Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?

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Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?
Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?
2020-05-08 18:26:46
Model: TL-PA9020P KIT  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version:

Hello,

 

I am interested the TL-PA9020P KIT because it has two ethernet ports per powerline adapter. I need you to clarify whether this powerline adapter will act as a switch for the 2 devices connected to it.

 

For example, let's say that:

 

1. I have one of these in the living room, connected to my router/switch.

2. I have the other one in my bedroom connected to my dekstop PC (first ethernet port) and my laptop (second ethernet port).

 

If I transfer a file from my laptop to my desktop, will the traffic go through the electrical circuit to my living room, hit the router/switch and then come back via the electrical circuit to the other port of my bedroom, or will the powerline adapter directly pass the traffic from one ethernet port to the other?

 

In short, does each powerline adapter act as a switch for its locally connected devices?

 

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#1
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Re:Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?
2020-05-09 09:42:29

So I've actually contacted live chat and verified that the powerline adapter WILL act as a switch and route the traffic directly from one port to the other which is great news for me.

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#2
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Re:Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?
2020-05-13 12:48:27
Do you know if the ports on the TL-PA9020P are recognised as gigabit ports by devices connected to it? I have a TL-WPA8630P and despite it being advertised as Gigabit, devices only work as 100baseTX links, limiting the throughput between devices on the same same switch to 100Mbps. I'd be interested to see if the more recent model has the same issue.
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#3
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Re:Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?
2020-05-13 13:09:35

@dunxd Yes they are and the local speed is really good. I've bought them and here's iperf3 results:

 

user@host:/mnt/c/Users/user$ iperf3 -c 192.168.0.10
Connecting to host 192.168.0.10, port 5201
[  4] local 192.168.0.146 port 54155 connected to 192.168.0.10 port 5201
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth       Retr  Cwnd
[  4]   0.00-1.00   sec   112 MBytes   943 Mbits/sec  1296506936   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   1.00-2.00   sec   112 MBytes   942 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   2.00-3.00   sec   113 MBytes   945 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   3.00-4.00   sec   111 MBytes   933 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   4.00-5.00   sec   112 MBytes   940 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   5.00-6.00   sec   112 MBytes   941 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   6.00-7.00   sec   111 MBytes   933 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   7.00-8.00   sec   112 MBytes   943 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   8.00-9.00   sec   112 MBytes   943 Mbits/sec    0   0.00 Bytes
iperf3: getsockopt - Protocol not available
[  4]   9.00-10.00  sec   112 MBytes   944 Mbits/sec  2998460360   0.00 Bytes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth       Retr
[  4]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.10 GBytes   941 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  4]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.10 GBytes   941 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

 

This is between my laptop and my desktop connected to the same powerline adapter (laptop is via CalDigit TS2 docking station using thunderbolt 2 for the Ethernet card).

 

So they reach 940Mbps which is very good.

 

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#4
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Re:Do multiport powerline adapters act as individual network switches for locally-connected devices?
2020-05-13 13:22:10
By the way, forgive me if I'm pointing out the obvious here, but have you verified that both devices connecting to yours have Gigabit Ethernet adapters? If even one of them does not, then that will set the maximum speed between the two...
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#5
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