFP+ ports for high bandwidth core network uplinks.
- Power Supply: Dual redundant built in power supplies to eliminate electrical points of failure
Hardware Architecture and Switching Performance
The core architecture relies on an advanced Marvell Prestera switching chip that handles non blocking line rate performance across all ports simultaneously. Total non blocking throughput reaches 64 Gbps with a switching capacity of 128 Gbps.
The unique inclusion of four combo ports gives network administrators physical flexibility. Each combo port links a Gigabit Ethernet port with a 1G SFP slot, allowing the switch to adapt dynamically to copper or fiber incoming feeds without wasting physical interfaces
Hardware based VLAN filtering, Link Aggregation, and IGMP snooping run directly on the switch silicon. This setup guarantees that massive data packets move at wire speed without triggering packet drops or latency spikes
Ideal Deployment Use Cases
Fiber To The Home Core
The twenty dedicated SFP ports allow service providers to distribute discrete fiber lines to dozens of subscribers or buildings from a single rack.
Hospitality Networks
It serves as a central aggregation hub in hotels to run fiber optic lines directly to individual room switches or access points over long distances.
Industrial Campus Distribution
The combination of 1G SFP ports and 10G SFP+ uplinks makes it ideal for linking distant manufacturing buildings to a central data repository.
SwOS and RouterOS Dual Boot Ecosystem
This device includes the dual boot feature, allowing users to choose between two functional operating systems depending on network complexity.
Choosing SwOS loads a streamlined web GUI tailored specifically for switching tasks. It provides rapid configuration for port isolation, port mirroring, basic VLAN tags, traffic limiting, and Link Aggregation.
Choosing RouterOS activates a massive enterprise toolset. This enables advanced network engineers to deploy complex firewalls, localized dynamic routing, captive portals, and virtual private network endpoints.
Mechanical Design and Redundancy
Reliability is embedded directly into the physical infrastructure of the unit. The 1U rackmount chassis features a built in dual power supply unit that automatically shifts the electrical load if one internal source experiences a failure
The passive and active cooling management system regulates the temperature of the internal chipsets quietly. This dual mechanism ensures long term hardware health even when the switch operates continuously in hot server environments
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