[help] can't get 10G to work on Hisource switch (SFP+)

[The Chemical Workshop]

Hello, i can't get 10 gbe link to work (? i assume) and would like to know what's the possible issue
i have been remodeling my apartment and laying cables (and flooding my bedroom by drilling into pipe...) from my server room to bedroom and living room

My Hisource switch has a 10GBE indicator and it's at 1/2.5G instead of 10G
however i can get upto 3.0G (windows task manager)

I have following hardware
server room:
Hisource Hi-K0402WS (4x 2.5 rj45 + 2x 10gbe sfp+) (does not have a switch or any other indicator than link)
2 clients using 1gbe connection (max 0.9gbe tested using pc)
1 client using 2.5gbe connection (max 2.0gbe tested using pc)
(all using separate port on Hisource)

pc/living room:
windows 11 Mellanox ConnectX-2 Ethernet Adapter 5.50.14695.0 link speed tx/rx 10/10 (Gbps) (data from windows settings)
connected to server room via fiber 8m

sleeping room:
Hisource Hi-K0402WS (4x 2.5 rj45 + 2x 10gbe sfp+) (it does have a vlan switch (off) and a 10g or 1/2.5g indicator in sfp+ port)
connected to server room via fiber 10m (coiled up in 1 place)

my sfp+ modules:
QSFPTEKQT-SFP+-SR COSFP+ 10G 850nm 300m
( i have 4 that are slightly different (pair) but i tried switching them out here and there, makes no difference)

i tried switching the modules, ports, whole switch
when i have a 0.9g connection, and i enable 2nd 0.9g connection, it stays at 0.9g and 0.9g

when i have a 2.0g connection, and enable (any) 0.9g connection, it drops to 1.6g and 0.9g
when i now enable the 3rd 0.9g connection i get 1.1g 0.8g and 0.8g (it all jumps arround 0.2g)

i also tried with sending and i get maximum of 3.2g
software i used to test

i would like to close up the conduits, holes in wall etc
but for near future i need a stable 5-10g connection from my pc and 7.5g connection from my bedroom

i genuienly dont know what to do, if it's the cable? the switches (people had great luck with them?) my testing method? the modules?
i can crack the switches open and perform surgery if needed.
or did i somehow damage my fiber and the speed dropped? (does not make sense tbh)

 

[blunden]

What is the link speed on your computer and whatever devices you have where you have them connected at 10G and where you can see the link speed?

Just to check, if you do a loop test (connect it to itself) in each HiSource switch, do they both indicate 10G then?

My Hisource Hi-K0402WS doens't have a vlan switch.

 

[The Chemical Workshop]

What is the link speed on your computer and whatever devices you have where you have them connected at 10G and where you can see the link speed?

Just to check, if you do a loop test (connect it to itself) in each HiSource switch, do they both indicate 10G then?

My Hisource Hi-K0402WS doens't have a vlan switch.

Sleeping room:





Server room: (unplugged things (pc is off), still shows as 1g/2.5g)



software i used to test

does that anwser your questions? im not the best in explaining

 

[blunden]

Oh right, it doesn't tell you the link speed of the SFP+ ports, just whether or not you have a link. I forgot about that.

If you connect a PC directly to the SFP+ slot without passing through any other switches, what link speed does your OS indicate?

When connected to the 2.5 Gbps ports, what link speed does the OS indicate? Does it match what the LEDs show?

Also, can you take a photo of the front of the switch with a VLAN flip switch? It seems to have a different legend on the front and the product pictures on AliExpress only shows the one without that flip switch.

From your pictures it looks like you have one with a flip switch and one without. Correct?

 

[The Chemical Workshop]

Oh right, it doesn't tell you the link speed of the SFP+ ports, just whether or not you have a link. I forgot about that.

it does, check 1-3 picture it shows as 1/2.5

If you connect a PC directly to the SFP+ slot without passing through any other switches, what link speed does your OS indicate?

just sfp+ module plugged in, no cable? i'll try and let you know, but with cable/switch, it shows as 10/10 while switch indicating 1/2.5g

When connected to the 2.5 Gbps ports, what link speed does the OS indicate? Does it match what the LEDs show?

i cant test that, as i dont have a 2.5 sfp+ port, only 10g on other switch and 10g on pc
as for 2.5g rj45 ports, they do, there is a clear led difference 1g and 2.5g
for sfp+ i cannot test that

Also, can you take a photo of the front of the switch with a VLAN flip switch? It seems to have a different legend on the front and the product pictures on AliExpress only shows the one without that flip switch.

will do when im home

From your pictures it looks like you have one with a flip switch and one without. Correct?

yes, the one with switch has also 2 leds for 1/2.5 and 10g (when the switch boots, they briefly come on, so i know it has 2 leds and not just 1 with a fake)

while the without switch has only "link"


thanks a lot for help,

 

[blunden]

it does, check 1-3 picture it shows as 1/2.5

I can't easily tell from the pictures due to angle and lighting. I'll wait for that other photo I asked for as that should make it more clear.

If I were you, I would also check either the manual (if it has been updated for this new revision) or ask the seller directly whether the 1/2.5 LED is related to the SFP+ ports or not.

just sfp+ module plugged in, no cable? i'll try and let you know, but with cable/switch, it shows as 10/10 while switch indicating 1/2.5g

SFP+ module plugged in and connected to your computer using fiber. Basically, I want you to check whether you get a 10G link on both ports to each switch.

I don't know for sure that the 1/2.5 LED is related to the SFP+ ports. That's why we need to rule out other RJ45 devices etc.

i cant test that, as i dont have a 2.5 sfp+ port, only 10g on other switch and 10g on pc
as for 2.5g rj45 ports, they do, there is a clear led difference 1g and 2.5g
for sfp+ i cannot test that

Ok. If you're not using 2.5 Gbps, then it doesn't matter anyway.

yes, the one with switch has also 2 leds for 1/2.5 and 10g (when the switch boots, they briefly come on, so i know it has 2 leds and not just 1 with a fake)

And that 1/2.5 LED lights up even when you only have 10G transceivers connected to a 10G device and nothing else connected?

2.5 Gbps is a copper-only standard, so I don't see how you could even get a 2.5 Gbps link over fiber. 1 Gbps is possible tough.

 

[The Chemical Workshop]

If I were you, I would also check either the manual (if it has been updated for this new revision) or ask the seller directly whether the 1/2.5 LED is related to the SFP+ ports or not.

i dont think i ever got a manual
if i did, it's definetly gone

SFP+ module plugged in and connected to your computer using fiber. Basically, I want you to check whether you get a 10G link on both ports to each switch.

PC does say 10/10 on either switches, if i unplug the fiber it says "0/0 (bps)"

And that 1/2.5 LED lights up even when you only have 10G transceivers connected to a 10G device and nothing else connected?

yes

2.5 Gbps is a copper-only standard, so I don't see how you could even get a 2.5 Gbps link over fiber. 1 Gbps is possible tough.

then it's a lie, because i do get over 2.0 Gbps on my windows pc (measured) using a 10gbe transciever even tho the switch says it's 1g/2.5g



this is all confusing, and im starting to wonder, what does that 1g/2.5g mean?

again, big thanks for help, i want to close up the conduits/walls and im bit worried something is wrong with the fiber or whatever

later down the line, there will be 3x 2.5g devices and maybe 1x 10g sfp+
and the uplink must work at 10g (dont want to spend a week rreplacing the fiber...)

on incase relevant:

 

[blunden]

i dont think i ever got a manual
if i did, it's definetly gone
View attachment 39493

Thanks. Their placement does indeed suggest they are related to the SFP+ ports. Interesting.

PC does say 10/10 on either switches, if i unplug the fiber it says "0/0 (bps)"

So it obtains a 10 Gbps link then. Do you have any other 10 Gbps device? If you do, have you tried an iperf3 test between them running over each switch (testing one at a time)? Sometimes you need to use multiple streams to reach full speed.

then it's a lie, because i do get over 2.0 Gbps on my windows pc (measured) using a 10gbe transciever even tho the switch says it's 1g/2.5g

No, it's not. I'm talking about the negotiated link speed, not measured performance. 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T are as the "T" suggests both standards for RJ45 over CAT5e and newer. There are no 2.5GBASE-SR or LR standards for fiber. Some SFP+ switches might support lower link speeds internally though I suppose, but SFP+ is usually either 1 or 10 Gbps.

this is all confusing, and im starting to wonder, what does that 1g/2.5g mean?

Yes, I'm also wondering that. Have you tried asking HiSource through AliExpress?

again, big thanks for help, i want to close up the conduits/walls and im bit worried something is wrong with the fiber or whatever

later down the line, there will be 3x 2.5g devices and maybe 1x 10g sfp+
and the uplink must work at 10g (dont want to spend a week rreplacing the fiber...)

I understand. That's why you need to test combinations as much as possible separately so that you can start ruling out devices.

 

[The Chemical Workshop]

So it obtains a 10 Gbps link then. Do you have any other 10 Gbps device? If you do, have you tried an iperf3 test between them running over each switch (testing one at a time)? Sometimes you need to use multiple streams to reach full speed.

I understand. That's why you need to test combinations as much as possible separately so that you can start ruling out devices.

i dont, the best i have is 2x 2.5g (usb) and few 1g devices (on device and usb)
nothing with another 10g sfp+

No, it's not. I'm talking about the negotiated link speed, not measured performance. 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T are as the "T" suggests both standards for RJ45 over CAT5e and newer. There are no 2.5GBASE-SR or LR standards for fiber. Some SFP+ switches might support lower link speeds internally though I suppose, but SFP+ is usually either 1 or 10 Gbps.

Yes, I'm also wondering that. Have you tried asking HiSource through AliExpress?

i should message them, unsure which seller it was, they come and go, or might send the company an email...



i think we can both agree that the fiber
connected to server room via fiber 8m
and
connected to server room via fiber 10m (coiled up in 1 place)

shouldnt be an issue?

thats my main worry

 

[blunden]

i dont, the best i have is 2x 2.5g (usb) and few 1g devices (on device and usb)
nothing with another 10g sfp+

Then how are you testing the performance of the 10 Gbps link? Is your concern just the 1/2.5 LED on one of the switches?

Do you get a 10 Gbps link (according to your computer) to each switch when you tested them one by one? If so, what did the 1/2.5 LED show?

While I haven't tried the revision with a VLAN flip switch, the unit I have without one has turned out to be very compatible with different transceivers. I've tried it with DACs, fiber transceivers with Cisco and Intel vendor coding as well as 10GBASE-T transceivers with different vendor codings. For the latter one, I even tried with a transceiver programmed to claim it was a Cisco DAC and that worked too.

I don't use it day to day at this point in time though, since it turned out I didn't need it for the main reason I bought one.

i should message them, unsure which seller it was, they come and go, or might send the company an email...

If the seller you bought it from doesn't exist anymore, I'd just try contacting their official seller if they have one.

You can also send an email, of course.

i think we can both agree that the fiber
connected to server room via fiber 8m
and
connected to server room via fiber 10m (coiled up in 1 place)

shouldnt be an issue?

I don't see why that would be an issue (assuming it's not extremely tightly coiled up), no.

 

[The Chemical Workshop]

Is your concern just the 1/2.5 LED on one of the switches?

partially, also the performance drops off

Do you get a 10 Gbps link (according to your computer) to each switch when you tested them one by one? If so, what did the 1/2.5 LED show?

pc shows 10/10 on both switches and even on 2.6-3gbps load (download) the led is on (1/2.5g)

Then how are you testing the performance of the 10 Gbps link?

my pc is plugged in to the 10g port, and the switch is plugged in 2x 1g and 1x2.5g network usb cards
individually they reach the speed, but when i use all together, even cross system (where there cant be cpu bottleneck) it drops down
already tried explaining that here: sadly i suck at explaining
my cpu is not on 80% nor are the other pcs serving the speedtest, maybe my thesting method sucks (probably but still, should drop off at that low speed)
here is my old comment:

when i have a 0.9g connection, and i enable 2nd 0.9g connection, it stays at 0.9g and 0.9g

when i have a 2.0g connection, and enable (any) 0.9g connection, it drops to 1.6g and 0.9g
when i now enable the 3rd 0.9g connection i get 1.1g 0.8g and 0.8g (it all jumps arround 0.2g)

i also tried with sending and i get maximum of 3.2g
software i used to test

If the seller you bought it from doesn't exist anymore, I'd just try contacting their official seller if they have one.

You can also send an email, of course.

i will try next week!

I don't see why that would be an issue (assuming it's not extremely tightly coiled up), no.

im just confused why it does not want to work
i assume fiber either works, or it does not...

im slowly closing the walls and conduits
so far i can share this pic, still work in progress:


thanks for help!

 

[blunden]

partially, also the performance drops off

pc shows 10/10 on both switches and even on 2.6-3gbps load (download) the led is on (1/2.5g)

my pc is plugged in to the 10g port, and the switch is plugged in 2x 1g and 1x2.5g network usb cards
individually they reach the speed, but when i use all together, even cross system (where there cant be cpu bottleneck) it drops down
already tried explaining that here: sadly i suck at explaining
my cpu is not on 80% nor are the other pcs serving the speedtest, maybe my thesting method sucks (probably but still, should drop off at that low speed)

im just confused why it does not want to work
i assume fiber either works, or it does not...

I understand.

So you have the computer that's connected to the switch with 10G running the OpenSpeedTest server and then the other 3 computers connected to the 2.5G ports on the same switch running speed tests against that server at the same time? It behaves the same using either of the switches, I presume?

Have you tried using iperf3, just to rule out the test software?

It does indeed seem strange that the performance drops like that though.

The fiber ends can get dirty, which is why you always get those little caps to protect them when the cable isn't plugged in. I haven't tried what happens when it gets too dirty, but I haven't tried how it behaves if it gets dirty. If you boot some Linux distro on your computer you could use ethtool to read diagnostic status from your transceiver using the command below, in the hopes that it tells us something useful. A temporary live boot of something like Ubuntu would work perfectly fine.

ethtool -m eth0

Replace eth0 with the name of your network interface connected to the switch.

Something that can also help performance when dealing with multiple different link speeds on the different network interfaces is to enable Flow Control. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts performance. Ideally you would have a managed switch where you can enable it on the switch too, but you might as well try enabling it on your different computers used for the test and see if it makes a difference anyway.