Regarding my new BE88U and the 10Gb "WAN/LAN" port(s)

[RDaneel]

... and no, I don't think my specific issue has been discussed here already (but I may have missed it).

I just set this up yesterday, and used the 2.5Gb "WAN/LAN" to connect my cable modem - all is good, and the WAN download speed may or may not be up from my trusty AX88U of 6 years.

BUT, I also connected the 10Gb "WAN/LAN" to my Windows 11 box as its connection to the world, and my Gigabyte mobo has a 10Gb Marvell AQtion 10GBASE-T on-board, and the [latest] Windows 11 driver for it has "Auto" link speed negotiation set... unfortunately, I am only seeing this as a 2.5Gb connection when I look at from the Windows 11 side.

Is there some way I haven't found to tell the BE88U that I really want it to use this as a 10Gb LAN link? I don't think that the link speed is being limited by the on-board Marvell chip, but I don't know.

However, it does look like my BE88U (running the latest Merlin version 3006.102.3) is confused about what the status of the "10Gb WAN/LAN" port actually is:

... note the WHITE "unplugged" coloring on this port - which is definitely in use, and talking to my 'puter - but only @ 2.5Gb.

Any ideas, comments, suggestions?

Alternatively, and assuming that the Marvell chip is not what is limiting me, could I possibly use the other10Gb port, what is it, "SFP"(?), with an adapter back to ethernet?

Thanks!

 

[Digilog]

... and no, I don't think my specific issue has been discussed here already (but I may have missed it).

I just set this up yesterday, and used the 2.5Gb "WAN/LAN" to connect my cable modem - all is good, and the WAN download speed may or may not be up from my trusty AX88U of 6 years.

BUT, I also connected the 10Gb "WAN/LAN" to my Windows 11 box as its connection to the world, and my Gigabyte mobo has a 10Gb Marvell AQtion 10GBASE-T on-board, and the [latest] Windows 11 driver for it has "Auto" link speed negotiation set... unfortunately, I am only seeing this as a 2.5Gb connection when I look at from the Windows 11 side.

Is there some way I haven't found to tell the BE88U that I really want it to use this as a 10Gb LAN link? I don't think that the link speed is being limited by the on-board Marvell chip, but I don't know.

However, it does look like my BE88U (running the latest Merlin version 3006.102.3) is confused about what the status of the "10Gb WAN/LAN" port actually is:

View attachment 64181

... note the WHITE "unplugged" coloring on this port - which is definitely in use, and talking to my 'puter - but only @ 2.5Gb.

Any ideas, comments, suggestions?

Alternatively, and assuming that the Marvell chip is not what is limiting me, could I possibly use the other10Gb port, what is it, "SFP"(?), with an adapter back to ethernet?

Thanks!

Look for a screen to configure the combo WAN/LAN ports and double check your connections. The SPF+ port is for a SPF+ module you plug in to get either another ethernet port or a fiber port that other people commonly use to go into a shop or garage in a different building.

 

[RDaneel]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I have now been through every single screen in the Merlin version of the ASUS control software - twice, and I am not seeing it.

The printed "Quick Start" pamphlet that comes with the BE88U seems quite clear that choosing your initial setup with the WAN access on the 2.5 Gb LAN1 should, as they put it, "free up another 10Gb port".

Again, I still think there may be some way to "encourage" this behavior, given that the "Ethernet Ports" area of the System Status still thinks nothing is even plugged in at all on the 10 Gb WAN/LAN port - but that may be a fading hope.

Maybe the incorrect display is not really relevant at all, and it is just that my Marvell "10Gb" chip on my mobo is saying no... I did purchase a "Cat 7" cable for this purpose, and for that matter, it is one of the primary reasons I wanted to replace my AX88U...

Maybe I can ask over on the ASUS forum (here on SNB).

 

[heysoundude]

Auto doesn’t always mean it, and 10Gbps is still pretty specific for use cases so you might need to be explicit about it: Go back into the NIC settings on the windows machine and see if changing it to 10G specifically makes the router see that connection speed.

 

[visortgw]

Auto doesn’t always mean it, and 10Gbps is still pretty specific for use cases so you might need to be explicit about it: Go back into the NIC settings on the windows machine and see if changing it to 10G specifically makes the router see that connection speed.

I agree that one must often override auto settings on the devices in order to select higher link rates. Also, when using 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps connections, consider changing MTU from 1500 to 9000 on devices (and enable jumbo frame within LAN >> Switch Control on router). What is the cable length between router and device? Is your NIC driver up to date?

FYI, I am successfully connected at 10 Gbps from GT-BE98 Pro to managed switch and downstream devices: AIMesh node, unmanaged switch, Synology NAS, MacBook Pro (using QNAP 10GBASE-T to USB 4 Type-C or Thunderbolt 3/4 adapter).

 

[heysoundude]

Is 10gigabit the new gigabit? (I must've blinked for too long, because that seems to have happened altogether too quickly...getting old sucks)

 

[Blacklistedcard]

I agree that one must often override auto settings on the devices in order to select higher link rates. Also, when using 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps connections, consider changing MTU from 1500 to 9000 on devices (and enable jumbo frame within LAN >> Switch Control on router). What is the cable length between router and device? Is your NIC driver up to date?

FYI, I am successfully connected at 10 Gbps from GT-BE98 Pro to managed switch and downstream devices: AIMesh node, unmanaged switch, Synology NAS, MacBook Pro (using QNAP 10GBASE-T to USB 4 Type-C or Thunderbolt 3/4 adapter).

I have my BE98Pro 10gig connection hooked up to my QNAP NAS by a Intel 10g card. No problems with the connection. Maybe a cable not with the proper rating?

 

[visortgw]

I have my BE98Pro 10gig connection hooked up to my QNAP NAS by a Intel 10g card. No problems with the connection. Maybe a cable not with the proper rating?

OP states Cat7 cable.

 

[visortgw]

Is 10gigabit the new gigabit? (I must've blinked for too long, because that seems to have happened altogether too quickly...getting old sucks)

Typically reserved for higher end routers, NASs, etc. 2.5 Gbps ports are commonplace on modems since 1 or 2 Gbps ISP connections are becoming more and more the norm -- one cannot achieve full 1 Gbps performance with 1 Gbps modem to router connection.

 

[Blacklistedcard]

Typically reserved for higher end routers, NASs, etc. 2.5 Gbps ports are commonplace on modems since 1 or 2 Gbps ISP connections are becoming more and more the norm -- one cannot achieve full 1 Gbps performance with 1 Gbps modem to router connection.

I wish Rogers offered 10gig. I would love to hook up cable up to the 10gig connector on the BE98Pro to my modem.

 

[RDaneel]

Thanks for keeping the suggestions coming... but I should have mentioned when I said "Auto" on the speed setting for the NIC control on the Windows machine, that I had in fact tried explicitly setting 10Gb there - and it had the effect of disabling the NIC fairly quickly.

The reason I have been focusing my hopes more on the ASUS/Merlin expertise around here is that I have read the threads elsewhere on this NIC (Marvell AQC113C chip on mobo), and tried a number of the suggestions - some of which seemed pretty random - and for sure a number just give up and get a 10Gb PCIe card.

BTW, I just reviewed my cable purchase, and the thing is in fact a "CAT 8 Ethernet Cable, 25ft Heavy Duty High Speed ... Professional LAN Cable, 26AWG, 2000Mhz 40Gbps with Gold Plated RJ45 Connector, Shielded" - if any of this is relevant.

For anyone here that is actually using the BE88U "10Gb WAN/LAN" RJ45 port, does the Merlin (or stock?) display show this thing as WHITE or GREEN?

 

[visortgw]

For anyone here that is actually using the BE88U "10Gb WAN/LAN" RJ45 port, does the Merlin (or stock?) display show this thing as WHITE or GREEN?

I know that it's not the BE88U, but I'm using both 10 Gbps ports (one WAN/LAN and one LAN) on my GT-BE98 Pro — both ports show as GREEN and reveal "10 Gbps" when I hover over the text.

 

[Tech9]

Also, when using 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps connections, consider changing MTU from 1500 to 9000 on devices (and enable jumbo frame within LAN >> Switch Control on router).

Mmm... I wouldn't advice doing this on a mixed network. Jumbo Frames is not a standard, it's not supported by many devices and has little benefits in modern networking. Before you reply it works on your Asus routers with great results - I run two 10GbE core business networks with links to data and application servers and none of them need Jumbo Frames for optimal performance.

 

[Ripshod]

Mmm... I wouldn't advice doing this on a mixed network. Jumbo Frames is not a standard, it's not supported by many devices and has little benefits in modern networking. Before you reply it works on your Asus routers with great results - I run two 10GbE core business networks with links to data and application servers and none of them need Jumbo Frames for optimal performance.

I wouldn't worry too much about this. The setting isn't even available on the RT-BE88U running Merlin.

 

[Tech9]

I'm actually surprised it's still available on GT-BE98 (Pro) since it disappeared with GT-AX6000 long time ago.

 

[visortgw]

Mmm... I wouldn't advice doing this on a mixed network. Jumbo Frames is not a standard, it's not supported by many devices and has little benefits in modern networking. Before you reply it works on your Asus routers with great results - I run two 10GbE core business networks with links to data and application servers and none of them need Jumbo Frames for optimal performance.

Again, why are you making recommendations based upon your experience with another vendor's hardware?

I stand corrected with the RT-BE88U as it apparently doesn't have the option, but performance has improved significantly for 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps devices connected to the GT-BE98 Pro with jumbo frame (aka 9K MTU) enabled.

 

[RDaneel]

... sigh, all is good, the suggestions to check my cabling were appropriate - after a number of re-pluggings and re-routings, suddenly the LED on the mobo RJ45 went from ORANGE to GREEN - and, of course, the display on the BE88U's Network Map now reflects the expected reality.

Sorry for the "noise", I obviously hadn't done enough to verify / validate the physical linkups.

 

[Tech9]

Again, why are you making recommendations based upon your experience with another vendor's hardware?

Because Asus didn’t invent networking.

 

[heysoundude]

Typically reserved for higher end routers, NASs, etc. 2.5 Gbps ports are commonplace on modems since 1 or 2 Gbps ISP connections are becoming more and more the norm -- one cannot achieve full 1 Gbps performance with 1 Gbps modem to router connection.

This is what needs to be more commonly understood - the capabilities of the gateway device set the tenor and tone of the Local network if that's not performing as expected/"to spec"

 

[heysoundude]

BTW, I just reviewed my cable purchase, and the thing is in fact a "CAT 8 Ethernet Cable, 25ft Heavy Duty High Speed ... Professional LAN Cable, 26AWG, 2000Mhz 40Gbps with Gold Plated RJ45 Connector, Shielded" - if any of this is relevant.

Optical fibre cabling is what you should be investing in for speeds and futureproof-ness, because your router has a 10G SFP port.