2.5GbE to USB3 Dongles

OpenWRT users, developers, et alia:

I currently run 21.02.3 on my Access Points (WRT3200ACM and WRT1900AC), though will upgrade once the next stable release is GA. In as much as both of my APs have USB3 ports on them I am interested in the prospect of plugging in an USB3 to 2.5GbE adapter in pursuance of having greater speed for my network LAN backbone. I know that the Realtek 8156B is rather easily available at a reasonable price but then I hear many people speak negatively about Realtek as well.

With the foregoing concepts as a backdrop, what USB3 dongle for 2.5GbE is supported or soon will be in a forthcoming release of OpenWRT and what manufacturer of such a device (presuming multiple manufacturers are or will be supported) is seen as the most interesting to purchase?

Thanks in advance!

Stuart

Works in RC6, probably not out of the box, but after you've installed some additional modules.

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0bda:8156 Realtek USB 10/100/1G/2.5G LAN

[1273703.969178] cdc_ncm 2-1:2.0: MAC-Address: 00:ee:cc:66:11:dd
[1273703.975621] cdc_ncm 2-1:2.0: setting rx_max = 16384
[1273703.982308] cdc_ncm 2-1:2.0: setting tx_max = 16384
[1273703.988975] cdc_ncm 2-1:2.0 eth2: register 'cdc_ncm' at usb-0000:00:14.0-1, CDC NCM, 00:ee:cc:66:11:dd

Frollic,

Let me first say thank you very much for your taking the time to reply.

I am not at all adverse to installing modules by hand with that certainly being part of the experience/flexibility provisioned by leveraging a software project like that of using OpenWRT.

Adding a 2.5GbE USB3 dongle to a router will surely extend its usefulness for me.

Stuart

I wouldn't be that optimistic about this idea.

Chances that the SOC can actually drive the USB ports at 2.5 GBit/s are not that promising - and even less for adding two (which would be the only scenario that might make sense).

1 Like

Slh,

Well I have my access points set up as “dumb APs“ with 802.11r/v/k, where one cable comes out of the router and plugs into my LAN (using a MOCA 2.5 box over coax). That said, if I get 1.5-2Gb it’s an improvement at relatively low cost.

Stuart