2.5 Gbps home network: wired and wireless router, NAS, switch and adapter

[xiaofan]

From my living room lan port > switch, which port do I connect in and which port is out to my devices ?

All four 2.5Gbe ports of the switch are equal, just anyhow use.

 

[Goodshot]

@xiaofan If i get the $18 Tplink NG421 does it need driver to run ? Cuz i couldnt find any driver except the iso file which i duno how to install

 

[xiaofan]

@xiaofan If i get the $18 Tplink NG421 does it need driver to run ? Cuz i couldnt find any driver except the iso file which i duno how to install

Sorry no idea about this network adapter.

If you have an ISO file, just extract the file from the iso file. The driver should be inside.

You can use 7-zip to extrac the ISO file.
https://www.7-zip.org/

 

[Lampard]

All four 2.5Gbe ports of the switch are equal, just anyhow use.

Hi, my Mercury switch just arrived. However, when I connect it to my 2.5Gb network adapter, my speed is capped at 900Mbps. The green blinking light indicates a 2.5Gb connection, but my other devices, which blink orange, achieve speeds of 900+ Mbps without issue. When I connect my 2.5Gb network adapter directly to the wall LAN port, it reaches 1.8Gbps.

 

[xiaofan]

Hi, my Mercury switch just arrived. However, when I connect it to my 2.5Gb network adapter, my speed is capped at 900Mbps. The green blinking light indicates a 2.5Gb connection, but my other devices, which blink orange, achieve speeds of 900+ Mbps without issue. When I connect my 2.5Gb network adapter directly to the wall LAN port, it reaches 1.8Gbps.

Hmm, that is strange.

You may unplug and plug the Ethernet cable between your network adapter and the switch to see if that helps.

I have some issues with my Asus TUF-BE6500 and the Hasivo 2.5G/10G switch as well -- sometimes it just negotiates at 1Gbps, need to unplug and plug to get 2.5Gbps.

 

[Lampard]

Hmm, that is strange.

You may unplug and plug the Ethernet cable between your network adapter and the switch to see if that helps.

I have some issues with my Asus TUF-BE6500 and the Hasivo 2.5G/10G switch as well -- sometimes it just negotiates at 1Gbps, need to unplug and plug to get 2.5Gbps.

Tried all the ports on the switch but still the same

 

[xiaofan]

Tried all the ports on the switch but still the same

I see, then it is probably some compatibility issues between your network adapter and the Mecury switch. Sorry not able to help here.

 

[xiaofan]

I will usually recommend cheaper 2.5G switches from Chinese vendors like Hasivo, XikeStor, Siri-vision and TP-Link China for 2.5G switch or 2.5G/10G mixed switch.

I am using an old TP-Link China TL-SH1008 8-port 2.5G switch and a Hasivo S600W-4GT-1SX-1XGT-SE switch myself. I have Hasivo S600W-4GT-2SX-SE switch as well.

Mixed 2.5G/10G switch with quad 2.5G RJ45 ports and dual 10G SFP+ ports can be very cheap from various Chinese vendors.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...and-switch-rj45-version-no-sfp-ports.7072646/

Hasivo S600W-4GT-2XGT-SE is probably the cheapest you can find. You should look at the price at Taobao 海思视讯 shop and it is only at RMB 699 listed price --> now about RMB 499 in Feb 2025.

Hasivo S600W-4GT-2SX-SE, RMB 219 listed, quad 2.5G ports, two 10G SFP+ ports
Hasivo S600W-4GT-1SX-1XGT-SE, RMB 399 listed, quad 2.5G ports, one 10G RJ45 port and one 10G SFP+ port
Hasivo S600W-4GT-2XGT-SE, RMB 499 listed, quad 2.5G ports, two 10G RJ45 ports

【淘宝】退货运费险 http://e.tb.cn/h.TagwCPy1xtfft6L?tk=OUoQ3qhNKyt MF3543 「hasivo 2.5G万兆上行POE轻网管交换机企业办公猫棒VLAN猫棒网管型」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

But some users may prefer product with local warranty. In that case, TP-Link may be an option if you are looking for cheap 5-port or 8-port dumb switch.

TL-SG105-M2, S$79 when on offer.
TL-SG108-M2, S$129 when on offer.

 

[xiaofan]

Updated first page Post #1 and Post #2 as a summary. I will try to keep the first two posts updated.

 

[xiaofan]

Dongknows Five Best Entry-Level Multi-Gigabit Wi-Fi Routers and Mesh Systems
Updated on 1-March-2025
https://dongknows.com/multi-gigabit-wi-fi-6-routers-to-bring-home-today/

Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7)​

Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max)​

Asus RT-AX88U Pro (AX6000)​

Asus RT-BE92U (triband BE9700) -- with one 10G port and quad 2.5G ports​

TP-Link Archer BE230 (dual band BE3600)​

 

[xiaofan]

Real world local network speed achievable: 10Gbe vs 5Gbe vs 2.5Gbe vs 1Gbe vs 100Mb Fast Ethernet

 

[xiaofan]

For more advanced users, Ubiquiti Unifi 2.5G switches can be a good option.


Cheap one: UniFi Flex Mini 2.5G Switch


More expensive one: UniFi Flex 2.5G POE

 

[nabil996]

For more advanced users, Ubiquiti Unifi 2.5G switches can be a good option.


Cheap one: UniFi Flex Mini 2.5G Switch


More expensive one: UniFi Flex 2.5G POE

But local webstore Unifi havent update the list yet they on processing it should available on Q3 or Q4 this year. But you can buy it on Amazon or other online store

 

[uncle_josh]

https://www.carousell.sg/p/1359193454/
Description
CWWK J4125 Mini PC
Model : MW-GMLK-2.5G6L
Brand new unit
Palm size: 179mm(W) x 125mm(L) x 59mm(H)

Intel Celeron J4125 2.0GHz 4 cores
6w ultra low idle power consumption
Fanless 0db quite passive cooling

4GB RAM, another RAM slot upgradable max. 32GB
UHD600 integrated Graphics
128GB M.2 SSD
Expandable 2.5inch SATA slot
6 x 2.5Gbps LAN Ports, RTL8125 NIC
65w PSU (UK Plug)

Ideal for:
-small office/home office work
-home server
-home lab

 

[xiaofan]

GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) is one of the most popular OpenWRT capable router. It is a very good router for 2.5Gbps/3Gbps internet. It runs a custom version of OpenWRT by GL.iNet.
https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-mt6000/

They have both China version and Global version. The official stand from GL.iNet is that CN version (lacking some functions like some VPN related function) cannot be flashed with Global version FW. Please take note.

English review:


Cantonese review:

 

[xiaofan]

Dongknows review of some of the more popular 2.5G capable routers.

TP-Link Archer BE230 (dual band BE3600)
https://dongknows.com/tp-link-archer-be3600-wi-fi-7-router-review/

TP-Link Deco BE25 (dual band BE5000)
https://dongknows.com/tp-link-deco-be25-deco-be5000-mesh-system-review/

TP-Link Archer BE550
https://dongknows.com/tp-link-archer-be550-be9300-wi-fi-7-router-review/

Assu ROG GT-AX6000
https://dongknows.com/asus-rog-rapture-gt-ax6000-gaming-router-review/

Asus RT-AX88U Pro
https://dongknows.com/asus-rt-ax88u-pro-review/

Asus RT-AX86U Pro vs RT-AX86U (single 2.5G port)
https://dongknows.com/asus-rt-ax86s-vs-rt-ax86u-vs-rt-ax86u-pro/

TP-Link Deco AX55 Pro (dual band AX3000)
https://dongknows.com/tp-link-deco-x55-pro-ax3000-mesh-system-review/

Deco XE75 Pro (only single 2.5G port)
https://dongknows.com/tp-link-deco-xe75-pro-mesh-system/

Ubiquiti UCG-Ultra
https://dongknows.com/ubiquiti-cloud-gateway-max-review/

Ubiquiti UDR7 (with one 10G SFP+ port and five 2.5G ports)
https://dongknows.com/ubiquiti-udr7-unifi-dream-router-7-review/

Ubiquiti UX7 (with one 10G RJ45 port and one 2.5G port)
https://dongknows.com/ubiquiti-udr7-unifi-dream-router-7-review/

 

[xiaofan]

2.5Gbe SSD NAS

 

[xiaofan]

Chinese YouTuber (who is more focused on NAS) talking about cheap 2.5Gbe home network upgrades. Indeed 2.5G switch and network interface cards can be pretty cheap. But 2.5G capable NAS may not be that cheap.