H2 Net Card adds four 2.5 GbE ports to ODROID-H2/H2+ SBC

ODROID-H2+ is already a cool single board computer with an Intel Gemini Lake Refresh processor, up to 32GB RAM, dual 2.5GbE networking, support for SATA and NVMe storage, dual 4K video output, and more.

But in recent days, I’ve read people complaining recently announced WiFI 6 or WiFi 6E routers only had one 2.5 Gbps or 5 Gbps Ethernet jack and wanted all/more RJ45 connectors to be 2.5 GbE ports or greater. But if even the two 2.5GbE ports on ODROID-H2+ are not quite enough for your needs, Hardkernel H2 Net Card triples that amount by adding four extra 2.5 GbE to the x86 SBC. It also works on ODROID-H2, meaning you’d get the existing dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, plus the four 2.5GbE ports from the M.2 card.

There’s no much in the way of specifications for H2 Net Card:

• 4x Ethernet ports up to 2.5 GbE via RTL8125 controller.
• M.2 edge connector
• Compatible with ODROID-H2 / H2+

The card simply needs to be inserted into the M.2 slot beneath the board, and there are three compatible cases for it to make space for the extra Ethernet ports, and a choice of SSD/HDD storage options.

As explained in the Wiki, you’ll need to make sure the BIOS is updated to the right version:

The H2 Net Card connects to the H2/H2+ board using the M.2 slot to leverage the PCIe Gen2 x4 lanes. The H2 Net Card expects the M.2 slot to provide 4 bifurcated x1 lanes. However, the default M.2 slot configuration provides 1 non-bifurcated x4 lane by default.

The M.2/PCIe Gen 2 slot lanes bifurcation is configured in the ESF BIOS itself.

Starting with version 1.22 of the H2/H2+ ESF BIOS, we provide and will provide two versions:

• First one with the M.2 slot configured as 1 non-bifurcated x4 lane (for SSD or 3r party PCIe cards)
• Second one with the M.2 slot configured as 4 bifurcated x1 lanes for the H2 Net Card.

To use the H2 Net Card you MUST flash the H2/H2+ BIOS with the second version.

You’ll be able to check whether all four new 2.5GbE ports are well detected using a command like inxi:

Hardkernel also tested throughput with iperf3 using 5 other ODROID-H2+ boards connected to five of the 2.5GbE ports of another ODROID-H2+ SBC equipped with H2 Net Card, and the remaining port connected to a laptop.

Each port managed around 2.35 Gbps with the H2+ board with networking card consuming up to 45% CPU usage while sending data and up to 75% when receiving data from five iperf3 sessions. The total combined capacity of H2+ with the card is around 11 Gbps.

H2 Net Card can be purchased on Hardkernel store for $47 plus shipping. You’ll also find the Type 5, Type 6, and Type 7 enclosures on the shopping page.

Thanks to Dan for the tip

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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