Mikrotik CCR2004-16G-2S+

The CCR2004-16G-2S+ is a 1U rack-mounted router that uses the same modern x86-64 architecture as other CCR2004 models, but focuses on providing a high number of gigabit ports with 10G uplinks. It's designed as a powerful aggregation router for environments with many 1G connections.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Detailed Analysis of Features

1. x86-64 Architecture (Intel Atom C3338)

Same modern platform as other CCR2004 models:

• Benefits: Better support for RouterOS v7 features, containers, improved single-thread performance

• 2 Cores/4 Threads: Efficient for most routing tasks but has fewer cores than Tilera-based CCRs

2. Port Configuration - The "16G-2S+" Advantage

This is the defining characteristic of this model:

• 16 x Gigabit Ethernet Ports:

  • These are on a single switch chip (Marvell 98DX8214)

  • Hardware switching at wire-speed between all 16 ports

  • Perfect for connecting multiple access switches, servers, or other gigabit devices

• 2 x SFP+ 10G Ports:

  • Provide high-speed uplinks to your core network or internet

  • Prevent the switch from becoming a bottleneck when aggregating traffic from all 16 gigabit ports

  • Support both 1G SFP and 10G SFP+ modules

3. Hardware Offloading

• Layer 2 Switching: All traffic between the 16 gigabit ports happens at wire-speed in hardware

• Basic Layer 3: Static routing between VLANs and port groups can be hardware-accelerated

• Bridge Filtering: Simple firewall rules can be offloaded

Performance Expectations

• Switching Between 16G Ports: Full wire-speed (16 Gbps aggregate)

• Routing with Firewall: 10-20 Gbps (depending on rule complexity)

• IPsec VPN: 5-10 Gbps (benefits from AES-NI in the x86 CPU)

• Aggregate Throughput: Can easily handle traffic from all 16 gigabit ports simultaneously when using the 10G uplinks

Strengths and Advantages

• Excellent Gigabit Port Density: 16 ports in 1U is very practical for many scenarios

• 10G Uplink Capability: Ensures the device won't be a bottleneck

• Hardware Switching: Wire-speed performance between all gigabit ports

• Modern x86 Architecture: Future-proof for RouterOS v7 features and containers

• Power Efficient: Lower power consumption than larger CCR models

• Cost-Effective: Provides high port count and routing power at a reasonable price

Weaknesses and Considerations

• Only 2 CPU Cores: May be limiting for very complex routing scenarios or heavy VPN usage

• No PoE: Unlike the CRS318 or CRS328, these are not PoE ports

• Single Power Supply: No redundancy

• Fan Noise: Can be audible, though generally quieter than higher-end CCR models

Ideal Use Cases

1. Medium Business Core Router: Perfect for handling inter-VLAN routing and firewall policies for an entire office with multiple switches.

2. ISP Access Aggregation: Ideal for aggregating connections from multiple subscriber CPE devices or access switches.

3. School/University Access Layer: Connecting multiple classrooms or dorm rooms with 10G uplink to the core.

4. VPN Concentrator for Branch Offices: Terminating multiple site-to-site VPN tunnels from smaller branch locations.

5. Server Access Switch: When you have multiple 1G servers that need routing between them.

Comparison to Other Models

• vs. CCR2004-1G-12S+2XS: This model has 12x10G + 100G, better for data centers. The 16G-2S+ is better for gigabit aggregation.

• vs. CCR2116-12G-4S+: The CCR2116 has a more powerful 16-core Tilera CPU but fewer gigabit ports (12 vs 16).

• vs. CRS326-24G-2S+RM: The CRS326 is a pure switch with more ports but much less routing power. The CCR2004 is a far more capable router.

• vs. RB5009: The CCR2004 is significantly more powerful with more ports, but also larger and more expensive.