Hello,
I have 48 points and would it be possible to connect 2 x 24-port Mikrotik CRS326-24G-2S+RM?
I want to use one as the main router and the other as a regular switch, creating an uplink between the two via the SFP port.
Is this possible?
What type of cable would you recommend I use?
Do they support the IEEE 1905.1 protocol? I will be building a mesh system with Deco modules that will serve as APs, but will be connected via Ethernet backhaul.
Thank you for the information.
Cable: DAC cable = Direct Attach Cable.
Direct 10Gb connection between both devices.
They don’t, but that should not matter for your use case, as the topology the switches will form up will not provide multiple paths to choose from (or, if you use two DAC cables, it will provide just a plain ring where the length of both paths from a port of one switch to a port of the other switch will be of equal). Use of a mesh protocol rather than plain STP would become interesting with 3 or more switches, but even then, for a network of wireless APs, the capacity of the internet uplink will most likely be the most limiting factor, unless the 1 Gbit/s throughput of the switch ports strikes first.
Sure you want to have a switch act as a router?
What WAN-LAN throughput do you require?
Expect about 250-350 Mbps throughput on the WAN side, using filter rules for the "router" assigned switch.
Do you have one or more WANs?
If your ISP is 1gig throughput you would be better off with an RB5009 ($219) as the router can handle up to 3Gbps throughput ( aka 3x1gig wans or 1x 2.5gig wan )
If you can get like 5 or 10 Gbps throughput for your ISP you would look at ( needing at least two spf+ ports, one to the ISP and one to the switch )
The CCR2004-16G-2S+ ($465) with about 4.5 Gpbs throughput on the WAN side for a 5gig ISP connection
The CCR2116-12G-4S+ ($995) with about 16 Gbps throughput on the WAN side for any combination of ISPs including 1x 10Gbps WAN.
dont expect too much performance using this switch as a router gateway towards internet, internal CPU of this switch is intended more towards managing the switch than to do forwarding
The published performance results are there as a clear warning, this numbers locate the crs326 as one of the lowest performers of all the product line almost at the level of a 25 USD hAP lite
using a hAP ax² as a separated router gateway will give you much better result
Thank you for the comprehensive answers. The connection will be gigabit from the ISP, and the internal network will also be gigabit. The network will be used for uploading documents, sending emails, and similar tasks, with files no larger than 5-10 MB, as well as for an NVR with 16 cameras.
In principle, I was considering a RB5009, as I really liked its specifications. I was thinking of pairing it with a MikroTik CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+RM as a regular switch to power the access points. However, the price deterred me. Two MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM are cheaper than one CRS354, which is the main reason I decided against those two devices.
Will the RB5009 work well with the CRS326, or could I use a cheaper switch, say something from TP-Link? We’re talking about a 48-port switch and a non-professional, non-demanding network. It just needs to provide wired internet to the computers for sending documents via email and for watching YouTube on phones—that’s the whole task.
Will the ports require POE? Total draw???
I would look at the 5009 and for switch, something cheap you can get off ebay.
Brocade, Aruba, Dell, HP, and more probably in the $150ish range.
No need for POE; the cameras are powered and connected to the NVR. The only thing needed is to provide the NVR with internet.
I will take a look at the switches you mentioned.