MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN: Powerful Gigabit Smart Switch with Fiber Optic Uplinks

MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN Smart Switch | 8x Gigabit, 4x SFP, RouterOS Elevate your network with the MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN. This powerful “Cloud Router Switch” offers 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 4 SFP fiber cages, combining Layer 3 routing capabilities with advanced switching features, all managed by RouterOS for versatile network control.

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MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN Smart Switch Description:

MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN, a robust and versatile “Cloud Router Switch” designed for businesses, advanced home users, and small to medium-sized enterprises. This smart switch delivers a compelling blend of high-speed connectivity, advanced management features, and the flexibility of fiber optic uplinks, making it an ideal solution for building a powerful and reliable network infrastructure.

Hybrid Functionality: Router & Layer 3 Switch: The CRS112-8G-4S-IN stands out by combining the best features of a fully functional router and a powerful Layer 3 switch. Powered by MikroTik’s renowned RouterOS operating system (License Level 5), this device allows you to manage traditional Layer 2 switching functions with dedicated hardware offload, while also enabling Layer 3 routing capabilities. You can seamlessly configure ports for pure switching operations or integrate them into more complex routing scenarios, offering unparalleled control and adaptability for your network architecture.

High-Speed Gigabit & Fiber Connectivity: Equipped with 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports, the CRS112-8G-4S-IN provides lightning-fast wired connections for your workstations, servers, and other network devices. For high-bandwidth uplinks or long-distance connections, it features 4 SFP cages, compatible with 1.25G SFP modules. These SFP ports offer the flexibility to deploy fiber optic connections, extending your network reach and providing superior immunity to electromagnetic interference, crucial for demanding environments or connecting multiple network segments.

Powerful Management with RouterOS: At its core, the CRS112-8G-4S-IN runs RouterOS, a highly sophisticated and versatile operating system. This allows for an extensive array of network management options, including:

• VLAN support: Create segmented networks for enhanced security and traffic management.
• Port Mirroring: Monitor network traffic for troubleshooting and analysis.
• Link Aggregation (LAG): Combine multiple physical links into a single logical link for increased bandwidth and redundancy.
• Firewall & QoS: Implement robust security rules and prioritize critical traffic.
• Advanced Routing Protocols: For complex network topologies.
• Extensive monitoring tools: Keep a close eye on your network’s health and performance.

Compact, Efficient, and Reliable: Despite its powerful capabilities, the CRS112-8G-4S-IN comes in a compact desktop form factor that can also be rack-mounted (with included ears). Powered by a 400MHz CPU and 128MB RAM, it delivers efficient performance for its class. With a maximum power consumption of just 13.5W, it’s designed to be energy-efficient, reducing operational costs. Its robust build is tested to operate in a wide temperature range, ensuring reliability even in challenging conditions.

MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN Smart Switch Key Features:

• 8 x Gigabit Ethernet Ports: High-speed wired connectivity for devices.
• 4 x 1G SFP Cages: Flexible fiber optic or copper uplinks (SFP modules sold separately).
• RouterOS Operating System (License Level 5): Advanced routing and switching capabilities.
• Hybrid Router/Switch Functionality: Manage Layer 2 and Layer 3 features.
• 400MHz CPU, 128MB RAM: Solid performance for network demands.
• VLAN Support: Network segmentation and traffic isolation.
• Port Mirroring & Link Aggregation: Advanced network management.
• Desktop Form Factor (Rack-Mountable): Flexible deployment options.
• Passive PoE-IN: Power the device over Ethernet (on Ethernet port 1).
• Low Power Consumption: Energy-efficient operation.
• Wide Operating Temperature Range: Reliable performance in diverse environments.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Q1: What is the difference between a “smart switch” and a “fully managed switch”? A1: A smart switch, like the MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN, offers a good balance of features between unmanaged and fully managed switches. It provides more control than a basic unmanaged switch (e.g., VLANs, basic routing) but may have a simpler interface or fewer advanced Layer 3 features than a full enterprise-grade managed switch. The CRS series’ unique advantage is running RouterOS, which gives it highly advanced routing capabilities often found only in dedicated routers.

Q2: What are SFP cages used for? A2: SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) cages are slots that allow you to insert various transceiver modules. These modules can support different types of network cables, most commonly fiber optic cables for long-distance, high-bandwidth connections, or even copper (RJ45) modules for specific scenarios. This provides immense flexibility in connecting your switch to other network devices, allowing for greater distances and resilience than standard Ethernet cables alone.

Q3: Can this switch also act as a router? A3: Yes, the MikroTik CRS112-8G-4S-IN is part of the “Cloud Router Switch” series, meaning it combines Layer 2 switching capabilities with Layer 3 routing functionality through RouterOS. You can configure ports to operate purely as switch ports, or you can take ports out of the switch configuration and use them for routing purposes, allowing for flexible network design.

Q4: Does this switch support Power over Ethernet (PoE) output for other devices? A4: No, the CRS112-8G-4S-IN supports Passive PoE-IN on its first Ethernet port, meaning it can be powered by a compatible PoE injector or source. However, it does not provide PoE output to power other devices. For PoE output, you would typically look at models like the CRS112-8P-4S-IN.

Q5: What is RouterOS and how difficult is it to use? A5: RouterOS is MikroTik’s proprietary operating system that powers its routers and switches. It’s incredibly powerful and offers a vast array of networking features. While it provides deep configuration options, it has a steeper learning curve than simple consumer-grade interfaces. MikroTik provides extensive documentation and a helpful community, and tools like Winbox (a GUI utility) simplify initial configuration for many users.