Thunderbolt 3 Ethernet Adapters

[spetrillo]

Afternoon all,

I have a HP Prodesk 600 G4 Mini with one NIC. Would love to add a second NIC, and on the back on the unit I have a full fledged Thunderbolt 3 connection. Can I use a Thunderbolt 3 USB C ethernet adapter as my second NIC with OPNsense?

Thanks,
Steve

[johndchch]

the usb-c port on the front of the 600g4 us usb 3.1gen2 ( 10gbps ) not tb3 ( 20gbps ) - so tb3 NICs won’t work

You would be better off looking at a m.2 format NIC to go either in the wifi slot (2230) or the 2nd storage slot (2280) - you can get proper intel chipset NICs in that format which are well supported

[spetrillo]

Not on the front. On the rear, in the open slot.

I will look into the other options you mentioned.

[abulafia]

You would be better off looking at a m.2 format NIC to go either in the wifi slot (2230) or the 2nd storage slot (2280) - you can get proper intel chipset NICs in that format which are well supported

Do you have examples? I looked for m..2 NICs some time ago out of interest, and could hardly find ones, especially with an Intel chipset.
The only one I remember is on Amazon: "Kalea Informatique Controllerkarte Mini PCI Express (MiniPCIE) – 1 Port LAN Gigabit Ethernet – Chipsatz Intel 82574"

[spetrillo]

Yes I found a couple on eBay but most are Realtek. I am going to try the Realtek and see what happens.

[spetrillo]

This is the one I am going to try: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255460423126?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=255460423126&targetid=1264870805664&device=m&mktype=&googleloc=9004262&poi=&campaignid=14859008593&mkgroupid=130497710760&rlsatarget=pla-1264870805664&abcId=9300678&merchantid=137736496&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvqeUBhCBARIsAOdt45YJIuG37o_Lr-l1wWd5E3E-TXBjU_I-Ik35FlOBHia-llb33cT3xrAaAnEmEALw_wcB

Another manufacturer makes one with an Intel chips etc but it's connected to a low profile PCI bracket. I Sent them a question if they could make it with the end of the one I am going to try. If they do that then all good.

[johndchch]

Yes I found a couple on eBay but most are Realtek. I am going to try the Realtek and see what happens.

try this - i210 based and you should be able to unscrew the panel mount rj45 from the pci backplane and hack it into the 'configurable slot' cutout on the mini

https://www.amazon.com/HINYSENO-Interface-PCI-Express-Controller-HS-SM-LGI210A-BT/dp/B09JZLGZPS/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=m.2+ethernet&qid=1653282109&sprefix=m.2+ethernet%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-14

[johndchch]

Yes I found a couple on eBay but most are Realtek. I am going to try the Realtek and see what happens.

try this - i210 based and you should be able to unscrew the panel mount rj45 from the pci backplane and hack it into the 'configurable slot' cutout on the mini

https://www.amazon.com/HINYSENO-Interface-PCI-Express-Controller-HS-SM-LGI210A-BT/dp/B09JZLGZPS/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=m.2+ethernet&qid=1653282109&sprefix=m.2+ethernet%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-14

doh - didn't pay enough attention - it's mPCIe not m.2

if you were really keen you could try it into the m.2 using a suitable mPCIe/m.2 adaptor - Could be fun stuffing this plus the mini-pcie NIC into the available space though

https://www.amazon.com/NGFF-Adapter-Cable-Combo-Bluetooth/dp/B07ZKNQK3G/ref=sr_1_6?crid=134CWRGXRYTYE&keywords=M.2+b+key+to+mini+pcie&qid=1653291219&sprefix=m.2+b+key+to+mini+pcie%2Caps%2C327&sr=8-6

[spetrillo]

Possibly...

Since I have the open Wifi M.2 slot I am going to use this and see how it operates. I am looking forward to getting a second NIC into my Prodesk 600. I have to buy a 2.5 gig switch to do this though, but I was going to have to do this sooner or later, with Wifi 6e coming.

[spetrillo]

Sometimes you gotta look closer!!! Here is one with the Intel i210 chipset...woo hoo!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/194915522383?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D4bed43db246649ceb9f39bd15d1aca5a%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D195009540088%26itm%3D194915522383%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A502caea9-daa4-11ec-b12a-d65bf1bc106e%7Cparentrq%3Af14fc93a1800a60c13233c41fffa5d90%7Ciid%3A14

[abulafia]

The Kalea one on Amazon seems cheaper:
[Wrong link, see below]

[spetrillo]

Its mPCI and not available. I am trying to use my Wifi M.2 slot.

[abulafia]

Try this one (A+E key for m.2): https://www.amazon.de/NGFF-Gigabit-Ethernet-Chipset-Intel/dp/B09NYMCCMG