MikroTik CRS520-4XS-16XQ-RM 16×100G QSFP28 Core Switch

The MikroTik CRS520-4XS-16XQ-RM is a rack-mounted 100G core switch built for demanding enterprise and data centre environments. At its heart is a Marvell 98CX8410 switch chip paired with an AL52400 quad-core ARM 64-bit CPU running at 2 GHz — the same class of processor found in MikroTik's CCR series routers — backed by 4 GB of RAM and 128 MB of NAND storage. This combination delivers both wire-speed switching and the processing headroom needed for advanced software-driven network functions.

The port configuration consists of 16 × 100G QSFP28 ports, 4 × 25G SFP28 ports, and 2 × 10G Ethernet ports (supporting 10M/100M/1G/10G), along with an RJ45 serial console port for out-of-band management. This makes the CRS520 a versatile backbone switch capable of aggregating high-speed uplinks and interconnecting high-bandwidth network segments.

Running RouterOS v7, the CRS520 goes well beyond basic switching. It supports OSPF/BGP dynamic routing, out-of-band and management VPNs, Access Control Lists, Jumbo Frame support, hardware-accelerated Layer 3 routing (L3HW), and the full RouterOS feature set — all manageable through WinBox, the web interface, or CLI. As MikroTik notes, the powerful CPU also provides a future-proofing advantage, as Marvell continues to expand the capabilities of the switch silicon through software updates.

Reliability features include two hot-swap power supplies (with two PSU slots) and four hot-swap fans for cooling, both replaceable without powering down the unit. AC input accepts 100–240 V at 50–60 Hz, with maximum power consumption of 150 W (single PSU) or 220 W with both PSUs installed. Hardware health monitoring covers CPU temperature, PCB temperature, and voltage.

The device ships with 2× IEC cords, rackmount ears, rackmount rear support ears, cable management brackets, and a K-82 fastening set. RouterOS v7 is pre-installed and licensed — no separate purchase is required.

Key Specifications at a Glance

• Product Code: CRS520-4XS-16XQ-RM
• Architecture: ARM 64-bit
• CPU: AL52400 quad-core @ 2 GHz
• Switch Chip: 98CX8410
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 128 MB NAND
• Operating System: RouterOS v7
• 100G QSFP28 Ports: 16
• 25G SFP28 Ports: 4
• 10G Ethernet Ports: 2 (supports 10M/100M/1G/10G)
• Serial Console Port: RJ45
• PSU Slots: 2 (both hot-swap)
• Cooling: 4× hot-swap fans
• AC Input: 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz
• Max Power Consumption: 150 W (single PSU) / 220 W (dual PSU)
• Max Power Consumption Without Attachments: 123 W
• CPU Temperature Monitor: Yes
• PCB Temperature Monitor: Yes
• Voltage Monitor: Yes
• Tested Ambient Temperature: -20°C to 50°C
• MTBF: Approximately 200,000 hours at 25°C
• Certifications: CE, EAC, RoHS
• Included: 2× IEC cords, rackmount ears, rackmount rear support ears, cable management brackets, K-82 fastening set