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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Sho_69 wrote
It is possible to use an Ethernet socket in the Deco 5-2 to connect it to the Deco5-1 and on the other Ethernet jack connect a PC?
If you mean [Modem] (ethernet) Deco 1 (ethernet) Deco 2 (ethernet) Computer, then yes, it is possible. That is actually my current setup and it works wonderfully.
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I managed to set up the system and everything seems to run fine.
Hit some problem with the setup of the 1st DecoM5 unit, not knowing what it was asking me.
As my ISP require those modems in front, I thought the app was asking me the IP for the Huawei modem.
Eventually figure out that it was asking. So the first node was setup with "Static IP" and given it 192.168.1.2 (and the rest of DNS detail).
My 2nd Deco M5 unit is at least 10m away with 2 external brick walls and multiple internal walls in between.
The App sometimes tell me the 2nd Deco M5 is not connected (or Offline) but I was able confirm that the wifi is still working.
As I walk from 1st DecoM5 to 2nd DecoM5, I was able to see the WiFi full signal, dropping 2 bars and jumping back to full signal (watching youtube with new buffer filling up).
One thing I had to change is the Desktops are now on DHCP (from static IP).
Does anyone know how to get around this?
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Thanks for the effort in documenting - I find that very helpful when I am looking for a solution.
- with a router from ISP, I recommend to use the Deco M5 in Access point (not gateway) mode. This avoids a double NAT (which could lead to problems)
App has many issues; when background to foreground it often tells me I'm offline. I need to go back to homescreen for it to find it's way.
Configurability is not a strong quality of the Deco M5's. You can freeze DHCP addresses, but not pre-assign them. I recommend freezing the fixed addresses you regularly use.
Good luck!
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It does not appear that the wired backhaul is working to connect the Deco units.
Our basic network layout is this:
Internet -> Router -> Base Deco WAN -> Base Deco LAN -> Switch -> 5 Remote Deco LAN
All units are running firmware version 1.1.6 Build 20171103 Rel. 47257.
We need the remote Deco LAN units to be able to communicate with the Base Deco LAN via the wired Ethernet cable plugged into their LAN port.
Thoughts? Thanks.
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pcmtechcommittee wrote
I setup a network of 6 total Decos in a large, single-story building....
This should be really frustrating. Hopefully a future update brings the ability to verify that wired backhaul is actually being used. In the meantime, maybe you can troubleshoot the problem. If possible, I would leave the Deco unit to be connected via ethernet where it is, and try moving a separate Deco unit to allow for wifi connectivity. Once you can confirm that all are connected via wifi (in the location you want them to eventually be placed), connect the ethernet, wait a few minutes (maybe run some speed tests on a device connected directly to the final Deco to verify backhaul is working), and then try removing the intermediate Deco. Either the final Deco will remain connected (via ethernet, meaning the deco must first be connected via WiFi and then via ethernet with no power interruption), or it will begin to flash (meaning Ethernet backhaul is not working properly).
A pain in the ass, but TP-Link seems to not quite have worked out all the kinks in ethernet backhaul with the Deco.
Good luck and keep us posted!
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Sho_69 wrote
I have the same configuration and it works for me. Maybe the problem is switch, I bought a Netgear GS105GE and I worked perfectly.
Very good point! The Deco does seem to be very picky about the switches it uses. Definitely start by wiring directly without the switch and see if the out-of-range Deco can connect.
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Proposed setup:
Comcast cable -> Deco5-1 (router) ---- Basement switch (D-Link108, 8 port gb unmanaged) ---- Deco5-2 ---- Bonus room switch (D-Link1008G 8 port gb unmanaged)
Deco5-3 (wifi mesh)
From what I can tell, I can daisy chain through the Deco5 1 (comcast in, local network out) and Deco5 2 (local in, local out to 2nd switch). The Deco5 3 unit would be on the 2nd story and connect wireless to the Deco5 1 router.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
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