1. What is Ethernet Port?

Ethernet ports are physical connectors on network devices that facilitate reliable wired data transfer. They serve as entry points for Ethernet cables, enabling devices like computers, routers, modems, and hubs to communicate with each other and the broader network. These ports are specifically designed to accommodate Ethernet cords with RJ-45 connectors, ensuring a secure and dependable connection.

There are several advantages to using Ethernet ports: 
1) Reliability: Wired connections through Ethernet ports tend to be more reliable and stable than wireless connections, making them ideal for tasks requiring consistent data transfer.
2) Speed: Ethernet ports offer faster data transfer speeds compared to Wi-Fi, making them ideal for bandwidth-intensive activities such as large file transfers, streaming high-definition media, or online gaming. 
3) Security: Wired connections through Ethernet ports are generally more secure than wireless connections, as they are not susceptible to unauthorized access from nearby devices or potential Wi-Fi vulnerabilities. 
4) Compatibility: Ethernet ports are universally recognized and compatible with various devices, ensuring seamless connectivity.

Ethernet ports can be classified based on their data transfer speed:

1) Fast Ethernet Port

A Fast Ethernet port supports data transfer speeds of 10/100Mbps. This type of port provides a reliable and cost-effective solution for basic network connectivity. It is suitable for small to medium-sized networks where high-speed data transfer is not a critical requirement.

2) Gigabit Ethernet Port

A Gigabit Ethernet port, also known as 10/100/1000 Ethernet, supports data transfer speeds of 10/100/1000Mbps. They are ideal for environments that require general high-speed data transfer, such as large file transfers, multimedia streaming, and online gaming. They are commonly used in both home and business networks, providing enhanced network performance and efficiency.

3) Multi-Gig Ethernet Port

A multi-gigabit Ethernet port takes network speeds to the next level. It supports data transfer speeds of 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps, and even 10Gbps. These ports are specifically designed to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of devices such as high-performance workstations, servers, and network-attached storage. They offer incredibly fast networking capabilities, allowing for seamless data-intensive tasks and maximizing overall network performance.
 

2. Ethernet Ports on Routers

Most routers are designed with five Ethernet ports, which consist of one WAN port and four LAN ports. This configuration allows multiple wired computers within a network to seamlessly access the internet and communicate with other connected devices on the network. 
A WAN port, also referred to as an uplink port, serves as a dedicated Ethernet jack on a router that establishes a connection with a broadband modem. 

Wireless routers are equipped with a WAN port, along with the standard four LAN ports, to accommodate wired connections for devices that require a stable and secure network connection.
For example, the below picture is the back panel of Archer AX55 router which has a blue WAN port and four LAN ports.

 

3. Network Requirements and Recommended Routers

Different scenarios require specific Ethernet port speeds for WAN and LAN connections. This guide provides insights into the recommended routers with 1Gbps, 2.5Gbps, and 10Gbps Ethernet ports for different network requirements or scenarios.

1) High-speed External Network Requirements

a. External Network Bandwidth Lower than 1G: 

It is recommended to use a Gigabit WAN port router such as Archer C80, Archer AX55, Archer AX73 and Archer AXE75 etc., which have five Gigabit ports;
Archer C80 Overview: Archer C80 | AC1900 Wireless MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Router 
 

b. External Network Bandwidth Equal to or Lower than 2.5G: 

It is recommended to use a 2.5G WAN port router, such as Archer BE550 which has five 2.5G ports, Archer BE9300 which has two 2.5G ports. 
Archer BE550 Overview: Archer BE550 | BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router 

Note: There are some other routers with only one 2.5G port, such as Archer AX55pro/AX72Pro/AX80/AX90/GX90/AX6000/AX11000, when you use the 2.5G port as WAN port, even though the router could receive 2.5G internet access from the broadband modem, the wired client device could only have 1G speed since other LAN ports are all Gigabit ports. 

c. External Network Bandwidth Higher than 2.5G: 

It is recommended to use a router with 10G WAN port, such as Archer AXE300/BE800/BE900/GE800 which have two 10G ports.

Archer AXE300 Overview: Archer AXE300 | AXE16000 Quad-Band 16-Stream Wi-Fi 6E Router with Two 10G Ports
Archer BE800 Overview: Archer BE800 | BE19000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router 

2) High-performance Internal Network Requirements 

a.    NAS: For users with NAS, a gigabit Ethernet port is usually enough. For users who pursue higher speeds, you can consider purchasing a NAS model with a 2.5G/10G Ethernet port or adding a 2.5G/10G USB/PCIe network adapter to support ultra-Gigabit data transmission;

b.    PC: For the latest high-end motherboards such as Z790, they usually come with 2.5G Ethernet ports by default such as i225. You could also purchase a 10G Ethernet network adapter such as T550 or 10G SFP+ port network adapter (connecting to SFP+ port of a router) to make the PCs support 10G connection.

c.    Switch: Choose a 2.5G/10G switch to connect more ultra-gigabit high-speed intranet devices in series. 
For those routers with enough 2.5G ports, you might not need to buy an additional 2.5G switch. When selecting the routers, please do pay attention to the Ethernet ports speed and also quantity.

For example, Archer BE550 is equipped with five 2.5G Ethernet ports (1 WAN and 4 LAN ports), Archer BE9300 is equipped with two 2.5g Ethernet ports (1 WAN and 1 LAN port), while Archer AX55pro/AX72Pro/AX80/AX90/GX90/AX6000/AX11000 only has one 2.5G Ethernet port (only WAN port on Archer AX6000 and AX11000, either WAN or LAN on some other models).

Conclusion

Choosing the right Ethernet port speed for WAN and LAN connections is crucial in optimizing network performance. Consider the specific requirements of your external and internal networks to determine whether 1G, 2.5G, or 10G Ethernet ports are the ideal solution.

You could always check specifications page of a specific model on TP-Link official website to look for its Ethernet Ports information including the speed and also quantity.
 

4. User Scenarios

1) 2.5G Full Link: Whole Home High Speed Internet.

Some users subscribe to external network bandwidth exceeding 1Gbps, and at the same time, the internal network also has wired clients such as NAS with 2.5G ports. At this time, you could purchase a router with at least two 2.5G ports and a 2.5G switch, so that the WAN port speed and also transmission rate between wired client devices can reach 2.5Gbps.
In this case, the user's NAS transfers streaming media files to the PC at a higher rate, and both the PC and NAS can download resources from the internet at a super-gigabit rate, achieving a faster and smoother network experience.

In addition, other WiFi7 APs can be added at this time to enable wireless clients to take full advantage of the latest wireless technology and break through the limitations of Gigabit speed. 

                                                           4.1 Archer BE550 2.5G Full Link Topology
 

                                                           4.2 Archer BE9300 2.5G Full Link Topology

2) 10G Full Link: Online media editing.

For users who are pursuing multi-person online media editing, they can consider connecting multiple 10G PCs and 10G NAS through 10G routers and switches. 
At this time, it is necessary to ensure that each editing PC can read the collected video material from the NAS at a rate close to 1Gbps to ensure the smoothness of editing as much as possible, thereby avoiding the inefficiency of traditional editing methods: replacing the hard drive among multiple editing PCs.
 
                                                           4.3 Archer BE800/900 10G Full Link Topology

5. How to prepare suitable Ethernet cables?

Whether you have a lightning-fast Multi-Gig internet plan or a 10G Ethernet NAS server. The right Ethernet cables are pretty vital and really make a difference. 
It is recommended to use Cat5e or higher Ethernet cables, and you could refer to the table below to choose the proper cables for different Multi-Gig speeds.

*There is currently no standard for CAT5E to transmit the maximum distance of 10Gbps. According to the actual measurement of TP lab, the maximum distance can reach 70m. The actual transmission distance is not guaranteed and will vary as a result of environmental factors.
 

6. QA

Q1. Why should I choose a wired Ethernet connection over Wi-Fi?

A: Wired Ethernet connections offer greater reliability, speed, and security compared to Wi-Fi. They are ideal for tasks that require consistent and fast data transfer, such as online gaming and streaming high-definition video content.

Q2. How to check the real link speed or negotiation speed of the Ethernet ports on TP-Link routers?

A: For most new routers, you could login the router web interface, go to Network Map->Click the Router on the map->Scroll to the bottom to check Ethernet Status part where you could see the status and also negotiation speed of each ports.

Q3. Why isn't my Ethernet port of my router running at its listed maximum speeds? 

A: The Ethernet cable one uses is equally important as the connection. You have to make sure the cable you're using is rated for the speed your port supports, it is recommended to use cat5e or higher cable for gigabit or multi-gigabit speed.
In addition, please also make sure the Ethernet port of your device that is connected to the router also supports the same speed, or the actual speed will be limited by your device.
Ultimately, the speed you get will always be limited by the lowest-rated component, whether that’s the cable, port, or switch.

Q4. What is the Combo Port on my Archer AXE300 and some TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 Routers? 

A: 1× 10Gbps RJ45/SFP+ Combo WAN/LAN Port is equipped on Archer AXE300 and some Wi-Fi 7 Routers. The combo port pairs a RJ45 port with an SFP+ port. Only one port in the pair can be used at a time. 
Usually the combo port is the default WAN port of the router, and if you select other Ethernet port as WAN port, the combo port will be LAN port.

Q5. Can I connect two 10Gbps wired client device to Archer BE800/BE900?

A: Archer BE800/900 has two 10Gbps ports only: 1× 10Gbps WAN/LAN port and 1× 10Gbps SFP+/RJ45 Combo WAN/LAN port, and one of them has to be WAN port, thus there is only one 10Gbps LAN port, if you need to connect two or more 10Gbps wired client devices, you will need to use 10Gbps switch to provide more 10Gbps LAN ports.

Q6. My ISP plan is 1Gbps but I would like to have 2.5Gbps LAN connections, can I use Archer AX6000 or Archer AX11000 which has only one 2.5Gps port?

A: No, the 2.5Gbps port on Archer AX6000 and AX11000 is WAN port only and cannot be changed to LAN port. In your case, it is recommended to use Archer AX55 Pro/AX72Pro/AX80/AX90/GX90, which have 1× 2.5 Gigabit WAN/LAN Port and 1× Gigabit WAN/LAN Port, you could use the 1× Gigabit WAN/LAN Port as WAN port and use 1× 2.5 Gigabit WAN/LAN Port as LAN port.

Q7. My fibre provider’s ONT is pushing out 2.5Gbps, why my Archer AX55 Pro gets 2.5Gbps speed on WAN port but my 2.5Gbps desktop gets 1Gbps speed only when connected to LAN port of the router?

A:  This is perfectly normal considering Archer AX55 Pro only supporting one 2.5Gbps port, here is its specification:

Q8. Some TP-Link Home routers have two WAN ports such as Archer     AX90 or BE800 etc., can I use two WAN ports at the same time to connect two broadband connections?

A: No, only one WAN port is active at a time, you could also select WAN port manually during the quick setup process or on the Advanced->Network->Internet page. 
Please note that when you select one WAN port, the other one will act as LAN port only.

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