Mikrotik CRS812 DDQ

The CRS812 is a 1U rack-mounted switch that stands out for its eight SFP+ ports, making it a cost-effective 10G aggregation switch. The "DDQ" in the product code typically refers to the specific hardware revision or regional variant.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Detailed Analysis of Features

1. The Star Feature: Eight SFP+ Ports

This is the primary reason to consider the CRS812.

• 10G Density: Eight 10G ports in a 1U form factor at a very attractive price (especially used).

• SFP+ Flexibility: Supports both 1G SFP and 10G SFP+ modules, allowing you to connect to a wide variety of equipment.

• Perfect for Aggregation: Ideal for:

  • Server Farm: Connecting multiple servers with 10G NICs.

  • Backbone Switch: Linking multiple access switches (like CRS3xx series) via 10G uplinks.

  • Storage Network: Connecting to a NAS or SAN with 10G connectivity.

2. Port Configuration

• 4 x Gigabit Ethernet Ports: Useful for:

  • Connecting legacy 1G equipment.

  • Providing a management network.

  • Uplinking to a router or core network if 10G isn't needed.

• 8 x SFP+ Ports: The main workhorse ports for high-speed connections.

3. Performance & Hardware Offloading

• Wire-Speed Switching: Like other CRS switches, the Marvell chip provides hardware offloading for Layer 2 switching and basic Layer 3 (static routes). When configured correctly, it can handle full line rate on all ports simultaneously.

• CPU Limitations: The Atheros CPU is quite weak by modern standards. It should only be used as a switch. Any CPU-intensive tasks (complex firewall rules, QoS, VPN) will severely impact performance.

Strengths and Advantages

• Excellent 10G Port Density: One of the most affordable ways to get eight 10G ports.

• Low Power Consumption: Typically draws only 15-25W, making it very efficient.

• Hardware Offloading: Provides true wire-speed performance for switching.

• Full RouterOS Control: All the configuration flexibility MikroTik is known for.

• Great Value on Used Market: Often available for a very low price compared to its original cost.

Weaknesses and Considerations

• Very Weak CPU: The 600 MHz MIPS CPU is inadequate for anything beyond basic switching and routing. It cannot handle modern RouterOS features efficiently.

• Limited RAM/Storage: 128 MB RAM and 16 MB storage are minimal and can limit configuration complexity and logging.

• Aging Hardware: This is an older platform and may not receive new features in future RouterOS versions.

• No PoE: Lacks any Power over Ethernet capabilities.

• Configuration Critical: Must enable Hardware Offloading in RouterOS, or performance will be terrible.