Question Help, problem with a Netgear XS505M 10gb switch

[Raizinman]

I have a new gaming computer with a 10 gb ethernet card. I have Google 5 gb service to my house. My wife wanted to start using this fast 5 gb Internet so I purchased a Netgear XS505M 10 gb / Multi-Gigabit switch for $260. I’m having a problem with it.

Going from the Google Router directly to my computer I get great speeds. Around 5400. Yes, almost 10% over the 5 gb speed. When I cable through my new Netgear XS505M switch, the speed drops to around 900, a bit less than 1 gb. I am using CAT 7 and CAT 8 cables. I’ve tried different cables and there is no difference.

When I plug in my wife’s computer direct into the Google router: She has a 2.5 gb card she get speeds of around 2.5 gb. When I go through the Netgear Switch, the speed on her computer also drops to around 900 mb.

Again, I tried different cables, but no difference. I've tried resetting the computers, resetting the Google router, and resetting the Netgear switch. I don't know what else to do.

Any thoughts on what this problem is?

 

[bba-tcg]

Sounds like auto-negotiation between the PCs and the switch isn't working. Or between the router and the switch. Or both. On the PCs, you could try setting it to 10 Gb/full on yours and 2.5 Gb /full on your wife's. If it's not auto-negotiating correctly between switch and router, I'm not sure how to do that, but you might be able to find the option in the router configuration.

 

[manly]

As a practical matter, you're unlikely to derive any benefit from your 5 Gb service unless you have a LOT of active streaming devices. Probably the same goes for the lucky folks with 1 Gb home Internet, but I can understand trying to get what you're already paying for.

As @bba-tcg suggested, check the link speed of your devices connected to the new switch. You can just look at the LEDs on the port to figure this out! Apparently double green means 10Gb, single left green is 2.5Gb. If both LEDs are yellow, you're stuck at 1Gb/s which sounds like the current problem. Login to the switch's management to see if there's a wrong setting for the ports speed.

So you want to see double green LEDs for the ports connecting the Google router and gaming PC; blinking is just network activity.

Since this is a prosumer device, looks like you even have 24/7 tech support options if you've gone over everything and it just doesn't work.

 

[bba-tcg]

It's unmanaged so he'll have to work from the other end of the wire.

 

[akugami]

Multi-gigabit Ethernet is kind of newish, and I would not be surprised if it was an issue with auto-negotiation as bba-tcg noted. And also as bba-tcg noted, it's an unmanaged switch, so can't do anything on the switch end.

OP, try to see if there are updated drivers for the network adapters you are using. Check the Speed & Duplex settings. Not sure where it is in Linux, but if you're using Windows, go to Device Manager > Advanced > Speed & Duplex. There should be a 2.5 Gbps Full Duplex option (or 10 Gbps) and select that. Save. You may need to reboot. Then test your network connection again.

If that doesn't fix it, and are you still within the product return period for that switch? Maybe try a different switch?

Perhaps a MikroTik CRS309-1G-8S+IN which run $270'ish? It's got 8x SFP+ modules. Please note that you'll have to buy transceivers to plug into the SFP+ modules. Expect to spend about $20-25 for a 2.5Gb copper SFP+ transceiver, and probably close to $50-60 for a 10Gb copper SFP+ transceiver.

Good luck OP.

 

[manly]

Oops didn't realize it's a dumb switch; assumed it'd have a Web interface for very basic management but there's not much need if it's just pushing frames around. Idk, seems a bit pricey for a 2017 unmanaged switch that claims to be prosumer.

 

[Raizinman]

Returned the switch for another one. Works good now. Many thanks to all who responded.

 

[Shmee]

What switch did you end up getting to replace it?

Also just FYI, on the note of SFP+ modules, SFP+ 10G copper transceivers don't have to be too expensive, I think I got 2 for about $80 total. They work well in my Multi-gig Xyxel switch. The transceivers: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXNQTXG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Raizinman]

What switch did you end up getting to replace it?

Also just FYI, on the note of SFP+ modules, SFP+ 10G copper transceivers don't have to be too expensive, I think I got 2 for about $80 total. They work well in my Multi-gig Xyxel switch. The transceivers: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXNQTXG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

The switch I had was a Netgear XS505M 5 port. I just brought it back and they gave me another one. I will say that even though it came with a Lifetime warranty from Netgear, after contacting Netgear and their terrible customer service, I just took the switch back to where I purchased. Lifetime warranty sounded pretty good when purchasing a Netgear switch, but its a whole different issue if it comes time to use the warranty. They didn't want to honor their warranty after 1 week.

 

[Shmee]

Wow, that really sucks that Netgear didn't want to honor their warranty. Defective units happen, even new, and it is good that the seller exchanged it, but hopefully Netgear doesn't give you trouble again if you have issues in the future. Though, ideally the replacement will just work properly.

 

[akugami]

Sometimes tech support is hit or miss. I've had to deal with Netgear support before and it wasn't that bad. If you get a bad one, it may have been better to call back, chat, or email back at a different time to try to reach a different support person.

That said, if I only had the product one week, I'm going to return it. Let the store deal with it.