Whats the best solution for short runs (rack) between Mikrotik switches and Dell servers. Will a DAC still work between different vendors or is it always best to buy individual transceivers?
DAC is always the best option for short runs in terms of cost and compatibility.
Agreed. I have a 10 Gb DAC connecting my workstation and a small server to a Mikrotik. They are way cheaper, use less electric, and run cooler compared to a UTP SFP. I don't like UTP for 10Gb as its both costly and less efficient though that is going to get better with time.
It won’t get much better because that’s just a limitation of how 10GBASE-T works. There’s never a good reason to use it. Always just use a DAC or fibre.