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Official How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

OfficialHow to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

TP-Link Deco

2017-07-11 14:15:12 - last edited 2024-11-19 07:31:42

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How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2017-07-11 14:15:12 - last edited 2024-11-19 07:31:42

Model: Deco M5

Hardware Version:

Firmware Version:

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.

https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/faq/2248/

329 Reply

SamyKn

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2019-08-03 23:27:05 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-03 23:27:05 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

Shrube wrote

Thanks SamyKn for the image of the new firmware Can anyone say what the image should look like if Ethernet backhaul is working? Instead of the WiFi symbol should there be something else? Even better if someone could post an image of a working Ethernet backhaul on the new firmware.

Hey mate,

pls check below image, quickly back to backed them for you.

i was running on powerline and imagining wired backhaul working till after the new firmware i put them back to back and relized it was over wireless:

Considering my powerline not working (not sure why!!!) , i'm pretty much ffff while same shixxxxxxxx wireless signal

#198

Shrube

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2019-08-03 23:39:57 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-03 23:39:57 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

Thanks SamyKn. I'm somewhat confused now. I've set up three M4 in an access point setup. Each is connected by Ethernet cable to switches then back to the router.

On the latest firmware my app settings look like Dekel's. There is no indication that Ethernet backhaul is working and the speed is not what I hoped for. Running iPerf on two devices on the LAN I'm getting speeds of ~30Mb. I was expecting at least 200Mb, probably more as the testing devices are capable. This leads me to think that Ethernet backhaul isn't working for me.

Can someone from tp-link confirm what an M4 setup with Ethernet backhaul working should look like on the latest firmware? Thanks.

#199

Dekel

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2019-08-04 03:33:51 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-04 03:33:51 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

SamyKn wrote

Shrube wrote

Thanks SamyKn for the image of the new firmware Can anyone say what the image should look like if Ethernet backhaul is working? Instead of the WiFi symbol should there be something else? Even better if someone could post an image of a working Ethernet backhaul on the new firmware.

Hey mate,

pls check below image, quickly back to backed them for you.

i was running on powerline and imagining wired backhaul working till after the new firmware i put them back to back and relized it was over wireless:

Considering my powerline not working (not sure why!!!) , i'm pretty much ffff while same shixxxxxxxx wireless signal

Now I am confused.. although my lan speeds seems fine... TP link.. can you please make your app consistent please??? BTW.. what is the latest firmware version??

#200

Shrube

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2019-08-04 03:59:15 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-04 03:59:15 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/166188?page=1&t=2019%2F07%2F29%2007%3A28%3A08%20%2B0000

tp-link seemed to answer it here. As a guess I think that icon showed up for SamyKn because he connected the Decos directly with a cable whereas we are going through switch(es).

#201

Shrube

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2019-08-04 04:11:53 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-04 04:11:53 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

Assuming Ethernet backhaul is working for me can anyone see any issues with this access point mode setup?

The only thing I can think of is the main deco is behind two switches while the others are behind only one. Would this lead to the slow speeds I'm seeing?

Otherwise I can only think it may be a cabling issue. It's not my house though so I can't easily check. tp-link, can you add an indication in the app for the status of the Deco's Ethernet ports i.e. "Connected 1Gb - Full Duplex", "Connected 100Mb - Full Duplex", "Disconnected" etc? It would make troubleshooting easier.

#202

pmcnano

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2019-08-04 04:17:26 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-04 04:17:26 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

There should just be a setting to force the Ethernet backhaul.

Mine were showing as connected through Ethernet (no wireless signal icon) and were doing some crazy stuff.

I stopped the Ethernet backhaul until I can continue testing. But in my case my internet traffic was going through the decos wirelessly.

#203

SamyKn

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2019-08-04 10:50:03 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-04 10:50:03 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

Mate,

Is there any reason main Deco is not connected to TL-SG1016?

Btw and FYI , i tested it via switch module of my 2921 rotuer as well. Connected both and Ethernet backhaul worked perfectly fine.

#204

SamyKn

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2019-08-04 10:51:11 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-04 10:51:11 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

Shrube wrote

Assuming Ethernet backhaul is working for me can anyone see any issues with this access point mode setup?

The only thing I can think of is the main deco is behind two switches while the others are behind only one. Would this lead to the slow speeds I'm seeing?

Otherwise I can only think it may be a cabling issue. It's not my house though so I can't easily check. tp-link, can you add an indication in the app for the status of the Deco's Ethernet ports i.e. "Connected 1Gb - Full Duplex", "Connected 100Mb - Full Duplex", "Disconnected" etc? It would make troubleshooting easier.

Mate,

Is there any reason main Deco is not connected to TL-SG1016?

Btw and FYI , i tested it via switch module of my 2921 rotuer as well. Connected both and Ethernet backhaul was showing/working fine (meaining connecting both decos to same switch).

For me at the moment issue is doesn't work over powerline while i assume powerline meddles with ethernet frame or so

#205

Shrube

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2019-08-04 18:17:43 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:Re:Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-04 18:17:43 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

I can't connect Deco M4(A) directly to the TL-SG1016 due to cabling and device issues. However I think I might try setting Deco (B) or (C) as the main Deco. My friends are away on holiday so I won't be able to make changes for a couple of weeks.

Thanks again for your help SamyKn and I hope you get your powerline issues sorted.

#206

Oferlaor

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2019-08-05 17:54:52 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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Re:Re:Re:Re:How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

2019-08-05 17:54:52 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

I have an unmanaged D-link DGS-1024C and Ethernet backhand does not work. Very annoying as I would have never guessed that was the issue.

#207

Official How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

Official How to set up Ethernet Backhaul with your Deco devices

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