Re: RockPro64 iperf3 ure vs awge results

[Tobias Nygren <tnn%NetBSD.org@localhost>]

On Fri, 13 Oct 2023 01:52:18 -0000
joelp%sdf.org@localhost wrote:

> Hello -- I plugged in a USB C network adapter as a test in case I need to
> use my NetBSD 10.0_BETA (ROCKPRO64) #0: Sat Sep 23 13:31:09 PDT 2023 build
> for a RockPro64 as a router in a pinch; dmesg:
> ure0: Belkin (0x0bda) Belkin USB-C LAN (0x8153), rev 3.00/30.00, addr 1
> 
> Generally, it's looking good, and the USB C adapter has been stable during
> testing with iperf3. One thing I noticed though:
> - awge0 (built-in) interface result is ~350 Mbits/sec.
> - ure0 interface result is almost twice at ~660 MBits/sec.
> 
> I tried various changes on my network switch with VLANs, different server,
> IPv4 vs IPv6, and results are roughly the same: I just can't see anything
> locally on my LAN that would contribute to such a bandwidth diff between
> NICs.
> 
> Is it expected on a RockPro64 that the built-in NIC is slower than a USB C
> NIC?

My ROCKPro64s are barely functional with awge (sub 5Mbit/s). But it
seems awge works fine for some people. I suspect it's a phy problem and
success might depend on either hardware revision or switch vendor. The
Linux driver has some quirks for phy timing issues. I recall trying
to port them but it didn't make any difference. I ended up going with
wm(4) on an external PCIe bridge / expander board instead which gives
steady 800Mbit/s and ability to have more drives attached.

-Tobias