MikroTik CCR2216 100G Router — Buy in Lebanon

MikroTik CCR2216-1G-12XS-2XQ: The 100 Gigabit Flagship Router

The MikroTik CCR2216-1G-12XS-2XQ is the most powerful router MikroTik has ever built. It combines a 16-core Amazon Annapurna Labs Alpine v3 AL73400 CPU running at 2 GHz with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and the Marvell Prestera Aldrin2 switch chip. The result is a 1U rackmount router with 2x 100G QSFP28 ports, 12x 25G SFP28 ports, and Layer 3 hardware offloading capable of handling nearly 950,000 routes.

HI-GAIN stocks the CCR2216 at our warehouse in Dora, Beirut. As Lebanon's authorized MikroTik distributor since 1990, we supply ISPs, datacenters, and enterprise networks across the country with genuine hardware, local warranty, and engineering support.

Complete Hardware Specifications

Processor and Memory

The AL73400 is a 64-bit ARMv8 processor with 16 cores, each clocked at 2 GHz. This is the same silicon used in the CCR2116-12G-4S+, but the CCR2216 pairs it with the Aldrin2 switch chip — a significant upgrade over the CCR2116's Aldrin switch. The 16 GB of DDR4 RAM accommodates full BGP routing tables from multiple upstream peers, thousands of active firewall rules, and large PPPoE subscriber databases without swapping or performance degradation.

Two M.2 SATA slots allow installing SSDs for RouterOS logging, The Dude network monitoring data, or traffic flow exports. For ISPs in Lebanon that need persistent storage for compliance or troubleshooting, this eliminates the need for an external syslog server in smaller deployments.

Port Layout and Connectivity

• 2x QSFP28 (100 Gbps each): These ports accept 100G QSFP28 modules for backbone connections between core routers or to upstream providers. Each port can also be broken out into 4x 25G channels using breakout cables.
• 12x SFP28 (25 Gbps each): For connecting to access switches, aggregation routers, or point-to-point fiber links. SFP28 cages are backward compatible with standard 10G SFP+ and 1G SFP modules.
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45): A dedicated management port connected directly to the CPU, separate from the switch fabric. Use it for out-of-band management access.

Switch Chip: Marvell Prestera Aldrin2

The Aldrin2 switch chip handles packet forwarding in hardware, bypassing the CPU for standard routing and switching operations. L3 hardware offloading means IPv4 and IPv6 unicast routes are programmed directly into the switch chip's forwarding tables. MikroTik's testing shows the CCR2216 can offload approximately 950,000 /30 prefix routes — enough for multiple full BGP tables.

The Aldrin2 connects to the AL73400 CPU via four 25G lines (100 Gbps aggregate to CPU). Compare this to the CCR2116's Aldrin chip, which uses four 10G lines (40 Gbps to CPU). When traffic hits firewall rules, NAT, or other CPU-bound features, the CCR2216 moves packets between the switch fabric and CPU 2.5 times faster than the CCR2116.

Power and Cooling

The CCR2216 includes dual redundant hot-swappable power supplies, each rated at 150W. Maximum device power consumption is 128W under full load (80W without SFP modules). Both PSUs accept 100-240V AC at 50-60 Hz. Four hot-swappable fans keep the unit cool in rackmount environments.

For Lebanese ISPs and datacenters dealing with unreliable grid power, the dual PSU design is not optional — it is a requirement. Connect one PSU to municipal power and the other to a generator or UPS. The 128W draw means a standard 1000VA UPS provides roughly 45 minutes of runtime, enough to cover most generator switchover delays.

CCR2216 vs CCR2116 vs CCR2004: Which Core Router for Your Network

MikroTik's current Cloud Core Router lineup spans three generations. Each targets a different scale of deployment:

When to Choose the CCR2216 Over the CCR2116

The CCR2216 makes sense when your network requires 25G or 100G port speeds, or when CPU-bound traffic (firewall, NAT, queue trees) exceeds the CCR2116's 40 Gbps CPU-to-switch bandwidth. Datacenter operators peering with multiple upstream providers at 100G, ISPs aggregating dozens of 10G/25G tower links, and organizations running OSPF or BGP with multiple full tables benefit from the Aldrin2's expanded forwarding capacity.

For a deeper look at the CCR2116 and its use cases, read our MikroTik CCR2116 guide for Lebanon. ISPs still running smaller networks with under 1000 subscribers may find the CCR2004 series sufficient.

Deployment Scenarios for Lebanese Networks

ISP Core Router with BGP Peering

Connect upstream transit providers via the two QSFP28 ports at 100G. Use the 12 SFP28 ports to aggregate traffic from regional PoPs, each linked at 10G or 25G. The Aldrin2 switch chip handles forwarding for standard traffic in hardware, and the 16-core CPU processes firewall rules, mangle chains, and PPPoE sessions. With 16 GB RAM, the CCR2216 holds multiple full BGP tables (each roughly 1 GB) without memory pressure.

Datacenter Spine Router

In a leaf-spine topology, the CCR2216 serves as the spine. Each leaf switch connects via 25G SFP28, and the two QSFP28 ports provide 100G uplinks to border routers or internet exchanges. L3 hardware offloading keeps inter-VLAN routing off the CPU entirely for standard forwarded traffic.

WISP Aggregation in Lebanese Terrain

Lebanon's mountainous geography means WISPs operate tower sites spread across Mount Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the coast. The CCR2216 at a central PoP aggregates 10G or 25G backhauls from each tower. The SFP28 ports accept direct fiber connections from media converters or microwave radios with SFP interfaces, while the QSFP28 ports link to upstream transit.

Power Resilience Planning

At 128W maximum draw, the CCR2216 runs comfortably on a 1500VA online UPS. In Lebanon's power environment — where grid outages last hours and generator switchovers cause 5-30 second interruptions — the dual hot-swap PSU eliminates the single point of failure. Connect PSU1 to a UPS on grid power and PSU2 to a UPS on the generator circuit. The router never drops a packet during switchover.

Compatible SFP28 and QSFP28 Modules

HI-GAIN stocks a range of optical modules compatible with the CCR2216:

• SFP+ 10G 300m multimode — for short rack-to-rack links
• SFP+ 10G 20km single-mode — for inter-building fiber runs
• QSFP28 100G SR4 (100m) — for datacenter spine-leaf connections
• QSFP28 100G LR4 (10km) — for long-distance backbone links

All modules are tested for compatibility with MikroTik hardware before sale.

RouterOS v7 Features on the CCR2216

The Level 6 RouterOS license unlocks every feature in the operating system. Key capabilities for ISP and datacenter deployments include:

• Container support: Run Linux containers directly on the router for monitoring agents, custom scripts, or lightweight services without a separate server.
• WireGuard VPN: Native kernel-level VPN with minimal overhead. The 16-core CPU encrypts WireGuard tunnels at multi-gigabit speeds.
• RPKI validation: Validate BGP route origins against RPKI databases to prevent route hijacking — important for ISPs peering at regional internet exchanges.
• VXLAN and MPLS: Build overlay networks for customer isolation or extend Layer 2 domains across geographically separated sites.

Where to Buy the MikroTik CCR2216 in Lebanon

HI-GAIN is Lebanon's authorized MikroTik distributor. The CCR2216-1G-12XS-2XQ is available at our Dora, Beirut warehouse. We provide:

• Genuine MikroTik hardware with full manufacturer warranty
• Pre-sale consultation on network architecture and router sizing
• Bulk and ISP pricing — contact HI-GAIN for pricing on the CCR2216
• Same-day pickup in Beirut or nationwide shipping

Check CCR2216 stock and availability on our website. Browse the full MikroTik product catalog or visit our MikroTik routers in Lebanon hub for all routing hardware.