I am new to OpenWRT but I finished my setup (TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 v1 with OpenWRT, Modem Huawei B525s-65a in Bridge Mode).
I connected my Synology NAS (DS212j) via Ethernet Cable (Cat6 with RJ45).
The Switch Configuration in OpenWRT says 1000BaseT.
The Network Interface Configuration in the Diskstation says 1000 Mbps.
But when I start iperf3 on OpenWRT and run a test on the Diskstation, this is the best I can get:
Are you running the iperf from the Synology to the Archer? The router will have to process those packets and that will strangle the CPU.
You can check on a second SSH the top or htop, but my RouterStationPro was not too different.
As the device page says:
While the Archer C7 has been a very popular router over the years, it comes from a day long before high-speed home connections.
MIPS-based devices in this class can't keep up with high-speed lines and the features people now demand.
Before I try to build it, let me get two things clear:
I checkout pepe2k's repository, apply your patch and build it with any of the recommended toolchains. Will I be able to flash the generated file through OpenWrt or do I need an external programmer?
Do I need to set the overclocking options before building or can this configuration be done after flashing?
So it's basically possible to enable overclocking only when needed (via script?) and keep it disabled during normal operation to reduce the risk of overheating, for example over night?
probably it is, you would need to find register combination to make on-the-fly changes to clocks.
i set it to stable clock from u-boot and don't change it anymore (unless reflashing/testing)
Are you sure you really want to test iperf between your Synology and Archer's CPU? Why? To transfer data from Synology to USB drive plugged in Anrcher?
Or are you trying to estimate LAN-WAN throughput? In that case, considering you are using an LTE router, achieved 300 Mb/s is plenty.
I suppose you know that this is not the right way to test LAN-LAN throughput, e.g. between Synology and the other PC on local network. LAN-LAN traffic is switched at line-rate inside the Archer before it hits it's weak CPU...You should run iperf between Synology and the other PC plugged into Archer.
Now that's some nice explanation, thank you.
Actually, I really wanted to test the LAN-LAN throughput, so I guess I'll check iperf between my endpoints then (Synology, PC, Laptop, Nvidia Shield, etc)
Then there is no doubt you will achieve 1G speeds between wired LAN ports.
Note that wired to WiFi also goes through CPU (through bridge interface). I'm able to achieve sustained 50 MB/s (400 Mb/s) WiFi to LAN. I only have one laptop supporting ac wifi to test, so I don't know if bottleneck is WiFi link itself or the CPU.
I just tested the throughput between 2 endpoints, Synology and Nvidia Shield which are both connected to the router, and guess what ... over 900 Mbits/sec.
That's exactly what I wanted.
So I think there is no need for me to overclock now?
All I wanted was the best possible setup for copying files over the network fast.
I still have a bottleneck in my network: My PC is connected via Ethernet over powerline which decreases the speed alot. Anything I can do here?
You will not impact LAN-LAN throughput at all if you overclock.
As for the bottleneck, you shouldn't expect anywhere near advertised speeds for powerline adapters. If you get 1/4 advertised speed you should consider that as much as you can get from powerline adapters.