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TP-Link LS108GP vs MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM scores 7.4/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link LS108GP at 6.0/10.

The TP-Link LS108GP leads on poE.

The MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM leads on port speeds, management, port count and uplinks and firmware and support.

They score the same on noise and efficiency.

The biggest difference is management, where the MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM scores 8/10 to the TP-Link LS108GP's 5/10.

LS108GP

TP-Link LS108GP

6.0/10verdict: good, not the best

The LS108GP is for anyone who wants a small, silent, plug-and-play switch that also powers a few PoE devices such as access points or cameras. It suits desks, shelves and quiet rooms where a fan would be a nuisance. It doesn't suit buyers who need VLANs, faster-than-gigabit ports or a large PoE budget.

Typically about £39.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

7.4/10verdict: buy

This is for sysadmins and homelabbers who want a managed 24-port gigabit switch with two 10Gb SFP+ uplinks for a rack. It suits anyone who wants VLANs and a silent, passively cooled switch. It is a poor fit for buyers who need PoE or who plan to use it as a busy router.

Typically about £175.32 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link LS108GPMikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM
Port speeds30%6/107/10
Management20%5/108/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/108/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/106/10
Overall6.0/107.4/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link LS108GPMikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM
Ports8x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports (ports 1-8 support 802.3af/at PoE+)24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 2 x SFP+ ports, serial console RJ45
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps auto-negotiation, auto MDI/MDIXCopper ports 1 GbE; SFP cages support 1.25 Gb SFP and 10 Gb SFP+ modules
ManagementUnmanaged, plug-and-play; no VLAN support listedDual-boot SwOS/RouterOS; configurable VLANs, port mirroring, MAC filter, bandwidth limitation
PoE budget62 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port, 802.3af/atnot listed
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listed2 x SFP+
Switching capacity16 Gbps switching capacity, 11.9 Mpps forwarding rate, 4K MAC table, 16 KB jumbo framesNon-blocking Layer 2 capacity 86,855.7 Mbps at 1518-byte packets; 88,000 Mbps at Layer 1
CoolingFanless, metal casingPassive

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link LS108GP

  • + Fanless metal case; owners praise silent operation
  • + All eight gigabit ports support 802.3af/at PoE
  • + Plug-and-play setup with IGMP snooping and QoS
  • − Shared 62 W PoE budget limits high-draw devices
  • − Unmanaged, with no VLAN support listed
  • − No SFP uplink or faster-than-gigabit ports listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or other managed-switch features
  • Anyone powering several high-draw PoE devices from one switch
  • Users who want 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP uplinks
Read the full TP-Link LS108GP review ›

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

  • + Passive cooling, praised by owners as quiet and fanless
  • + Two SFP+ cages for 1.25Gb and 10Gb modules
  • + Dual-boot SwOS/RouterOS with VLANs and port mirroring
  • − Routing is slow, according to owners
  • − No PoE listed in the specifications
  • − Warranty is only 1 year

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE ports to power access points or cameras
  • Anyone wanting 2.5GbE or 10GbE copper ports on every port
  • People planning to use the switch as their main router
Read the full MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM review ›

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