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.

H2 Net 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.

ODROID-H2+ six Ethernet Ports 2.5GbEAs 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.

SBC with six 2.5GbE ports

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.

2.5GbE H2 Card receiving data
ODROID-H2+ receiving data from one new iperf3 sessions every 30 seconds

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

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11 Replies to “H2 Net Card adds four 2.5 GbE ports to ODROID-H2/H2+ SBC”

  1. This is excellent! And it’s great that they could change the PCIe port configuration to avoid placing a bridge on the board. I remember when they entered the x86 market, there were some doubts about whether or not they’d manage to deal with all the BIOS mess that affects that domain, and it seems that they’re doing very well there, probably showing more control and flexibility than the majority of x86 board vendors who these days mostly focus on either rock-solid high performance servers or gaming machines tailored for a single purpose.

  2. Very interesting!
    But also with this new BIOS it would be possible to design a pci break out board to have 4 slots with one lane from the single m.2

  3. Dang! This looks awesome. Right now I have multiple gigabit usb3 nics connected to my H2s.

    Do I want to give up my SSDs for this mmmmmm.

      1. For normal PCs I guess but for the H2 until this you either needed a messy adapter for a card or to use usb3 nics if you wanted more than the 2 on board ones.

        With the eMMC module this gives you a nice compact networking machine that actually has a hope of driving the ports at a decent rate and not being some sort of BDSM-like experience to keep running a recent kernel.

        1. Just imagined such a miner’s adapter, m.2 to 4xUsb 3 connectors, to 4xpcie16 slots with just 1 lane each…

  4. Could you easily use this with another computer? Is all you need an m.2 connector with 4 lanes?

    Is this supported by in-tree Linux drivers?

    1. > Could you easily use this with another computer?

      Only as long as you find an UEFI/BIOS/u-boot version allowing for bifurcation (turning an x4 slot into 4 x x1)

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