2 Gbps internet network issue

[Lucanri]

I recently got a 2gbps fiber optic internet plan and I've been having a hell of a time getting the full speeds to both PCs on my network. Both get their internet via ethernet but I can only seem to get the full or close to full (1400-1700mbps up and down) speed I'm paying for by plugging directly into the ISP supplied ONT, but that means no other device can be connected. I've tried using an ethernet switch, but that only results in my roommates PC getting a connection while mine just shows that I'm connected to the network but without internet. The troubleshooter for windows tells me that the problem is that I don't have a valid IP address when trying to connect through the ethernet switch. I tried renewing my IP address but that didn't solve anything. I have a router that I have been using for my WiFi and ethernet for the last couple of years that appears to be the main bottleneck for the signal as both PCs can only get about 900mbps up and down regardless of port speed(one port is for 2.5gbps ethernet) so I'm trying to avoid using the router for any ethernet. I'm also running cat8 ethernet cables (I know it's overkill) so I shouldn't be having issues on that front either. I don't have much experience setting up and fixing networking problems and I really want to get both PCs the speeds I should be getting. Any ideas?

 

Router: https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/routers/rax200/

Ethernet switch: https://www.tp-link.com/us/business-networking/unmanaged-switch/tl-sg105-m2/

[Electronics Wizardy]

So that router only has one port >1gbe. You need a router with 2 > 1gbe ports to get > 1gbe on your devices. 

[Kisai]

20 minutes ago, Lucanri said:

I recently got a 2gbps fiber optic internet plan and I've been having a hell of a time getting the full speeds to both PCs on my network. Both get their internet via ethernet but I can only seem to get the full or close to full (1400-1700mbps up and down) speed I'm paying for by plugging directly into the ISP supplied ONT, but that means no other device can be connected.

There's information missing here.

 

You must have this configuration:

ONT (2.5GbE/MultiGbE) -> (2.5GbE/Multi-GbE) Ethernet Switch (2.5GbE/Muilti-GbE)->(2.5GbE)PC

 

If your network adapter is only 2.5GbE, then it can only be connected to a 2.5GBe or a MultiGbE switch. If your PC has a 10GbE, it will not switch to 2.5GbE unless it's a MultiGbE, it will only drop to 1GbE.

 

Also, to be even more specific, for example the Telus ONT gives out here, the port you connect the WiFi7 unit into is the 2.5GbE port, all the other Ethernet ports are all 1GbE. So you have to connect the 2.5GbE switch between the ONT and the WiFi7 unit, and then plug your PC's into the 2.5GbE switch.

[Lucanri]

24 minutes ago, Kisai said:

There's information missing here.

 

You must have this configuration:

ONT (2.5GbE/MultiGbE) -> (2.5GbE/Multi-GbE) Ethernet Switch (2.5GbE/Muilti-GbE)->(2.5GbE)PC

 

If your network adapter is only 2.5GbE, then it can only be connected to a 2.5GBe or a MultiGbE switch. If your PC has a 10GbE, it will not switch to 2.5GbE unless it's a MultiGbE, it will only drop to 1GbE.

 

Also, to be even more specific, for example the Telus ONT gives out here, the port you connect the WiFi7 unit into is the 2.5GbE port, all the other Ethernet ports are all 1GbE. So you have to connect the 2.5GbE switch between the ONT and the WiFi7 unit, and then plug your PC's into the 2.5GbE switch.

The ONT from the ISP has a 10GbE/MultiGbE port with 4 1GbE. My ethernet card is also 10GbE/MultiGbE. I used the configuration you showed above (my apologies for not describing it better) and I couldn't even get internet connected that way but the other PC connected through the same switch at the same time was getting a strong signal. I tried every port on the switch with no change with the troubleshooter still telling me I don't have a vaild IP address. I've also had my ethernet card set to 2.5 full duplex when connected directly into the ONT and also in the ONT-> Ethernet switch config.

[Lucanri]

39 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

So that router only has one port >1gbe. You need a router with 2 > 1gbe ports to get > 1gbe on your devices. 

The router as 1 2.5GbE and 4 1GbE . I'm also avoiding using the router to distribute ethernet connections.

[Electronics Wizardy]

53 minutes ago, Lucanri said:

The router as 1 2.5GbE and 4 1GbE . I'm also avoiding using the router to distribute ethernet connections.

Can you show a network diagram if your avoiding using the router.

 

You still need a > 1gbe link to get faster speeds to a PC.

 

 

[Blue4130]

1 hour ago, Lucanri said:

The router as 1 2.5GbE and 4 1GbE . I'm also avoiding using the router to distribute ethernet connections.

You need the router. It is what takes the single IP from the ISP and allows you to have multiple devices "sharing" that IP. Without a router, both machines will fight for the same IP.

[Bdavis]

Your setup needs to be

1- ONT

2-router

3-switch

 

Your current router might not be powerful enough for the speeds you're trying to achieve. Just because it has the 2.5 gb ports doesn't mean it can handle those speeds.

 

Personally I would put the ont in bridge mode and run a unifi gateway like the unifi cloud gateway fiber.

[Donut417]

5 hours ago, Lucanri said:

Any ideas?

The router you have wont work. Because the WAN port(s) are 1 Gig, and the 2.5 Gig port can be configured for WAN or LAN, so it's not going to work. 

 

Router wise you need one that can do NAT at 2 Gig speeds, thats going to be the challenge. Because most router manufactures dont publish those numbers. You are specifically looking for the WAN to LAN and LAN to WAN throughputs. 

 

I know in the past for Gig and faster internet people would build their own routers. While thats still a practice I figure because 2 Gig internet has been out for a while that there are routers that can handle those speeds. I just dont have any suggestions as 2 Gig is not available at my address. 

1 hour ago, Bdavis said:

Personally I would put the ont in bridge mode and run a unifi gateway like the unifi cloud gateway fiber.

The fact they couldn't pull a second IP out of the thing means it's only an ONT, not a gateway. No need for bridge mode. 

 

 

[Lucanri]

On 3/6/2025 at 4:20 AM, Donut417 said:

The router you have wont work. Because the WAN port(s) are 1 Gig, and the 2.5 Gig port can be configured for WAN or LAN, so it's not going to work. 

 

Router wise you need one that can do NAT at 2 Gig speeds, thats going to be the challenge. Because most router manufactures dont publish those numbers. You are specifically looking for the WAN to LAN and LAN to WAN throughputs. 

 

I know in the past for Gig and faster internet people would build their own routers. While thats still a practice I figure because 2 Gig internet has been out for a while that there are routers that can handle those speeds. I just dont have any suggestions as 2 Gig is not available at my address. 

The fact they couldn't pull a second IP out of the thing means it's only an ONT, not a gateway. No need for bridge mode. 

 

 

I found a couple of routers that have multiple 2.5Gig LAN ports that seems to be my only option, and from what little I can find on NAT throughput it depends on the speed of the processor and firmware. I was mostly looking at these two ; https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/udr7         https://www.asus.com/us/networking-iot-servers/wifi-7/all-series/asus-rt-be92u/

[ewitte]

I see about 1.5Gbit on the 1Gbit plan.  I do ISP router --> 2.5Gbit switch with a few devices also plugged into the 1Gbit ports.  I'm running BGW320 which has a 5Gbit port and fiber connection is 10Gbit.