Switch Features in order of importance
Broadcast, Multicast and Unknown Unicast Storm Protection (hardware level filters)
RSTP, MSTP
LLDP
G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching
802.1x for switch ports
+1
I'm currently in the process of planning out infrastructure for a new (domestic/SOHO) location. I find myself
wanting to standardise my infrastructure on Mikrotik (as is already the case in the routing and wireless department). However the lack of L2 features in the current CRS offering - chiefly IGMP snooping (for IPTV applications) and switch chip based 802.3ad - is making for a tough sell when I look at my comparison spreadsheet.
Yes there are workarounds by isolating broadcast domain, using balance-xor which works fine for most applications and what not, but let's be fair: given de competitiveness of the switch market, having to resort to workarounds is not really acceptable.
Considering the offering of other vendors (e.g. HP or D-Link) that do include a "complete" L2 feature stack and a comparable (and especially for the smaller switches e.g. 8-10 ports, lower) pricepoint, I just can't
justify choosing Mikrotik, which is a shame really.
I just want to see a low power, low cost 24 port 10gb SFP+ switch...maybe with stacking cables of 40gbps uplinks. Although stacking would be preferred so you could treat multiple stacked units as a single switch and only have one management IP.
+1
As I'm rewiring the place mentioned somewhat futureproof, I was researching options for 10GbE and the market is lacking here if you don't have enterprise budgets.
The only thing that comes close featurewise in the current MT range is the CCR1072-1G-8S+ (at a price).
Also as mentioned, stacking with unified management interface would be nice and most 'stackable switches' in the <1K€ range are not truelly stackable and just offer links of frames in the WebUI. Again: opportunity to do things right here (e.g. a CAPsMAN-like feature for managing switch functionality?).
Some suggestions for a 10GbE switch portfolio:
- "CRS-311-1G-10S+": small SFP+ core switch for smaller infrastructures to bundle existing CRS-2xx offering with SFP+ uplinks on an LC-based 10GbE backbone
- "CRS-325-1G-24S+": as described by mpreissner above.
- "CRS-326-24G-2T": 24 port Gbit access layer / top of rack switch with 2 10GBASE-T uplinks to allow gradual upgrade on existing Cat6a infrastructure
- "CRS-328-24T-4S+": 24 port 10GBASE-T core switch with 4 SFP+ uplinks to tie in existing CCR offering.