One Switch, Countless Possibilities: PoE, Fiber & MikroTik RouterOS
The MikroTik CRS112-8P-4S-IN is far more than an ordinary Ethernet Switch. It is a hybrid solution that combines the speed of a dedicated switch chip with the intelligence of the powerful MikroTik RouterOS. Whether you are building a small business Network, equipping a hotel with WiFi Access Points, or wanting to take your home lab to the next level – this Cloud Router Switch provides you with the tools. Segment your Network with up to 4000 VLANs, secure it with firewall rules, and connect it lightning-fast to your fiber backbone via the four SFP Ports. It is one of the most flexible solutions among MikroTik Switches.
Intelligent Power Supply for Your Entire Network
No more cable clutter and countless power supplies. The CRS112-8P-4S-IN powers your end devices directly via the network cable. What makes it special is its extreme versatility. Use the included 28V Power Supply for devices that require passive PoE. Or upgrade to an optional 48-57V Power Supply, and the switch automatically detects whether connected IP Cameras or Access Points require the 802.3af/at standard. With a total budget of up to 80 watts, you can easily power multiple devices simultaneously.
Silent Performance: Ideal for Office and Home Lab
Nobody likes loud fan noise in the office or home office. That's why the CRS112-8P-4S-IN was developed with a completely passive cooling concept. It operates absolutely silently, ensuring a disturbance-free environment. Its compact metal casing fits on any desk. And if you prefer a tidy setup: the included rack ears allow for clean and professional mounting in a 19-inch cabinet.
The Power of RouterOS: Full Control for Professionals
The heart of the switch is the RouterOS operating system with a Level 5 license. It opens up a world of configuration possibilities that go far beyond standard switches. From Port Mirroring and Link Aggregation to complex firewall rules and static routing – you have full control. This wealth of functions has a certain learning curve but rewards you with unparalleled network flexibility. Note that the CPU is not designed for pure Gigabit routing; the strength of the CRS112 clearly lies in hardware-based switching.
Strengths & Notes at a Glance
- Pro: Unsurpassed flexibility through the combination of L2 switching and L3 routing with RouterOS.
- Pro: Versatile connectivity options with 8x Gigabit PoE and 4x SFP for fiber.
- Pro: Supports passive 24V PoE as well as 802.3af/at (PoE/PoE+) standards with automatic detection.
- Pro: Absolutely silent operation thanks to passive cooling concept, ideal for offices and living spaces.
- Note: The 400 MHz CPU limits performance for demanding routing tasks; however, wirespeed is achieved for pure switching.
- Note: Configuring RouterOS, especially VLAN setup for hardware offloading, requires familiarization time.
Specifications & Features
| Manufacturer: | MikroTik |
| Model: | Cloud Router Switch CRS112-8P-4S-IN |
| EAN: | 4251028602745 |
| Product Code: | CRS112-8P-4S-IN |
| Architecture: | MIPSBE |
| CPU: | Qualcomm Atheros QCA8511 |
| CPU Cores: | 1 |
| CPU Clock Speed: | 400 MHz |
| Switch Chip Model: | QCA8511 |
| RAM: | 128 MB |
| Storage Size: | 16 MB |
| Storage Type: | FLASH |
| Non-Blocking Throughput: | 12 Gbps |
| Switching Capacity: | 24 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate: | 17.8 Mpps |
| MTBF: | approx. 200,000 hours at 25°C |
| 10/100/1000 Ethernet Ports: | 8 |
| SFP Ports: | 4 (1 Gbit/s) |
| Serial Console Port: | 1 (RJ-45) |
| Number of DC Inputs: | 2 (DC jack) |
| PoE-Out Ports: | Ether1 - Ether8 |
| PoE-Out Standards: | Passive PoE, IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3at |
| PoE-Out Mode: | Autosensing (with 48-57V supply) |
| PoE Pinout: | Mode B (4,5+ / 7,8-) |
| Max. PoE-Out per Port (18-28V): | 1 A |
| Max. PoE-Out per Port (48-57V): | 450 mA |
| Total PoE Budget (18-28V): | 2.8 A (approx. 78 W) |
| Total PoE Budget (48-57V): | 1.4 A (approx. 80 W) |
| Supported Input Voltage: | 18-28 V and 48-57 V |
| Included Power Supply: | 28 V, 3.4 A |
| Max. Power Consumption (with PoE): | 160 W |
| Max. Power Consumption (without PoE): | 10 W |
| Dimensions: | 200 x 142 x 44 mm |
| Form Factor: | Desktop, Rack-mountable (incl. rack ears) |
| Cooling: | Passive (fanless) |
| Tested Ambient Temperature: | -20°C to 60°C |
| Protection Class: | IP20 |
| Operating System: | MikroTik RouterOS |
| RouterOS License Level: | 5 |
| Management: | WinBox, WebFig, CLI (SSH, Serial) |
| Standard IP Address: | 192.168.88.1 |
| Host Table Size: | 16K |
| VLAN Support: | IEEE 802.1Q, up to 4000 VLANs |
| Jumbo Frames: | Up to 9204 Bytes |
| Certifications: | CE, EAC, ROHS |
Scope of Delivery
| 1 x MikroTik CRS112-8P-4S-IN Cloud Router Switch |
| 1 x Power Supply (28 V, 3.4 A) |
| 1 x Rack Mount Kit (rack ears) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can the MikroTik CRS112-8P-4S-IN power modern WiFi Access Points and IP Cameras?
Yes, this MikroTik Switch supports the PoE standards 802.3af and 802.3at (PoE+), which are required by most modern devices. It is important to note that an optional 48-57V Power Supply must be used for this, as the included 28V Power Supply is only designed for passive PoE.
Is this MikroTik Switch suitable for a home Network or more for a business?
It is suitable for both. For demanding home users, it is ideal as it is silent and offers advanced features like VLANs. For small to medium-sized businesses, it is a cost-effective solution for powering end devices and for Network segmentation.
How complicated is setting up VLANs on this MikroTik Switch?
For users without MikroTik experience, VLAN configuration can be a challenge. To utilize full speed, VLANs on this model must be configured in the special 'Switch' menu of RouterOS. Incorrect configuration can drastically reduce performance, impacting your MikroTik Routers capabilities.
Is the PoE power sufficient to use all 8 ports simultaneously?
That depends on the connected devices. With a 48-57V Power Supply, the total PoE budget is approximately 80 watts. This is sufficient to power several typical devices such as WiFi Access Points or IP Cameras, but the overall budget must be considered.
Can I use the MikroTik Switch as the main MikroTik Router for a Gigabit internet connection?
No, that is not recommended. Its CPU is too weak to route a Gigabit connection at full speed, especially with an active firewall. It should be used as an Ethernet Switch behind a dedicated MikroTik Router.
What is the difference between this MikroTik CRS Switch and a pure MikroTik Router or MikroTik Switch?
The CRS112-8P-4S-IN is a hybrid. It has a dedicated Ethernet Switch chip for fast Layer-2 operations (like a pure MikroTik Switch) and additionally a CPU with RouterOS to provide full-fledged Layer-3 functions (like a MikroTik Router).
Homepage: http://www.mikrotik.com/
