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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

aRtie_cz

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2019-09-27 06:28:29 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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

2019-09-27 06:28:29 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

@TP-Link Deco Situation with the Ethernet backhoul is quite understandable for 3 Deco units. But what shall I do, when I have 4 units ? Because there is said that two Deco units can be connected through the ethernet backhaul. I have all Deco Units on the last firmware (1.3.1).

Deco P7

I am using all deco´s in the AP mode, because I have a router as a main connection
we have 4 floors, so it needs to be donethat way, that I have 1 deco in the each floor
Internet connection is made in the ground floor, where the main Deco is sonnected to the internet

I need to wire as many Deco units as I can, because we have such thick floors, so in the end, in the top floor there is really bad connection

#220

aRtie_cz

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2019-09-27 10:24:33 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

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

2019-09-27 10:24:33 - last edited 2019-10-09 03:27:45

Can I do it like this?

#221

ragnakore

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2019-10-14 00:22:04 - last edited 2019-10-14 00:26:16

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

2019-10-14 00:22:04 - last edited 2019-10-14 00:26:16

@aRtie_cz

I have the same setup as you.

From my understanding, if you connect your DECOs to a Switch Hub just like that, DECOs will only work in AP mode, with all routing done on the Router.

It really pains me that DECO wont work in Router Mode in such a configuration.... sigh...

I mean, currently the DECO Mesh relies solely on a single Master Deco to handle all the routing in Router Mode. It is such a waste that the slaves, being of same capability, could not share the routing load.

#222

Zemmy

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2019-11-04 01:22:52

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

2019-11-04 01:22:52

@TP-Link Deco is not working here. I have the following topology

I have signal problems in Deco 3 and so I've connected a cable... but it stopped working after some minutes!! When it is wi-fi only everything works fine, but when I connect that cable showed in the picture, it blinks red.

Well, now I realized that all decos are connected to the internet... But I have two good reasons for that:

1) I don`t want other devices lost internet connection if I lose primary deco! I read here that other decos can recover internet connection when I lose primary one... But how they do that if you don`t connect them to the router???

2) There are many other devices in the network that don`t need wifi to work... if I obligate Deco beeing in the middle, all devices will have Deco as a unique point of fail... something that is not necessary and would be bad!

Thanks for everyone.

#225

SamyKn

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2019-11-04 02:07:01

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

2019-11-04 02:07:01

Zemmy wrote

@TP-Link Deco is not working here. I have the following topology

I have signal problems in Deco 3 and so I've connected a cable... but it stopped working after some minutes!! When it is wi-fi only everything works fine, but when I connect that cable showed in the picture, it blinks red.

Well, now I realized that all decos are connected to the internet... But I have two good reasons for that:

1) I don`t want other devices lost internet connection if I lose primary deco! I read here that other decos can recover internet connection when I lose primary one... But how they do that if you don`t connect them to the router???

2) There are many other devices in the network that don`t need wifi to work... if I obligate Deco beeing in the middle, all devices will have Deco as a unique point of fail... something that is not necessary and would be bad!

Thanks for everyone.

@Zemmy

Hey mate,

few quick question/notes:

- I assume your decos are running in AP mode.

- How long is the cable between two TL-SG108 switches?

- When you connect cable to deco-03 , what does the app shows?

- Have you tried different port on the switch where Deco-3 connects?

- What firmware version are you running on Decos?

#226

ragnakore

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2019-11-04 05:10:36

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

2019-11-04 05:10:36

@Zemmy

Just to clarify: based on your diagram, Deco3 is technically connected to the same center Ethernet Switch Hub along with Deco#1.

From my experience, this will work ONLY IN AP MODE! If your Deco is in Router Mode, it will fail.

If you want Router Mode, rewire them like this:

Only DECO#1 (Master DECO) is connected to LinkSys router.

I am not sure if VPN will work for PCs/Laptops as all these devices will have to pass through DECO#1

#227

Zemmy

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2019-11-04 06:08:58

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

2019-11-04 06:08:58

Yep, they are in AP mode. Cable is ~15m Firmware is 1.3.1 build 20190617 I just connect now to answer your questions (and trying to use other port) and it is online yet! I`m sorry, but I really tested it many times before. Don`t know why it is working now! I will return to say if it disconnected... Thanks!

#228

SamyKn

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2019-11-04 06:26:51

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

2019-11-04 06:26:51

Zemmy wrote

Yep, they are in AP mode. Cable is ~15m Firmware is 1.3.1 build 20190617 I just connect now to answer your questions (and trying to use other port) and it is online yet! I`m sorry, but I really tested it many times before. Don`t know why it is working now! I will return to say if it disconnected... Thanks!

@Zemmy

Great , glad it's working now. Ping here if it dropped.

Btw , to test the old port (if it's issue was with the port) connect a pc and check if it's working or not. If not , i suggest avoid pluggin anything to that port