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MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM vs TP-Link TL-SG108E

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 TL-SG108E at 6.2/10.

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

They score the same on noise and efficiency, poE and firmware and support.

The biggest difference is port count and uplinks, where the MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM scores 8/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG108E's 5/10.

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

TP-Link TL-SG108E

TP-Link TL-SG108E

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-SG108E is for home and homelab users who want a small, silent eight-port gigabit switch with basic VLAN support. It suits setups that need a few separate networks, not strict isolation. It is a poor fit if you need PoE, fibre uplinks, faster-than-gigabit ports or Spanning Tree.

Typically about £45 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

CriterionWeightMikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RMTP-Link TL-SG108E
Port speeds30%7/106/10
Management20%8/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%8/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%6/106/10
Overall7.4/106.2/10

Specifications

SpecMikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RMTP-Link TL-SG108E
Ports24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 2 x SFP+ ports, serial console RJ458 x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports
Port speedsCopper ports 1 GbE; SFP cages support 1.25 Gb SFP and 10 Gb SFP+ modules10/100/1000 Mbps
ManagementDual-boot SwOS/RouterOS; configurable VLANs, port mirroring, MAC filter, bandwidth limitationEasy Smart; web user interface and Windows management utility; port-based, 802.1Q and MTU VLAN (32 VLANs active out of 4K IDs), port mirroring, loop prevention, IGMP snooping, cable diagnostics
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)2 x SFP+not listed
Switching capacityNon-blocking Layer 2 capacity 86,855.7 Mbps at 1518-byte packets; 88,000 Mbps at Layer 116 Gbps switching capacity; 11.9 Mpps forwarding rate; 4K MAC table
CoolingPassiveFanless, metal casing

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

TP-Link TL-SG108E

  • + Fanless metal casing, so no fan noise
  • + 802.1Q VLANs and port mirroring on a web UI
  • + Owners report VLANs working on current firmware
  • − Gigabit only, with no SFP/SFP+ uplink published
  • − VLAN 1 cannot be removed and no Spanning Tree
  • − Owners describe VLAN setup as fiddly

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
  • Anyone who needs strict VLAN isolation, Spanning Tree or a management interface off the user ports
  • Users who want 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP/SFP+ uplinks
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG108E review ›

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