MikroTik CRS317-1G-16S+RM network switch 16 × SFP+ 10G, L3, 1U

Sixteen SFP+ cages give each connection 10 Gbit/s, well suited to linking servers, storage systems and other switches. According to the manufacturer, the unit uses a next-generation switch chip that delivers wire speed on all sixteen ports with any frame size. That means the switch itself never becomes the bottleneck, even when every port is loaded at the same time and traffic peaks across the whole network. Each SFP+ cage takes the module you need: optical transceivers for longer fibre runs or direct-attach cables for servers in the same rack.

The CRS317 is a Layer 3 switch that can be managed through a web interface, SNMPv2 and SNMPv3. It supports up to 4000 VLANs, LACP link aggregation and Spanning Tree Protocol, which the manufacturer says runs in hardware for fast protection against loops. Port mirroring for traffic analysis and broadcast storm control are also on board.

Under normal conditions the switch is passively cooled and completely silent, which makes it a good fit for an office or utility room where noise is a concern. With no fan noise in normal operation, it can sit in a cabinet close to the people who work next to it. In hot environments two redundant fans switch on automatically to keep the unit cool. Maximum consumption is just 42 W, and the operating range is −20 to 60 °C.

The unit has two redundant power supplies running on 110–240 V AC, plus a DC input jack. If one power source fails, the switch keeps working. A separate Gigabit copper port is reserved for management and an RJ-45 console port for troubleshooting. The 1U case measures 443 × 224 × 44 mm, and mounting brackets, a power cable and a user guide are included. The housing is grey.

Server rooms and small data centres where servers and NAS units need 10G links; video editing and design studios where a fast storage network has to stay quiet; and administrators building a 10 Gigabit backbone who value dual power supplies, low power draw and a single rack unit of height. As it has no PoE, it is meant for interconnecting servers and switches rather than powering cameras.