2.5 Gbps wired home network

xiaofan

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Just got the Mac Mini M1 so that I can try the the UGreen 2.5Gbe cards.

iperf3 server: Mac Mini M1 (late 2020) with USB 3 Type C Ugreen 2.5Gbe card

iperf3 client: Acer Swift 3 Intel Core i5-8250U Windows 10 laptop (late 2017 model) with Ugreen USB 3 Type A 2.5Gbe card

First test: single direction test (iperf3 -c 192.168.88.2)
Second test: dual direction test (iperf 3 -c 192.168.88.2 --bidir)

Code:
mcuee@mcuees-Mac-mini ~ % iperf3 -s
-----------------------------------------------------------
Server listening on 5201
-----------------------------------------------------------
Accepted connection from 192.168.88.3, port 13398
[  5] local 192.168.88.2 port 5201 connected to 192.168.88.3 port 13399
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec   267 MBytes  2.24 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5]  10.00-10.05  sec  13.2 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-10.05  sec  2.76 GBytes  2.36 Gbits/sec                  receiver
-----------------------------------------------------------
Server listening on 5201
-----------------------------------------------------------

Accepted connection from 192.168.88.3, port 13713
[  5] local 192.168.88.2 port 5201 connected to 192.168.88.3 port 13714
[  8] local 192.168.88.2 port 5201 connected to 192.168.88.3 port 13715
[ ID][Role] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5][RX-S]   0.00-1.00   sec   215 MBytes  1.80 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   0.00-1.00   sec   235 MBytes  1.97 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   1.00-2.00   sec   202 MBytes  1.69 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   1.00-2.00   sec   280 MBytes  2.35 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   2.00-3.00   sec   189 MBytes  1.58 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   2.00-3.00   sec   283 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   3.00-4.00   sec   206 MBytes  1.73 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   3.00-4.00   sec   281 MBytes  2.36 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   4.00-5.00   sec   206 MBytes  1.73 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   4.00-5.00   sec   282 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   5.00-6.00   sec   204 MBytes  1.72 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   5.00-6.00   sec   282 MBytes  2.36 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   6.00-7.00   sec   180 MBytes  1.51 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   6.00-7.00   sec   282 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   7.00-8.00   sec   178 MBytes  1.49 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   7.00-8.00   sec   282 MBytes  2.36 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   8.00-9.00   sec   208 MBytes  1.75 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   8.00-9.00   sec   282 MBytes  2.36 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]   9.00-10.00  sec   208 MBytes  1.74 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]   9.00-10.00  sec   282 MBytes  2.36 Gbits/sec                  
[  5][RX-S]  10.00-10.04  sec  6.56 MBytes  1.49 Gbits/sec                  
[  8][TX-S]  10.00-10.04  sec  10.4 MBytes  2.37 Gbits/sec                  
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID][Role] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5][RX-S]   0.00-10.04  sec  1.96 GBytes  1.67 Gbits/sec                  receiver
[  8][TX-S]   0.00-10.04  sec  2.72 GBytes  2.32 Gbits/sec                  sender
-----------------------------------------------------------
 

xiaofan

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Are there any router with 2.5Gbps LAN port?

With Single 2.5Gbe LAN port:
Asus RT-AX11000 and RT-AX86U
NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 RAX200

Take note there are routers with 2.5Gbe WAN only (not LAN) which is useless with SingTel ISPs, eg, TP-Link AX11000 and AX6000.
 

xiaofan

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Are there any router with 2.5Gbps LAN port?

With Single 2.5Gbe LAN port:
Asus RT-AX11000 and RT-AX86U
NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 RAX200

Take note there are routers with 2.5Gbe WAN only (not LAN) which is useless with SingTel ISPs, eg, TP-Link AX11000 and AX6000.

If you want to play with DIY router and want to take risks, Taobao has one interesting 4 port 2.5Gbe router on pre-order. I am quite interested in it but I do not want to take risks because of the pre-order. Rather I will wait and see the review first.

Intel J4125 CPU, 4 ports Realtek 8125B 2.5Gbe
https://m.tb.cn/h.4TCCszJ?sm=9c76e2
【预售春节前到货Intel J4125 4口2.5G软路由V2.0版本 X86小主机】
 
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xiaofan

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If you want to play with DIY router and want to take risks, Taobao has one interesting 4 port 2.5Gbe router on pre-order. I am quite interested in it but I do not want to take risks because of the pre-order. Rather I will wait and see the review first.

Intel J4125 CPU, 4 ports Realtek 8125B 2.5Gbe
https://m.tb.cn/h.4TCCszJ?sm=9c76e2
【预售春节前到货Intel J4125 4口2.5G软路由V2.0版本 X86小主机】

Still the seller also says Intel 2.5Gbe card is better.

BTW, if you are into pfsense (FreeBSD based), here is the instructions for Realtek RTL-8125B FreeBSD driver installation.
https://forums.serverbuilds.net/t/g...4-2-4-5-2-5-0-opnsense-use-2-5gb-realtek/3555
 

yusoffb01

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https://www.qnap.com/solution/2.5g/en-us/
QNAP has quite some 2.5Gbe solutions, like switch and NAS. Hopefully they will have a cheaper router with 4 x 2.5Gbe WAN/LAN ports as well.

i do want 2.5G switch but cant find any in stock. qnap 10g switch is also not expensive between $200~400 in amazon sg.

does the ugreen disconnect on heavy use? maybe you can try iperf for a few hours
 
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xiaofan

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i do want 2.5G switch but cant find any in stock. qnap 10g switch is also between $200~400 in amazon.

does the ugreen disconnect on heavy use?

Haha, never done heavy testing for my two 2.5Gbe Ugreen adapters, only iperf3 tests.

For the other Ugreen gigabit USB 3 adapter, I have done extensive tests and no issues (including ≥200GB download from Google, for my Google Photos Takeout).
 
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yusoffb01

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Windows 10 has built in smb multichannel.

Just buy 2x cheap usb 3 gigabit adapters and connect to your gigabit router/switch. don't need to configure anything like teaming. As long as both source and destination computers each have 2 ethernet plugged in, the transfer speed will double

8FDazOw.png


Zoomed in:
j1bqQsU.png
 

xiaofan

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Windows 10 has built in smb multichannel.

Just buy 2x cheap usb 3 gigabit adapters and connect to your gigabit router/switch. don't need to configure anything like teaming. As long as both source and destination computers each have 2 ethernet plugged in, the transfer speed will double

Nice, kind of cheap 2Gbps network. :s13:

Linux supports 802.3ad LACP based Link Aggregation.
http://linux-ip.net/html/ether-bonding.html

macOS has built-in support of 802.3ad LACP based link aggregation as well.
https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchlp2798/mac

***
macOS uses the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to negotiate the link aggregation. LACP must be supported on all link aggregation devices involved.

Many managed switches have an upper limit of 4 or 8 ports in an 802.3ad aggregated bond. macOS does not impose a limit to the number of physical ports that you can add to a bond.
***
 

yusoffb01

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Nice, kind of cheap 2Gbps network. :s13:

Linux supports 802.3ad LACP based Link Aggregation.
http://linux-ip.net/html/ether-bonding.html

macOS has built-in support of 802.3ad LACP based link aggregation as well.
https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchlp2798/mac

***
macOS uses the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to negotiate the link aggregation. LACP must be supported on all link aggregation devices involved.

Many managed switches have an upper limit of 4 or 8 ports in an 802.3ad aggregated bond. macOS does not impose a limit to the number of physical ports that you can add to a bond.
***

if source and destination pc is windows 10, dont need managed switch with lacp. can use existing equipment. windows will manage the traffic for you.

can u try file transfer between your 2.5G adapters? can it sustain 230MBps or faster?
 
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xiaofan

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I've heard even the Intel 2.5GbE NICs are flaky. :s22:

Ah, you are right. Looks like Intel i225 v1 2.5Gbe controller has problems. But it is said that Intel i225 v2 silicon has fixed the issues.
https://forums.unraid.net/topic/99261-25gbe-intel-z490-vs-amd-x570/
https://wccftech.com/intel-400-series-chipsets-z490-i225-v-network-controller-issue-fix-2h-2020/

Realtek and Marvell (Aquantia) are the other options. It seems to me AMD based motherboards typically use Realtek RTL8125B and RTL8125BG. Only higher end boards use Marvell AQC112C (2.5Gbe) or AQC111C (2.5Gbe/5Gbe).

My two Ugreen USB 2.5Gbe adapters also use Realtek 8125B.

I think year 2021 or 2022 will be the years for 2.5Gbe and Wifi 6/6E. They match pretty well.
 
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xiaofan

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if source and destination pc is windows 10, dont need managed switch with lacp. can use existing equipment. windows will manage the traffic for you.

can u try file transfer between your 2.5G adapters? can it sustain 230MBps or faster?

I will try it later this week.
I do not have two Windows computers to try so I will try between the Acer Swift 3 and the Mac Mini M1. My iperf 3 tests were done between the two.

The beefy Dell Windows 10 laptop is from work so it is locked down and no file copying is allowed.
 

xiaofan

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if source and destination pc is windows 10, dont need managed switch with lacp. can use existing equipment. windows will manage the traffic for you.
can u try file transfer between your 2.5G adapters? can it sustain 230MBps or faster?
Just set up an SMB share from my Mac Mini M1 and then copying from the Mac Mini to my Acer Swift 3 laptop, with three Ubuntu 20.04 AMD64 ISO files total 7.78GB. It can only sustain about 1.8Gbps.


Y5VRNlE.png


fOkTW0V.png
 

xiaofan

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if source and destination pc is windows 10, dont need managed switch with lacp. can use existing equipment. windows will manage the traffic for you.
can u try file transfer between your 2.5G adapters? can it sustain 230MBps or faster?
Just set up an SMB share from my Mac Mini M1 and then copying from the Mac Mini to my Acer Swift 3 laptop, with three Ubuntu 20.04 AMD64 ISO files total 7.78GB. It can only sustain about 1.8Gbps.
On the other hand, this is probably due to the slow speed of the Acer Swift 3 laptop (bought in Dec 2017, Core i5-8250U CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD).

So I tried again by copying files from the Acer to the Mac Mini M1 with the same three Ubuntu ISO files, it is really fast, I can see it is above 290MB/sec from the Activity Monitor. Apple is known to use fast SSD disks.

XNiBwaF.png
 
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yusoffb01

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Just set up an SMB share from my Mac Mini M1 and then copying from the Mac Mini to my Acer Swift 3 laptop, with three Ubuntu 20.04 AMD64 ISO files total 7.78GB. It can only sustain about 1.8Gbps.


Y5VRNlE.png


fOkTW0V.png

thanks for testing! so getting another usb gigabit adapter is an alternative to getting 2.5gbe adapter for windows users who do not want to change to 2.5g switches.

but for non windows users have to get 2.5G adapter for faster transfer speed as smb multichannel may not work
 

xiaofan

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thanks for testing! so getting another usb gigabit adapter is an alternative to getting 2.5gbe adapter for windows users who do not want to change to 2.5g switches.

but for non windows users have to get 2.5G adapter for faster transfer speed as smb multichannel may not work

Actually 2.5Gbe adapter is pretty cheap as well. Ugreen is already on the high side but there are many cheap alternatives from Taobao, especially for desktop with PCIE.

TP-Link TL-NG421 is at RMB89 or about S$18 only.
https://m.tb.cn/h.4hZDlyM?sm=8856eb
【TP-LINK TL-NG421 2.5Gbps PCI-e网卡台式机电脑服务器PCIe高速千兆以太网络RJ45接口转换器内置模块远程唤醒】

Some shops are selling at even lower at RMB79.

For USB 3 Type A or Type C 2.5Gbe card, I like Ugreen because it has served me well. But there are cheaper brands out there selling at about RMB98 or S$20.
https://m.tb.cn/h.4h0axOJ?sm=1f65e5
【2.5G千兆网卡TypeC转千兆有线网口USB3.0电竞网络游戏适配器2500M】
 
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yusoffb01

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Actually 2.5Gbe adapter is pretty cheap as well. Ugreen is already on the high side but there are many cheap alternatives from Taobao, especially for desktop with PCIE.

TP-Link TL-NG421 is at RMB89 or about S$18 only.
https://m.tb.cn/h.4hZDlyM?sm=8856eb
【TP-LINK TL-NG421 2.5Gbps PCI-e网卡台式机电脑服务器PCIe高速千兆以太网络RJ45接口转换器内置模块远程唤醒】

Some shops are selling at RMB79.

how do you connect to internet without a compatible switch
 
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