With ISPs delivering 2,5Gbps FTTH ONT there is the need for cheap routers (SOHO) capable of that speed both WAN and LAN side (otherwise the router itself is a bottleneck).
Let’s say something like HEX-S with ALL ports at least @2.5Gbps
L009UiGS has 2.5G SFP but 1G eth
hAP-AX3 has just one 2.5G eth
same fashioned device is RB5009
Imagine a small office with few last generation 2.5GBPS ethernet PCs
Should one spend at least 200+ bucks for a CRS310-8G+2S+IN or more ?
Anything planned ?
The RB5009 has a 2.5G port and an SFP+ (and the horsepower to do 2G), so it would fit the bill for $219,=. The CRS310 is a switch, not a router, and although it’s capable of L3 offload and thus can potentially route 2G easily, it cannot do NAT in hardware and is thus unusable as a 2G home router.
Yes, it would be nice to see MikroTik come out with something like the Ubiquiti Unifi Cloud Gateway Max (5x2.5G ports) or Cloud Gateway Fiber (3x10G, 4x2.5G).
The AX3 with a CRS310-8G+ as a router-on-a-stick, or the RB5009 with a CRS310 would both be good combinations as alternatives.
(I really want the CRS310-8G+ with Passive POE++ (min 30W per port).)
AX3 can’t do 2.5G routing based on the test results. It seems that RB5009 + CRS310-8G+ is the only less expensive option from MikroTik if you want multiple 2.5G LAN ports. Or could use RB5009 + some cheap unmanaged 2.5G switch if you don’t need VLANs.
RB5009 + CRS310-8G+
This is what we run on several small branch offices with good results. Yes, it adds up to about 400€, but provides a lot of flexibility and future proofness:
RB5009 2.5GB port as uplink, router on a stick with SFP+ /DAC to CRS310-8G+ providing 8x 2.5GB LAN ports and l3hw VLAN routing
Plus 7 x 1GB ports on the RB5009 for stuff like printers etc. and an additional SFP+ on CRS310 for a NAS or other storage.
If you some day run out of 2.5GB ports, you can add another CRS310 or if things really grow jump up to a CRS326-4C+20G+