MikroTik CRS304-4XG-IN 10G Ethernet Switch: features, specs and who it suits

The MikroTik CRS304-4XG-IN is a small network switch with four 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports that work straight away, plus one Gigabit port for management. It is aimed at home labs, workstations and small installations that need faster-than-Gigabit links without buying separate SFP+ modules.

Four 10G ports without extra modules

Many 10 Gigabit switches use SFP+ cages, which need a module or cable before anything can be connected. MikroTik says the CRS304 differs: its four 10G ports are ready to use out of the box. In general, ports like these take standard twisted-pair Ethernet cable, so you can plug in a network card, a NAS or another switch without extra parts. The fifth port is a Gigabit Ethernet port intended for management.

For reliable 10G speeds over copper, use cable rated for it, such as Cat6a, particularly over longer runs. Check what speeds your devices' network ports support, since the link runs at what both ends can agree on.

Fanless and quiet

The enclosure doubles as a heat sink, so the switch needs no fan. MikroTik presents this as suited to places where noise matters, such as offices, libraries or a bedroom home lab. A fanless design typically relies on airflow around the case, so it's sensible to leave some space around it and follow the manual.

Mounting options

A DIN rail mount is fitted on the side, and standard screw attachment points sit on the back. The side DIN rail bracket can also be moved to the back. That gives several ways to place it: on a desk, on a rail in a cabinet, or screwed to a surface.

Four ways to power it

The switch offers two DC jacks, a 2-pin terminal and PoE-in. MikroTik says it automatically selects the input with the highest voltage, which gives some redundancy if one source fails. Check the input voltage ranges in the manual before connecting anything, and follow local electrical codes.

What the chip and CPU handle

Inside are a dual-core ARM CPU and a Marvell Prestera switch chip. MikroTik lists port-to-port forwarding, broadcast storm control, MAC filtering, VLANs, traffic mirroring, bandwidth limits and some Layer 3 hardware offloading. A VLAN splits one physical network into separate logical ones, and traffic mirroring copies packets to a port for analysis. Hardware offloading means the switch chip, not the CPU, handles forwarding, which typically keeps throughput high.

Switches in this family are generally configured through MikroTik's own software, so expect some learning if you haven't used it before.

Who it suits

It fits home lab users, people linking a few fast machines such as a workstation and a NAS, and administrators who want a small portable switch. MikroTik describes it as small enough to carry in a backpack for mobile networking.

What to check before you buy

• Port count: four 10G ports and one management port. Count the devices you need to connect.
• Cabling: confirm your cable can carry 10G over the distances you need.
• Device ports: your network cards need to support 10G to make use of the speed.
• Power: choose which of the four inputs you will use and check the voltage it needs.
• Configuration: check that you're comfortable with MikroTik's management software.
• Mounting: decide whether the DIN rail or back screw points suit your setup.

The short version

• Four ready-to-use 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports plus a Gigabit management port.
• Fanless, with an enclosure that acts as a heat sink.
• DIN rail and screw mounting; four power input options.
• Dual-core ARM CPU and Marvell Prestera switch chip with VLANs, mirroring and some Layer 3 offloading.
• Compact enough for a desk, a rail or a bag.

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