Background

I introduced NURO Hikari 2G at home and installed the SONY NSD-G1000T, but I couldn’t use the 2.5Gbps port and was wasting the 2Gbps line.

There weren’t any affordable managed switches with 2.5Gbps ports, but I found a very cheap managed 10Gbps switch called SKS8300-8X and decided to buy it as a guinea pig.

It has 8 10G SFP+ ports and costs less than 15,000 yen. Moreover, it’s a managed switch, so it supports VLAN and SNMP, and it can even be used as an L3 switch.

Items Purchased

Additional Purchases (January 2024 Update)

Configuration

              Internet
                  | 2Gbps
              NSD-G1000T
                  | 2.5Gbps
  +---------------+----------------+
  |         SKS8300-8X             |
  +---------------+----------------+
  | 10Gbps        | 10Gbps         | 1Gbps
Desktop PC       Server       Existing Switch

Although the SKS8300-8X has L3 switch functionality, I will use it as an L2 switch. Since the existing switch only supports 1Gbps, I will use the GLC-T 34-1410-04 to connect it.

SKS8300-8X

Initially, all ports belong to VLAN1 and are assigned 192.168.2.1/24. You can connect via HTTP or telnet, and a serial console cable is included for connection (baud rate: 9600bps).

Only a single sheet of paper is included, with no password information, so I didn’t know how to log in.

You can download the manual and firmware from the following URL:

• 安徽兮克电子科技有限公司 下载中心

The manual is in Chinese…

The initial login account is as follows:

WebUI

Selecting English displays the English WebUI. Thank goodness it’s not in Chinese…

Most of the settings can be done via the WebUI.

CLI

The CLI can be operated with Cisco-like commands, so those familiar with Cisco might find the CLI easier.

Username: admin
Password:*****
Switch#show version
  Device: SKS8300-8X, sysLocation: Default 
  CPU MAC          84-E5-D8-XX-XX-XX
  VLAN MAC         84-E5-D8-XX-XX-XX
  SoftWare Version V300SP10230826
  BootRom Version  V2.00
  Serial No.:XXXXXXXXXXXX
  Firmware Compile Date 2023-08-26 18:16:37
  Last reboot was warm reset.
  Uptime is 0 weeks, 1 days, 0 hours, 25 minutes
Switch#?
Exec commands:
  baudrate     Baudrate
  cd           Displays the name of or changes the current directory
  clear        Reset functions
  clock        Set clock
  config       Enter configuration mode
  copy         Copy file
  crypto       Ssh crypto key clear command
  debug        Debugging functions
  delete       Deletes one files
  dir          Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory
  disable      Turn off privileged mode command
  enable       Turn on privileged mode command
  exit         End current mode and down to previous mode
  format       Formats a device
  ftp-dir      Show remote server file information
  help         Description of the interactive help system
  logging      Logging
  no           Negate a command or set its default
  ping         Send ipv4 echo messages
  ping6        Send ipv6 echo messages
  public-key   public key
  pwd          Displays the name of the current directory
  reload       Reboot switch
  rename       Renames a file
  set          Set
  setup        Run the SETUP command facility
  show         Show running system information
  telnet       Connect remote computer
  terminal     Set terminal line parameters
  traceroute   Trace route to destination
  traceroute6  Trace route to IPv6 destination
  who          Display who is on vty
  write        Write running configuration to memory or terminal

SFP Modules

There are compatibility issues with SFP modules, but all worked fine. When buying a sketchy switch, you have to be a guinea pig due to the lack of information.

I read that DAC cables couldn’t be used, so I connected via fiber this time, but since there’s a DAC setting for media-type, they might work.

SFP-2.5G-T

It worked fine with the SKS8300-8X, linking up at 2500Mbps.

However, 2.5Gbps and 1Gbps ports can’t be used side by side (they didn’t link up).

I connected the GLC-T 34-1410-04 to Port 1 and the SFP-2.5G-T to Port 3.

GC-T 34-1410-04

It worked fine with the SKS8300-8X, linking up at 1000Mbps.

Similarly, 2.5Gbps and 1Gbps ports can’t be used side by side (they didn’t link up).

I connected the GLC-T 34-1410-04 to Port 1 and the SFP-2.5G-T to Port 3.

XC-SFP+-SR

It worked fine with the SKS8300-8X, linking up with the MCX311A-XCAT without any problems.

Wiring and Installation

Can it reach 10Gbps?

I connected Ports 7 and 8 with XICOM XC-SFP+-SR and measured with iperf3.

Configuration:

Linux MCX311A-XCAT <=> SKS8300-8X <=> Linux MCX311A-XCAT

• Upstream

  [ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  10.9 GBytes  9.33 Gbits/sec  139             sender
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  10.9 GBytes  9.33 Gbits/sec                  receiver
  

• Downstream

  [ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  10.6 GBytes  9.14 Gbits/sec  5141             sender
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  10.6 GBytes  9.14 Gbits/sec                  receiver
  

Utilizing NURO 2G Line

Measured with an external server.

Configuration:

Linux MCX311A-XCAT <=> SKS8300-8X <=> NSD-G1000T <=> Internet (NURO 2G) <=> External 10Gbps Server

• Downstream

  [ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  2.50 GBytes  2.15 Gbits/sec  139             sender
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  2.50 GBytes  2.15 Gbits/sec                  receiver
  

• Upstream

  [ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.05 GBytes   900 Mbits/sec    2             sender
  [  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.05 GBytes   899 Mbits/sec                  receiver
  

Successfully connected using the SFP-2.5G-T, utilizing the NURO 2G line.

Mellanox MCX311A-XCAT

• Recognized without issues on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

  Ethernet controller: Mellanox Technologies MT27500 Family [ConnectX-3]
  

• Did not work properly on Windows 11, had to give up.

  This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 43)
  

Since it’s an old NIC, there are no Windows 11 drivers available, so I had to give up.

10Gtek 10G SFP+ DAC Cable (January 2024 Update)

There was a rumor that DAC couldn’t be used with the SKS8300-8X, so I tried it.

• 10Gtek 10G SFP+ Cable
  • Connected SKS8300-8X to Mellanox MCX311A-XCAT at 10Gbps without issues, so it seems to work fine.

Summary

• SKS8300-8X

  • It was a very cheap managed switch with many features.
  • No compatibility issues with SFP modules.
  • Tricky 2.5G SFP module worked fine.
  • Both the WebUI and CLI were responsive.
  • It gets a bit hot, but it’s fanless, so it’s quiet.
  • I would like to try DAC cables next.

• Mellanox MCX311A-XCAT

  • Recognized without issues on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
  • Did not work properly on Windows 11, had to give up.

What are some affordable and compatible NICs with SFP+ for Windows 11…

December 2023 Update

Regarding the MCX311A-XCAT not working with Windows 11:

• Changed UEFI settings to “PCI Express Native” + Windows 11
  • It crashes with a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
    • mlx4eth63.sys
    • There is information that you need to disable E-cores on Intel Core i13 series to avoid BSOD.
      • NIC works properly, but LinkSpeed is 1410Mbps, so it’s not getting the full speed.
      • Disabling E-cores is a waste, so I gave up again.

January 2024 Update

• Purchased Intel X520-DA2
  • No Windows 11 drivers, but it works with Windows 10 drivers.
    • Windows 10 Driver
    • Extract the zip file, and since the exe file is blocked by OS detection, extract the exe and install.
  • Link speed shows as 1410Mbps, but it’s just a display bug, it actually reaches 10Gbps.
  • Heard Intel NICs have vendor lock, so I bought Intel AFBR-703SDZ-IN2.
    • XICOM XC-SFP+-SR worked fine too.
    • No issues when using Intel AFBR-703SDZ-IN2 on the SKS8300-8X side.

July 2024 Update

• I also bought and connected the SKS3200M-8GPY1XF.
  • Introducing a 2.5Gbps Multigigabit Switch at Home (SKS3200M-8GPY1XF)
• An industry expert has done a thorough review, so I’ll link it as a reference.
  • Hatcho seekswan / XikeStor SKS8300-8X 10G SFP+ 8port Management Layer L3 Switch

Update in September 2024

• I purchased a new 10G switch.
  • Home Network 10G Implementation Part 2 (ONT-S508CL-8S)