Need help upgrading to 2.5 GBE

[Natra]

Hi guys, I need some help if I’m doing this the right way I will put up a pics and could anybody look at this and see if I’m doing something wrong or if this is correct I don’t know what my rotors 2.5 is for if it’s only for Internet, or if it also can be used for home networking.

 

[jann]

Okay, so the 2.5gbps port can be used for either modem or LAN (if WAN, you must configure it in settings) but it's a waste if your modem does not support 2.5gpbs AND your modem is NOT over 1gbps. So ensure you are not wasting the 2.5gbps port by plugging it into a modem supporting only 1gbps AND your purchased internet speed is > 1gbps.

If this was me, I'd leave it like you have it, ENSURING the WAN is plugged into the modem, leaving the 2.5GBE switch plugged into the 2.5 AX86u port.

Also, the AX86U can bond 1gb ports so ensure both your ax86u and the NAS have those 1gbps ports bonded...so it fully utilizes the bandwidth.

Otherwise, yes, you are golden.

ps: realizing that you probably bought the 2.5GBE to future-proof your network, just realize that most of the devices you have plugged into it (ATV, etc) can't do 2.5. They won't slow the switch down - ie: the switch doesn't drop EVERYTHING to 1gbps if a 1gbps device plugs in, so you'll be fine. Oh, and many synologys CAN do > 1gbps if you buy external usb adapter (DSM6-only) or their own add-on adapter.

 

[Natra]

Thanks for the response I'm not after Internet speed. The thing that I want is for the nas server to be able to send files more quickly the Internet speed it's good as it is but the picture that I showed will this give the nas server the 2.5 gbe and I am going to use 2.5 adapter for my Mac mini. But if I enable 2.5 on my router, will this mean that I won't have any Internet.

 

[jann]

IF you want faster NAS speed, (BTW: how fast is your "purchased internet speed"?) then this tops out at 1gbe speeds UNLESS you've bonded the NAS lan ports and bonded the AX86U's ports that the NAS is plugged into as well.

The current way you've got it hooked up is the fastest way for the NAS - as LONG as you've bonded (aggregated) the two NAS ports on both the NAS and the ASUS.

 

[Natra]

My Internet speed is not that fast and I have not connected anything yet because I wanted to make sure that this will work when I buy the equipment that is needed. The only thing that I'm after is when I transfer files to my nas from my nas, but that speed will become faster. I also need Internet of course to the nas.

 

[jann]

Then yes, even if not aggregating, your setup will work to the benefit of NAS speed.

 

[Rusty]

then this tops out at 1gbe speeds UNLESS you've bonded the NAS lan ports

If by this you mean LAG configuration this will not give him 2G speeds. LAG will still utilize 1G (single lane) if the communication is coming from one device at that point. It will serve 2G only with multiple concurrent connections towards the NAS but still, each client (let's say 2 of them) will use a single 1G connection.

Depending on what NAS is in question and what DSM/SMB version you are running on your NAS, you could utilize the SMB-multichannel option to open up 2G transfers towards compatible clients. MacOS is not one of them atm, but hopefully, it will be in the future

 

[jann]

Well, it totally depends on the setting inside the synology, right? IF you plug in two ethernet ports on the NAS to two ports on the switch, I don't remember if it defaults as failover, or if it round-robins, but I do know it will not max out one transfer over MORE than one port unless it's aggregated.

SO, all I was trying to say is that the max total throughput of the NAS (I was assuming multiple computers calling for data) is 2gbps if he doesn't aggregate or bond.

IF he does, then it depends on the type of bonding, or aggregation that synology and switch support. I do not know the type of synology he has nor the DSM6/7 settings. I am on DSM6 still - so I haven't delved into 7 yet.

 

[Rusty]

(I was assuming multiple computers calling for data) is 2gbps if he doesn't aggregate or bond.

Ofc in that situation it will max out, with multiple clients

IF he does, then it depends on the type of bonding, or aggregation that synology and switch support. I do not know the type of synology he has nor the DSM6/7 settings. I am on DSM6 still - so I haven't delved into 7 yet.

LCAP that Syno uses will not offer 2G/3/4 in LAG configuration towards a single client. Only a multi-gig/10G single NIC. This is the reason SMB-multichannel was (finally) unlocked officially, but atm, is still limited to specific CPU architecture (x86), and OS (for example no macOS support, or NAS to NAS via File Station)

 

[Natra]

Wow, this just became more confusing I have the DS920+ dsm 7 As I showed him the picture I’m going to bond the 1Gb ports on the Synology and then I’m going to use the 2.5 switch to send to my computer will this work will I get faster transfer speeds now I have I think 110 MB.

 

[Rusty]

Wow, this just became more confusing I have the DS920+ dsm 7 As I showed him the picture I’m going to bond the 1Gb ports on the Synology and then I’m going to use the 2.5 switch to send to my computer will this work will I get faster transfer speeds now I have I think 110 MB.

No. From your computer to the nas and back you will still only get 1G (single LAG lane) speed.

 

[Natra]

No. From your computer to the nas and back you will still only get 1G (single LAG lane) speed.

What do I need to do then?

 

[Rusty]

What do I need to do then?

You will need to enable SMB-multichannel on the NAS and still use 2 LAN cables from your NAS but configured as two independent NIC. If your computer is compatible with SMB-multichannel you will then be able to get multi-gig speeds.

What is SMB3 Multichannel and how is it different from Link Aggregation? - Synology Knowledge Center

Synology Knowledge Center offers comprehensive support, providing answers to frequently asked questions, troubleshooting steps, software tutorials, and all the technical documentation you may need.

kb.synology.com

Another option is to use a 2.5G network adapter on your NAS and use that. Considering that 920 has no official 3rd party 2.5G NIC you can use an unsupported USB-2.5G LAN adapter to make this happen with supported drives for DSM7 (by supported I mean that someone has written the drive to make this work).

For this case, google a bit and you will find many topics on this matter, including here on the forum with several threads on that same scenario.

 

[Natra]

OK if I understand you correctly, if my computer supports SMB then it is possible but if it does not support it I would have to buy 2.5 adapter, how would I connect everything maybe if you have a chance to edit the picture that I took.

 

[Telos]

if my computer supports SMB

if my computer supports multi-channel SMB

 

[Rusty]

OK if I understand you correctly, if my computer supports SMB then it is possible but if it does not support it I would have to buy 2.5 adapter, how would I connect everything maybe if you have a chance to edit the picture that I took.

Not sure if there will be any modern OS that doesn't support SMB protocol but we are talking about SMB-multichannel feature. That needs to be confirmed.

In terms of USB 2.5G USB adapters, you would have to install it on your NAS via a USB port and bring it into the DSM with supported drives, so that it can be detected and used. This way you would have one more network interface that can deliver 2.5G. But if that is the case, then you would move it to the 2.5G switch as well, and not use the 2.5G port on the router for it.

So there are options, but you will have to see what works for you.

 

[Natra]

Not sure if there will be any modern OS that doesn't support SMB protocol but we are talking about SMB-multichannel feature. That needs to be confirmed.

In terms of USB 2.5G USB adapters, you would have to install it on your NAS via a USB port and bring it into the DSM with supported drives, so that it can be detected and used. This way you would have one more network interface that can deliver 2.5G. But if that is the case, then you would move it to the 2.5G switch as well, and not use the 2.5G port on the router for it.

So there are options, but you will have to see what works for you.

Is there any tutorial how to do this in the Mac?

 

[Rusty]

Is there any tutorial how to do this in the Mac?

As I have stated before SMB multichannel is not working on macos (atm) when it comes to communicating with the NAS.

 

[Natra]

As I have stated before SMB multichannel is not working on macos (atm) when it comes to communicating with the NAS.

No, I mean how to make the 2.5 gbe adapter work with Synology and Mac.

 

[Rusty]

Just try and google "reddit synology 2.5G usb adapter" you will get a lot of results on the matter.