How to add a usb Gigabit adapter

[Darrellr]

A discussion about this is in the '3.8.3' thread I thought it would be easier for other users to have a separate thread with this info in. Apologies if I am breaching a rule - please delete if I have.

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For those that want to improve network performance on their Gigablue Quad receivers it is possible to add a USB2.0 gigabit ethernet adapter. I bought the Digitus DN-10150-1 adapter from amazon for £16.70 (inc. P&P) which has a LAN7500 chipset, there are two other major variants based on ASIX chipsets (AX88178 = usb2, AX88179 = usb3).

The procedure to get a LAN7500 based device is as follows:

1. Connect the USB device

2. (For kernel 3.3.6 only) Connect LAN cable to your original interface and download the kernel package kernel-module-smsc75xx_3.3.6-r0.0_gbquad.ipk from

http://feeds.hdfreaks.cc/V2.1/gbquad/gbquad/

ftp it to /tmp and manually install using the menus - it can be installed in either vix or om2 images.

3. Connect the ethernet cable to the usb device

4. Restart the box.

5. Select network and you will see a second network interface is now available in the adapter menu. Turn off the original internal one and turn on and configure the 'new' one.

My tests using filezilla ftp and my laptop via wifi (450 mbps connection) & cable (gigabit) are as follows:
wifi: 120 mbps read and 85 mbps write
ethernet cable: constant 256 mbps (29.7 mB/s) read and a very variable write (150-200 mbps) averaging ~ 19mB/s
CPU utilization was 30% for FTP process. I suspect the 256 mbps read rate is a ceiling as it was flatlined.

using samba and windows file manger the rates were 20% lower @ 205 mbps read and 135 mbps write

NB: The Digitus USB dongle gets VERY hot

[Darrellr]

I would guess that the asix chipset devices would require " kernel-module-asix_3.3.6-r0.0_gbquad.ipk"

I've ordered an AX88179 chipset device to test on Monday.

[rossi2000]

hopefully vix can include these modules if not already.

im gonna hold out for a free one from gigablue if they ever sort it out, my box serial falls within the range to qualify for a free one.

[Darrellr]

hopefully vix can include these modules if not already.

Is there a process to make the request of the Vix team?

[PAUL7331]

Does this box still work if I have a 1GB home network? I mean will I still be a able to link up to my network

[marty]

Looks like it was added some time back?

openvix: build 637
[quad] add usb giga asix updates

[Darrellr]

I plugged in the Digitus DN-3023 usb3.0 gigabit adapter into the Gigablue and rebooted but nothing was detected. I then manually added the asix package as above and rebooted. Still not recognized.

I'm thinking maybe only the USB2 chipset (ax88178) is recognized and not the USB3 (ax88179). I've had a look at the compile object installed and it has the following:

ASIX AX8817x USB 2.0 Ethernet
Netgear FA-120 USB Ethernet
DLink DUB-E100 USB Ethernet
Hawking UF200 USB Ethernet
ASIX AX88178 USB 2.0 Ethernet
ASIX AX88772 USB 2.0 Ethernet
description=ASIX AX8817X based USB 2.0 Ethernet Devices
version=22-Dec-2011
author=David Hollis

I'll ask for the ax88179 driver to be compiled for the quad elsewhere on the forum.

[marty]

Maybe the USB3.0 one isn't backwards compatible?

[Darrellr]

Maybe the USB3.0 one isn't backwards compatible?

I've requested that the driver for the usb3 one is compiled for kernel 3.3.6 for the quad. Fingers crossed we have friendly developers on this project that won't mind me asking.

[Darrellr]

On a seperate note I have found a problem with the LAN7500 device. Whilst it seems fine at supporting all 'normal' activities like ftp, telnet, NFS etc it doesn't work very well in an area we are banned from discussing. Obviously I can't embellish.

[marty]

I've requested that the driver for the usb3 one is compiled for kernel 3.3.6 for the quad. Fingers crossed we have friendly developers on this project that won't mind me asking.

3.8.3 is imminent so a driver would be needed for that

[rossi2000]

On a seperate note I have found a problem with the LAN7500 device. Whilst it seems fine at supporting all 'normal' activities like ftp, telnet, NFS etc it doesn't work very well in an area we are banned from discussing. Obviously I can't embellish.

whats the problem with it in that area?
i cant see any reason why you cant give any explanation about it...

[Darrellr]

whats the problem with it in that area?
i cant see any reason why you cant give any explanation about it...

OSCAM network connection - refuses to connect 99 times out of 100. I thought we were banned from discussing these plugins?

[rossi2000]

imo all you are doing is reporting the functionality of said usb adpater.

we aint going into any details about the cam.

[Darrellr]

So thanks to @andyblac I have tested the Digitus DN-3023 USB3 adapter and got similar read performance to the LAN7500 but improved write.

1. Read transfer rates again absolutely flatlined at 265 mbps
2. Write transfer rates were more variable in the range 250-265 mbps

OSCAM seems to work fine with this module but I need to leave it 24 hours

So I think my recommendation is to get the USB3 module for better