RB4011 SFP+ WAN at 2.5G with Arris S33 Modem

Hardware MikroTik hardware general
1

I have 1Gb cable service and want to upgrade my RB750 to a RB4011 and want to use the SFP+ port with S+RJ10 SFP connected to the Arris S33 modem 2.5Gb port. But it seems that there is conflicting information that it may not work in auto negotiation mode .

So to get it to work if the interface does not…

  1. I could run a multi gig switch between them?
  2. Force the rate of the interface to 2.5G?
2

  1. If this is with the WAN (NOT the local addresses) IP, then you can’t use a switch between them.

  2. I had a similar issue with some SFP+ modules on a CRS305 switch, and the fix was to simply force the 2.5Gb mode. Also, considering that the RB4011 only has one SFP+ port, I think it would be a bad deal to use the router if you wanted >1Gb speeds to a single device because the only interface capable of it is being used.

3

If you use a dumb switch, it will work in between a router and a cable modem, but it becomes added failure point and adds cost.

I have doing more hunting and it does look like it will work if I force the negotiation mode to 2.5Gb fullduplex. Since my net work is 1Gb and I am using a Hex RB750 and a RB260GS, the switching interface will be the same with the RB4011 and will just be one unit. Also, if I load balance it between the two switches, it will be faster and moving the data between the 3 interfaces then the Hex RB750 and RB260GS.

The RB4011 is nice and is more then I need, but I would like to see them come out with a updated version of the Hex with a 10Gb SFP port and 5 10Gb ports, they could call it the Hex S+.

4

I wish mikrotik does a 4011 variant: by removing the switch chips ( at least on or even both)

5

Yea, but at least you can put them in bridge mode and make the ports independent of each other. Also in 6.47.9, you can force the SFP+ to the interface mode you need to connect to.

6

If I had the possibility and could afford a 2.5Gbps Internet connection then I would probably use a CRS305+RB4011 or CRS326+RB4011

7

The SFP+ port will interface with 2.5Gb connection directly through a copper or fiber module, so you do not need a switch between the wan and router for it to work. That is how I have my setup, Modem to Router SFP+.

I have 1.2Gb connection, but two of my buddies have 10Gb fiber connections in Japan and Korea. Both pay around 50$ US a month, so I can only wish to have that speed at that price.

8

My provider actually offers 1.2Gbps, but only with 30-40Mbps of upload, so it’s quite worthless.