Official How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices
Ethernet Backhaul is a feature that makes it possible to wire the Deco units together.
Thanks to this feature, every two Deco units can be wired with an Ethernet cable. And Deco will transmit data between the two units through the Ethernet connection, which is more stable and faster than Wi-Fi. Once Ethernet backhaul is established, the Wi-Fi backhaul connection will disconnect automatically.
Here are two typical connection structures for Ethernet Backhaul:
Notes:
1. Please note that the main Deco unit will act as a NAT router by default.
2. Please add the Deco units on the same network at first through the Deco app before you wire them together.
3. Please make sure there aren't any other DHCP servers behind the main Deco. Otherwise, it will cause the second and third Deco units to obtain an invalid IP address that doesn't have internet access.
4. If you have switches on the network and find Ethernet Backhaul not working, please check the management IP address of your switches. It's possible that some switches adopt 192.168.0.1 (which is the same as the LAN IP address of the main Deco) as the management IP, which may cause some conflicts on the network. In this case, it's recommended to change the management IP address of switches to another subnet.
Frequently Ask Questions
Q1: Can I connect all the Deco units directly to my home modem/router?
* In Router mode
Only the main Deco could be connected to your home modem/router. Other slave Deco units should be connected behind the main one, just as the Star Network shows. If not, they may be in a network loop and cause unexpected dropout issues.
* In Access Point mode
You can connect all the Deco units directly to your home modem/router/switch as you want. The system will work as expected.
Q2: How to turn on the Ethernet Backhaul feature?
No need to switch on this feature manually.
Just add your Deco units in the same Deco network and wire them together as per the above network structure. Then Ethernet Backhaul will take effect automatically.
Q3: How do I know if Ethernet Backhaul takes effect?
Launch the Deco app, tap on "Internet". Then tap on the slave Deco unit which is wired to other Decos and you can see its backhaul status.
Q4: To use the Ethernet Backhaul feature, do I need to wire all my Deco units?
Nope. You can set up one for wireless backhaul, and the other one for Ethernet backhaul as what you want.
For example, if you have three Deco units and want to create Wi-Fi not only in your house but also in the garage, which is a little far from the house and without Wi-Fi coverage. Then you can put the main Deco and slave Deco 1 in your house (wireless backhaul). As for slave Deco 2, you can place it in the garage with a long Ethernet cable connected to the main or slave 1 unit. In this case, the slave 2 unit will work through Ethernet backhaul, while the main and slave 1 will work through wireless backhaul.
Q5: Why my Decos become unstable once they're connected via a switch?
It's probably that you're using a D-Link switch.
The Deco Ethernet backhaul feature is based on the standard IEEE 1905.1 protocol. However, we find that some D-Link switches will not forward packets based on IEEE 1905.1 protocol, causing all Deco units in a loop and become quite unstable. If you have a D-Link switch and encounter unstable issue with Ethernet backhaul, we recommend to change another brand of a switch or contact D-Link support directly for a fix.
If you're not sure which switch to use, TP-Link switches may be a good choice.
Q6: Can I set up Ethernet Backhaul through a powerline connection?
That's okay if the powerline connection doesn't block any data flow.
Typical topology is, modem ---- main Deco ---- Powerline unit~~~Powerline unit ---- slave Deco
Q7: Can I set up different Deco models such as M5 and M9 Plus together through Ethernet backhaul?
Yes, just configure and add different Deco models in the same Deco network. After that, you can wire them to set up the Ethernet backhaul connection.
You could refer to the link below for how to add different Deco models in the same network.
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Funky123 wrote
Dear TP, I did check and it most certainly looks like the Deco units need to be in wireless range even when hard wired, if a unit is out of WiFi range it goes red and is reported in app as not connected. The thing is that this behavior is not consistent nor immediately. However, there surely is something fishy with the wired backhaul.
how is your network topology？ if the two decos are connected directly, the Ethernet back haul should be working even the wireless is disconnected.
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Srkerd wrote
Is there a solution to this issue yet? I have 4 decos main deck as router connected to internet modem, one wirelessly connected to the main deco and the other two connected via the Ethernet port. The ones connected via Ethernet is not working... ( they are not in the wireless range of the main unit.)I tried setting them up wirelessly first then moving them but it doesn't work. P.S all are updated to the latest firmware 1.1.1 build 20170614
Can you share your topology? If the two decos are wired into a switch, then the switch is wired into the router, the Ethernet back haul won't work.
The two decos should be connected to the main deco or not the router.
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uutommi wrote
Can you share your topology? If the two decos are wired into a switch, then the switch is wired into the router, the Ethernet back haul won't work.The two decos should be connected to the main deco or not the router.
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Launch the Deco app, tap the " 三 " icon at the upper left corner, tap [B]Help -> [B]Email Us .[/B][/B]
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Srkerd wrote
I have the exact same star pattern shown in the original post. However I am done waiting and ordered a competitors mesh system...
Good call!! I managed to email Amazon and they are allowing me to return my Deco M5 even though it was after the 30 days! Now there is a company with good customer service and support!!
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jlan421 wrote
Do I have to reconfigure the 2 APs (on the Deco App itself, aside from doing the physical start topology) if I want to have a wired backhaul (I originally set it up as daisy chained network)? Also, I currently have 192.168.0.x LAN, is there a way to change that to say 10.x.x.x network?
You only need to configure the first deco unit,the first unit is workingas router mode by default. After it's setup, you can change it into AP mode if needed. Then add the other deco units into the system via the app, then they will obtain the settings, from the first deco unit. http://www.tp-link.com/en/faq-1590.html
No matter the first unit is router or AP, the additional units act as RE (when connected wirelessly), or AP ( when hardwired to each other).
The Ip of the deco connton be modify. You can find more explanations from Frequent Asked Questions
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Pls recommend me a smart switch brand and model which works on Deco Ethernet Back-haul.
Current try to use Old Dlink DSG-1005A Giga smart switch Ethernet Back-haul not working.
Direct Deco to Deco working fine. Planing to backhaul the rest deco with Homeplug soon. Pls advise...
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vtngmmk wrote
Hi TP lInk,
Pls recommend me a smart switch brand and model which works on Deco Ethernet Back-haul.
Current try to use Old Dlink DSG-1005A Giga smart switch Ethernet Back-haul not working.
Direct Deco to Deco working fine. Planing to backhaul the rest deco with Homeplug soon. Pls advise...
I'm planning to buy a TP-Link switch but was wondering if you ever got backhaul working properly? I was using an old Buffalo router (with DHCP/NAT/configured IP) but backhaul wouldn't work consistently.
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