Ready for the Future: Your Springboard into the 400 Gigabit Era
In today's data-intensive world, traditional Network infrastructures quickly reach their limits. Applications such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, GPU clusters, and all-flash storage fabrics require bandwidth and latency that can hardly be managed with older 10G or 100G solutions. Bottlenecks severely hinder productivity and limit the scalability of your IT environment. The MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM is precisely the answer to these challenges. This 400G Cloud Router Switch is a masterpiece of engineering that provides you with a cost-effective and practical entry into 400 Gigabit speed. With its four 400G QSFP56-DD ports and two additional 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, it offers you the necessary power and flexibility to run your high-performance applications smoothly.
Maximum Flexibility: Scale Your Network Intelligently
Many 400G switches force you into an immediate full expansion. The MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM thinks differently. Thanks to the flexible breakout options of the QSFP-DD ports, you can split each port into multiple lower speeds – for example, into 2x 200G, 4x 100G, 8x 50G, or even 10G links. This allows for a gradual migration and scaling of your existing Network, without having to replace the switch immediately. You can start with lower speeds today and upgrade to higher ones as needed. A cost-effective 'future-proofing' strategy that saves your budget and offers maximum adaptability.
Performance Without Compromise: For the Most Demanding Workloads
The MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM is not only predestined for AI and GPU clusters or high-performance storage fabrics. It also excels in specific applications such as media production, where uncompressed 8K video streaming and editing require enormous, low-latency data volumes. Even for scientific simulations that demand the highest data integrity and speed, this High-Speed Aggregation Switch is the ideal choice. It offers predictable, low latency and full wire-speed performance to avoid bottlenecks and support your critical workloads without compromise. It is the perfect Data Center Core Switch for demanding environments.
More Than Just a Switch: The Power of RouterOS v7
Unlike many pure Layer 2 switches designed for 400G, the MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM runs on the powerful RouterOS v7 (License Level 6). This means for you: You get not only advanced switching functions but also comprehensive routing capabilities. This opens up possibilities for more complex network architectures, extended traffic control, and seamless integration into existing MikroTik ecosystems. These extended routing functions go beyond the capabilities of many other Ethernet Switch solutions and offer significant added value for specific use cases such as Edge Compute or Service Provider Backbones.
Strengths & Notes at a Glance
- Pro: Extremely high bandwidth and port density in a compact form factor: Offers four 400G QSFP56-DD ports and two 10G Ethernet ports in a 1U rackmount enclosure, ideal for AI clusters, storage fabrics, and aggregation where space and efficiency are crucial.
- Pro: High flexibility through breakout options: Each 400G QSFP-DD port can be split into multiple lower speeds (e.g., 2x 200G, 4x 100G, 8x 50G/25G/10G), allowing for gradual scaling and integration into existing networks without replacing the switch.
- Pro: Reliability and low operating costs: Equipped with dual, hot-swappable power supplies and efficient cooling for high availability. The low power consumption (max. 123 W at full load) and robust construction contribute to low total operating costs.
- Note: High costs for peripherals (optics/cables): Although the switch itself is relatively affordable, the necessary 400G QSFP-DD optics and breakout cables can be very expensive and significantly increase the total cost of implementation.
- Note: Specific application area: The CRS804-4DDQ-hRM is a specialized switch for high-bandwidth core, aggregation, and fabric roles (e.g., AI/GPU clusters, storage fabrics). It is not intended as an access switch or for general endpoint connectivity in networks with predominantly user devices or lower traffic.
Specifications & Features
| Manufacturer: | MikroTik |
| Model: | CRS804-4DDQ-hRM |
| Product Type: | 400G Cloud Router Switch |
| Architecture: | ARM 64bit |
| CPU: | AL52400 (Quad-Core) |
| CPU Clock Frequency: | 2000 MHz |
| RAM Size: | 4 GB DDR4 |
| Storage Size: | 512 MB NAND |
| Switch Chip Model: | Marvell 98DX7335 |
| Operating System: | RouterOS v7 (License Level 6) |
| 1G/10G Ethernet Ports: | 2 (supports 10M/100M/1G/10G) |
| 400G QSFP56-DD Ports: | 4 |
| Number of AC Inputs: | 2 (redundant) |
| AC Input Range: | 100-240 V |
| Max. Power Consumption: | 123 W (with attachments) |
| Cooling Type: | 2 Fans (Hot-Swap) |
| Operating Temperature: | -10°C to 60°C |
| Dimensions: | 387 x 218 x 44 mm |
| Rackmount: | 1U |
Scope of Delivery
| 1 x MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM Cloud Router Switch |
| 2 x AC Power Cables |
| 1 x 19 Inch Rackmount Bracket (RMK-2x10/19) |
| 2 x Rear Rack Support Brackets |
| 1 x Mounting Kit (Screws and Mounting Material) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM primarily used for?
The MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM is primarily used for AI and GPU clusters, high-performance storage fabrics (e.g., NVMe-over-Fabrics), and as a core and aggregation switch in modern data centers and for Service providers requiring extreme bandwidths.
What port types and speeds does the CRS804-4DDQ-hRM offer?
The switch features four 400G QSFP56-DD ports and two 1G/10G Ethernet ports. The 400G ports also support breakout options for lower speeds such as 200G, 100G, 50G, 25G, and 10G.
What operating system runs on the MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM?
The MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM runs RouterOS v7 with license level 6, providing it with both advanced switching and comprehensive routing functionalities.
Is the MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM suitable for small businesses?
It is ideal for smaller data centers, enterprise pods, or edge compute installations that require extremely high bandwidths for specific workloads like AI or high-performance storage. However, for general networking requirements of small businesses with lower bandwidth needs, it is over-dimensioned and too specialized.
How does the breakout functionality of the QSFP-DD ports contribute to future-proofing?
The breakout functionality allows each 400G QSFP-DD port to be split into multiple independent data channels with lower speeds (e.g., 2x 200G, 4x 100G). This enables gradual migration and scaling of the network over time without needing to replace the switch, by utilizing lower speeds today and upgrading to higher ones as needed.
What role does the Marvell switch chip play in the CRS804-4DDQ-hRM?
The MikroTik CRS804-4DDQ-hRM uses a Marvell 98DX7335 switch chip, which, in combination with a quad-core 2.0 GHz ARM CPU and 4 GB DDR4 RAM, enables high performance, wire-speed switching, and advanced traffic control.
Homepage: http://www.mikrotik.com/
