I've got an ICX-6610-48P on the way along with some mikrotik S+RJ10 SFPs that I'm planning on using to create a 10G link over CAT6 to a Mikrotik CRS305-1G-4S+IN that will sit on my desk. The final piece of my puzzle is the link from the switch to the desktop. From this thread it seems like the best bet is a ConnectX-3 (is that still the case?). I'm just not sure what I need to buy for the QSFP (??) to Mikrotik. I'd prefer to go fiber. If anyone could point me to the correct parts and cable I need to do 10G from the Mikrotik to the Desktop I'd appreciate it.
Just to be completely clear, the Mikrotik CRS305-1G-4S+IN you say you want to connect to your desktop only has SFP+ ports on it. It does not have QSFP or QSFP+ ports on it, so those aren't relevant.
You have these choices as I see it:
1a) Another copper run to a copper card:
* A copper 10gbe card (I've been using Intel X540-T2s, and even used on EBay where I get them, they are pricey.)
* Another mikrotik S+RJ10 or similar for the SFP+ port on the CRS305-1G-4S+IN.
* A Cat6a copper cable
1b) Another copper run to an SFP+ card:
* A dual or single port SFP+ card. (see 2a below for details)
* A pair of mikrotik S+RJ10 or similar for the SFP+ port on the CRS305-1G-4S+IN and the SFP+ NIC card
* A Cat6a copper cable
2a) A fiber run:
* A dual or single port SFP+ card. I've been using Solarflare SFN7122Fs which go for $30-$40 on Ebay, but there's also the ConnectX-3 which I have no personal experience with, and there are surely others as well.
* Two 10GBASE-SR SFP+ fiber transceivers. I've been using the house branded ones from fs.com (
Cisco SFP-10G-SR Compatible 10GBASE-SR SFP+ Transceiver Module), but I am certain you can save here if you shop around and know what you are doing. I'm just getting started on 10gb so I wanted something I knew would work. Probably $6-$20/transceiver, but the experts here should feel free to set me straight.
* An appropriate length of fiber cable. I've bought different lengths of these for short (<50 foot) fiber runs:
OM4 50/125 LC-LC Multimode Fiber Optic Cable Duplex 5m (16ft) - Aqua. Again, you can probably save here, but I'm a novice so I went with fs.com to be sure I'd get something I was confident would work.
2b) A DAC run:
* A dual or single port SFP+ card. (same as 2a; see above.)
* A appropriate DAC (Direct Attached Copper) cable. For example, here's a 10ft cable from fs.com:
Brocade 10G-SFPP-TWX-0301 10G SFP+ DAC Twinax Cable. This replaces both fiber transceivers and the fiber cable in 2a.
2a & 2b are the best choices in my book. If your switch is a good distance away in your room - say you have a large room - fiber may be the only practical option of the two - DAC cables are length limited. But if your CRS305-1G-4S+IN switch is very close to your desktop, the 2b (DAC) option is likely best since it will be cheaper and is very simple to understand and use. 1b may be a bit cheaper than 1a, but either will likely be more expensive than either 2a or 2b. I would do Fiber (2a) before I would do 1a unless I had to use copper for some reason, like for example, pre-existing Copper wiring.
In my server room I have been using a mix of all of these, and I'll admit to buying some stuff without cost being my overriding concern, just so I can see how it all works.
