General Questions About the Ethernet Backhaul Feature on Deco Mesh Systems

Q1：What is Ethernet backhaul?

Ethernet Backhaul is a feature that allows you to connect Deco units together using Ethernet cabling, instead of Mesh Wi-Fi.

With this feature, Deco units can be wired with an Ethernet cable, allowing the Deco nodes to send data between the wired units through an Ethernet connection, which is generally more stable and faster than Wi-Fi. Once the Ethernet backhaul is set up, the Wi-Fi backhaul will disconnect automatically.

Q2: How to set up an Ethernet backhaul?

Please follow the steps below to set up the Ethernet backhaul.

1. Set up the Deco units in the same network via Wi-Fi first through the Deco app before wiring them together.

2. Place the satellite Deco(s) in an ideal location for the best coverage and then wire the Deco units together with Ethernet cables. The Ethernet backhaul will take effect automatically.

3. Deco Mesh Systems work in Router Mode by default. Please note that the satellite Deco must be wired to the LAN port of the main Deco, or a switch connected to main Deco’s LAN port, to avoid a network loop.

When the Deco is configured in Access Point mode, you can wire satellite Deco nodes to any Deco unit, or the main modem/router.

4. You can tap the network map on the Deco app, then tap a satellite Deco node to check which Deco node it is connected to, and whether the connection is via the Ethernet backhaul.

Q3: Which switch models support Ethernet backhaul?

Most of the switches on the market support Deco's Ethernet Backhaul feature. If you don’t have a switch, or if your switch is verified to be incompatible with Deco Ethernet Backhaul, the following models will be excellent choices.

Unmanaged switch Models：

8-Port 10G Desktop/Rackmount Switch 【TL-SX1008】: https://www.tp-link.com/business-networking/unmanaged-switch/tl-sx1008/

8-Port 10/100/1000Mbps Desktop Switch 【TL-SG108】: https://www.tp-link.com/business-networking/unmanaged-switch/tl-sg108/

Managed switch Model：

JetStream 8-Port Gigabit L2+ Managed Switch with 2 SFP Slots【TL-SG3210】: https://www.tp-link.com/business-networking/managed-switch/tl-sg3210/

For more switch models, please refer to: https://www.tp-link.com/home-networking/all-soho-switch/

Q4: Do I need to wire all my Deco units together to use the Ethernet Backhaul feature?

No. You can wire any satellite Deco to the Deco unit(s) that you want to use with the Ethernet Backhaul feature, and other units can be connected via the Mesh Wi-Fi backhaul, if desired, allowing you to mix and match your backhaul preferences. In the example below, the Ethernet Backhaul is only being used between Deco units that wired connected together.

For example:

Q5: What can I do if the Ethernet backhaul is not automatically taking effect?

1. Please check if your Deco has the IPTV feature enabled. If yes, the selected IPTV port can't be used to establish Ethernet Backhaul connectivity; it can be used for IPTV only.

2. Try connecting the satellite Deco unit to a different port on the Deco/Switch.

3. Try using a different Ethernet cable.

4. If there is a switch between the two Deco units, please connect two Deco units directly. If the direct connection works, the issue may be related to the switch.

1. Deco units switching from Wi-Fi backhaul to Ethernet backhaul may create a brief loop in the network for 1 to 2 seconds. If your switch supports loop detection, it may block the port used by Deco, preventing the transition from Wi-Fi to Ethernet Backhaul. Please turn off the loop detection function on your switch, then reboot your switch and try again.
2. If you are unsure whether your switch has a loopback detection feature, please contact the switch's technical support team to confirm if it has loop detection enabled by default or if there is another potential issue with the switch.

Q6. What can I do if the Deco units become unstable once they're connected via a switch?

1. Try a different port on the Deco/Switch. On the main Deco, one port should connect to the modem/router to get Internet, and another port can be used for the Ethernet backhaul. You can swap the Internet port and the Ethernet backhaul port to see if this remedies the stability concerns.

2. Try a different Ethernet cable.

3. Please try connecting two Deco units directly by using one Ethernet cable, bypassing the switch. If the Deco units become stable, it is likely the switch does not forward specific multicast packets.

Note: The Deco Ethernet backhaul feature is based on the standard IEEE 1905.1 protocol. However, we have found that some switches, mainly D-Link switches, will not forward packets based on IEEE 1905.1 protocol, causing all Deco units to enter a network loop and causing instability. If you find yourself in this situation, we would suggest considering another switch or contacting the switch’s support team directly. TP-Link Switches are mostly compatible with our Deco’s Ethernet backhaul.

Q7: Can I combine different Deco models such as M5 and M9 Plus together through Ethernet Backhaul?

Yes, just configure and add different Deco models within the same Deco network. Afterward, you can connect them via Ethernet cable(s) to set up the Ethernet Backhaul connection.

Q8：How do I turn off the Ethernet Backhaul on my Deco?

You can disconnect the Ethernet cable between Deco units to disable the Ethernet Backhaul.

Q9: Can I use one Ethernet port on the Deco for Ethernet Backhaul and the other to connect a computer?

Yes.

Note: On the main Deco, one Ethernet port should connect to the modem/router to receive Internet. The other Ethernet port can be used for Ethernet backhaul, or connect to a computer.

Q10: Can I wire Deco units via Ethernet cable, even if they are on different floors?

Yes, but please be mindful of the working mode of the Deco units (e.g., Router Mode or Access Point Mode).

When the Deco system is operating in Router mode, only the main Deco can connect to the modem/router directly.