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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I am a bit confused about this topic. I have 5 Deco M5 units, working on AP mode.
I have the main unit connected directly to my router.
I have a 24 Port switch connected to my router too. That 24 port switch feeds ports around my house.
Then I have the 4 slave mesh Deco's. 2 of them I had them connected to the 24 port switch via ethernet.
The other two were completely wireless.
The backhaul is not working properly. Today I noticed my download speed was capped to 70Mbps (out of 500).
I started doing tests and finally I figured it out.
My computer is connected via cable to the 24 port switch. However, the traffic was going wirelessly through
the decos. Hence the 70Mbps cap.
The moment I unplugged the 2 backhaul ethernet from the two slave decos, my full speed was restored and
everything was working fine.
There should be an actual setting in the firmware to turn one of the ports as a backhaul so it knows and
this doesn't happen. Or at least I think so.
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@Nisse57 The powerline connection between Deco P7 units will only take effect when a Deco P7 is set as the main Deco. Thus in your topology, only the Ethernet connection between M9 Plus and P7#1 will work. P7#2 may possibly connect through Wi-Fi.
@GoldPunchTR In Router mode, it's recommend to connect the two Deco units directly via cable and connect only one of them to the main router.
In Access Point mode, this wired connection will work as expected.
@TheDags Yes, this will work as expected.
@pmcnano May I know the model number of your switch? Ethernet Backhaul will take effect automatically once Decos are wired together, as they establish an Ethernet Backhaul connection through the IEEE 1905.1 protocol which should be allowed and forwarded smoothly in a wired connection. It's possible that the switch blocks such connection and causes the failure of the Ethernet Backhaul.
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@Lai_tom 您可以在Deco APP中將Deco的Wi-Fi名稱改成跟您原本路由器的Wi-Fi名稱一致。
您可以參照如下鏈接說明進行設置:https://www.tp-link.com/tw/support/faq/1591/
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I just updated to the new firmware and realized my wiredbackhaul is not working and it's wireless backhaul,
based on your response to @Nisse57 , it should work though
Here is my setup :
Router <--------------->Switch <----------> Main Deco
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<(Port1)>Powerline< (Port 2)
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<(Port1)>Powerline< (Port 2)
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ISP Ethernet Deco #2
Hand off
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Samy
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Hello,
I read the entire post and many stories online... I nearly threw my Deco P7 away before posting...
We re-did out garden and I burried a 60m CAT6 cable with the idea of putting a deco unit in the garden and then having a good coverage.
Unfortunatly my Deco P7 doesn’t work with the cable and I cant get it to work, like many of you.
Only difference is that I am using router mode, because everytime I use the AP mode, the internet stops...
I think it’s terrible that TP-link didn’t integrate a status window where you can see just e bit more then good/disconnected. Nobody seems to know if backhaul is working. That’s why I wanted to buy the Linksys Velop...
Bur before throwing it away, I want to try it with you guys.
So my setup is:
Modem/router - Deco unit - TL-SG108E switch - DECO unit (2x)
Any idea’s what to do?
thanks!
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Bobje89 wrote
Hello,
I read the entire post and many stories online... I nearly threw my Deco P7 away before posting...
We re-did out garden and I burried a 60m CAT6 cable with the idea of putting a deco unit in the garden and then having a good coverage.
Unfortunatly my Deco P7 doesn’t work with the cable and I cant get it to work, like many of you.
Only difference is that I am using router mode, because everytime I use the AP mode, the internet stops...
I think it’s terrible that TP-link didn’t integrate a status window where you can see just e bit more then good/disconnected. Nobody seems to know if backhaul is working. That’s why I wanted to buy the Linksys Velop...
Bur before throwing it away, I want to try it with you guys.
So my setup is:
Modem/router - Deco unit - TL-SG108E switch - DECO unit (2x)
Any idea’s what to do?
thanks!
In the new firmware (if you upgrade) you can check on the second unit if it wiredbackhaul is working or over wireless.
That's how i found mine not working although running over powerline! I'm waiting to check if TP-Link sees any issue in my setup.
Regarding your running mode , you already have a modem/router in front of your Main deco , why would you need to put it in router mode?
Go AP mode and try connecting like : Modem/router <> Switch < Connect both decos as AP mode (main and second one)
I attached a screenshot of mine (if you update the decos) where you can see in the 2nd deco how the backhaul is working.
HTH
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Will try the AP mode again tonight...don’t know why my internet stops every time.
I checked to see if there are updates, but mine states I have the newest version:
1.2.0. Build 20181210 rel. 34913
But my screen doesn’t even look like yours...?
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Bobje89 wrote
Will try the AP mode again tonight...don’t know why my internet stops every time.
I checked to see if there are updates, but mine states I have the newest version:
1.2.0. Build 20181210 rel. 34913
But my screen doesn’t even look like yours...?
cool mate , hopefully works
\_ make sure you can see each deco in addition to your PC/Laptop/etc receives an IP from router.
\_ In AP mode they are completely transparent.
My bad actually , you higlighted P7 and i missed it, Mine is M5 which the new release brought these features.
Hopefully same features come to P7 to!
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Tried and failed... called with a WiFi-specialist and ordered the TP-link Omada EAP245 v3.
This should work fine since I got ethernet on every point.
I am done with the Deco.
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TP Link why is it soooo difficult to setup Ethernet Backhole with you guys???
My current network is a STAR Network:
Internet -- Main Deco --- TP Link GEthernet Switch --- Seconday Deco --- D-Link Switch -- PC.
Looking at the Deco units in the App I see that the Sec Deco is showing Signal Source with The wifi Icon.
Testing Internet Speeds I get Wifi Speeds (Instead of Ether Net Speed)
My Internet Connection is Fiber: 1000Mbps Down 100 Mbps Up.
Please help.
Running firmware: 1.3.1 build 20190617 rel 47476
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