LAN getting up and down constantly

#1

Hi. I’m using X4 for some time with Home Assistant on it and it’s really working great! For the moment I’m using Wi-Fi as a means for network. I want to switch to LAN though, with PoE as a power. Yesterday I tried that but connecting it made connection very unstable: it constantly was switching up and down:

2024-11-21 17:15:33.796 homeassistant kernel: igc 0000:02:00.0 enp2s0: NIC Link is Down
2024-11-21 17:15:37.458 homeassistant kernel: igc 0000:02:00.0 enp2s0: NIC Link is Up 2500 Mbps Full Duplex, Flow Control: RX/TX
2024-11-21 17:15:37.460 homeassistant NetworkManager[415]: <info>  [1732209337.4595] device (enp2s0): carrier: link connected
2024-11-21 17:15:45.759 homeassistant kernel: igc 0000:02:00.0 enp2s0: NIC Link is Down
2024-11-21 17:15:49.427 homeassistant kernel: igc 0000:02:00.0 enp2s0: NIC Link is Up 2500 Mbps Full Duplex, Flow Control: RX/TX
2024-11-21 17:15:49.429 homeassistant NetworkManager[415]: <info>  [1732209349.4284] device (enp2s0): carrier: link connected
2024-11-21 17:15:49.867 homeassistant kernel: igc 0000:02:00.0 enp2s0: NIC Link is Down

There was also few instances of:

2024-11-21 18:52:21.926 homeassistant NetworkManager[416]: <info>  [1732215141.9263] device (enp2s0): state change: ip-config -> ip-check (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
2024-11-21 18:52:21.946 homeassistant systemd[1]: Starting Network Manager Script Dispatcher Service...
2024-11-21 18:52:21.957 homeassistant systemd[1]: Started Network Manager Script Dispatcher Service.
2024-11-21 18:52:21.958 homeassistant NetworkManager[416]: <info>  [1732215141.9585] device (enp2s0): state change: ip-check -> secondaries (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
2024-11-21 18:52:21.958 homeassistant NetworkManager[416]: <info>  [1732215141.9588] device (enp2s0): state change: secondaries -> activated (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
2024-11-21 18:52:21.959 homeassistant NetworkManager[416]: <info>  [1732215141.9596] device (enp2s0): Activation: successful, device activated.

I’m waiting for new cable (to eliminate it as a culprit) to test X4 booted from Manjaro Live USB with PoE and without it, but I thought I’m gonna ask anyway because maybe that’s known issue of the device or I255 chip…or something.
Power works properly, no interrupts there.

#2

Well…and it looks like the cable was the culprit after all. Maybe it was too old and simply has worn in time (even though it does work). Or maybe quality was to low to handle 2.5GB and PoE? Or the connector on the cable.
For now I’ve manage to setup HA with both WiFi and LAN, with latter being the main one (with domain), and will look how it behave.

#3

Hello, is it working properly after changing the network cable?
There have been reports of network connection issues on the Intel i225 at google. You can try to improve heat dissipation of the network chip. If the problem persists, you can try to update the network firmware(NVM).

#4

I haven’t experience any issues from the moment I replaced the cable. I don’t understand what was the problem with it. I blame myself for doing something wrong with connectors (I did them myself). Especially since three very different cables behave like that…
I’d like to add small radiator to the i225 chip anyway. Which one is that? This one?

radxax4i225

#5

Yes, correct.
BTW, it should be i226

1 Like
#6

After trying out the Intel I225-V Ethernet chip for a long time, I realize it’s simply a piece of broken hardware and should not be used. Some details here: How make Rock5B's 22x30mm M.2 PCIe slot work on Linux?

#7

Yes, we used i226 instead i225, it is a little better then I225

1 Like
#8

@ryann In your experience is i226 an actually stable, good chip?

#9

Not bad, but not great either.

1 Like
#10

@ryann In your experience is the i226 at least stable? Anyhow so I see better use other vendor’s NIC.

#11

i226 is the mainstream 2.5G network chip in the consumer market. After manytimes update, it’s very stable now.
RTL8125 may be more stable, but i226 also has its advantages, such as better compatibility.

1 Like
#12

Are there more versions of i226, any important difference between them?

What advantages does i226 have over RTL8125

#13

You can google it. As far as I know, it is more stable with the latest hardware and firmware/Drivers.