AX88179A USB-C to Ethernet packet loss

[Papaj2137]

Hello everyone
I'm looking for the best available USB-C to Ethernet adapter and after reading a lot of posts including macrumors I've found that AX88179A is supposed to be one of the better choices for this

However after testing is I've found out that it's terrible for anything that requires stable connection like SMB transfers or game streaming

It frequently drops simple pings to the gateway:

Netstat shows out errors:

$ netstat  -ndi
Name       Mtu   Network       Address            Ipkts Ierrs    Opkts Oerrs  Coll Drop
en7        1500  <Link#21>   a8:e4:3b:22:a7:84  1805947     0   455479 506134     0 301
en7        1500  fe80::14a1: fe80:15::a4a1:411  1805947     -   455479     -     -   -
en7        1500  10.0.1/24     10.0.1.23        1805947     -   455479     -     -   -

And when using it with game streaming it's worse than WiFi 5

It's using apple native driver:

My question is: Are all USB Ethernet adapters like this on macOS? I've read that AX88179A and RTL8156B are the "okay" ones because of usb.cdc.ncm drivers
Does anyone with AX88179A or RTL8156B experienced same issues as me?

I know USB Ethernet is technically terrible but I expect at least no dropped packets

Thank you

 

[Bigwaff]

If you haven't read this site, it's worth the time.

Thunderbolt and PCIe Ethernet in macOS

So with the purchase of a 14” MacBook Pro, I’ve been in the market to buy a Thunderbolt dock to live to 1 cable life style. Unfortunately it’s been a bit difficult to find much information on the parts used in many docks, thus I’ve decided to document my research on Ethernet controllers built...

khronokernel.com

 

[BeatCrazy]

I assume you've combed through this thread? https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-c-ethernet-unreliable.2287743/

For about a year, I was using 2.5Gbps D-Link DUB-E250 (uses RTL8156B IIRC) connected to the Apple Studio Display, which was then connected to my 10Gbps TRENDnet TEG-S762.

A few times a week, traffic would literally 'stop' for 30-60 seconds and I'd have to reboot the switch. I initially thought it was the switch flaking out because my Mac Studio (separate display/not using the D-Link) would also bog down at the same time as the D-Link. I removed the D-Link and ran that Mac via Wi-Fi. Performance on both machines has been perfect ever since!

But now I'm thinking the D-Link was potentially causing problems and somehow overloading the TRENDnet, which in turn jammed up the Mac Studio.

Sorry I realize this may not help your situation, but I can relate to the frustrations.

 

[Papaj2137]

If you haven't read this site, it's worth the time.

Thunderbolt and PCIe Ethernet in macOS

So with the purchase of a 14” MacBook Pro, I’ve been in the market to buy a Thunderbolt dock to live to 1 cable life style. Unfortunately it’s been a bit difficult to find much information on the parts used in many docks, thus I’ve decided to document my research on Ethernet controllers built...

khronokernel.com

I know thunderbolt adapters are superior but they are bulky and expensive

I assume you've combed through this thread? https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-c-ethernet-unreliable.2287743/

For about a year, I was using 2.5Gbps D-Link DUB-E250 (uses RTL8156B IIRC) connected to the Apple Studio Display, which was then connected to my 10Gbps TRENDnet TEG-S762.

A few times a week, traffic would literally 'stop' for 30-60 seconds and I'd have to reboot the switch. I initially thought it was the switch flaking out because my Mac Studio (separate display/not using the D-Link) would also bog down at the same time as the D-Link. I removed the D-Link and ran that Mac via Wi-Fi. Performance on both machines has been perfect ever since!

But now I'm thinking the D-Link was potentially causing problems and somehow overloading the TRENDnet, which in turn jammed up the Mac Studio.

Sorry I realize this may not help your situation, but I can relate to the frustrations.

I did and I went with AX88179A because of it

 

[Bigwaff]

I know thunderbolt adapters are superior but they are bulky and expensive

What is less expensive is Apple's two adapters put together. Use TB3 (USB-C) >TB2 connected to TB2 > Ethernet. You can find both used on eBay and spend less than $50 total.

 

[BeatCrazy]

What is less expensive is Apple's two adapters put together. Use TB3 (USB-C) >TB2 connected to TB2 > Ethernet.

Are you sure that works? It's my understand that there's not enough bus power to support that connection, IIRC there are even warnings the TB3->TB2 adapter not working due to this.

EDIT: I guess it doesn't work the other way around... 10Gbps Ethernet ->TB3->TB2->computer.

1. To use this bus-powered device on older Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 computers, it has to be connected to the second Thunderbolt 3 port on another self-powered Thunderbolt 3 device. If connected directly to a host the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, bus-power is insufficient. An example configuration is: Thunderbolt 2 Mac with macOS 10.13.6 or above > Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter > self-powered Thunderbolt 3 device with two TB3 ports > OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter.

 

[Bigwaff]

Are you sure that works?

The arrangement of TB3>TB2 - TB2>Ethernet works perfectly on the following Macs in my household - 2019 MBP 16", 2020 i3 MBA 13", 2019 MBP 15", and 2022 M2 MBA 13"... and should work on any Mac desktop w/ TB3.

Updated w/ pic of the 2020 i3 MBA (arguably the lamest of our household Macs) connected via ethernet using the TB3>TB2 - TB2>Ethernet adapter chain. Note the download speed. This configuration worked like a champ for wife's remote WFH during height of pandemic.

 

[Papaj2137]

Is RTL8156B any better than ASIX chip? Can anyone confirm if packet loss is present

 

[vaalbara]

Same here with a ASIX88179A powered Anker hub. Been suffering from this for the last year especially for ssh connections:

ssh connection corrupted error?

I hope this is the right place to ask. I'm using an Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 hub for a wired connection on a AS MBP running Ventura. From time to time I'm getting disconnected from ssh with the following error message: Bad packet length 1551924576. ssh_dispatch_run_fatal: Connection to...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[learjet]

I have a Realtek 8156B(SG) adapter and alao experience these netstat output errors.

But my connection so far seems stable without any packet loss. I‘ve had multiple days of zoom calls that didn‘t drop a single time.

So I suspected a driver bug that doesn‘t actually result in dropped frames.

But your experience worries me. Do the output errors actually result in problems?

 

[vaalbara]

But my connection so far seems stable without any packet loss. I‘ve had multiple days of zoom calls that didn‘t drop a single time.

Are you monitoring packet loss from Zoom's Settings->Statistics pane?

By the way thanks for your "netstat" comments on the "USB-C Ethernet unreliable" thread; I was about to buy a 8156BSG based hub hoping that could be a cure (I don't need speed, just reliable ssh connections..).

Edit:
I'm monitoring the Oerrs count with a simple bash script; while they are occuring rather frequently the open ssh connections are not "dropping".

 

[learjet]

Are you monitoring packet loss from Zoom's Settings->Statistics pane?

Yes. So far, no packet loss.

 

[Papaj2137]

There is a new adapter on the market using a new chip Realtek RTL8157

Realtek RTL8157 USB 3.2 5Gbps Wired Base-T Ethernet Adapter (WP-UT5)

WP-UT5 is the first batch is expected to be shipped before August 1st 2024. The first 50 orders can use the coupon(B5H8BWKS7VTT) to enjoy a $5 discount. Thank you for your support. Features Chip: Realtek RTL8157. All support 10/10/100/2500/5000 Mbps links and consumes under 1.5 watts, against...

www.wisdpi.com

Has anyone tried it? Or is brave enough to?

Also I found out that if I bring down interface speed down to 100Mbit on my switch the packet loss issue goes away with AX88179A chip

 

[wisdpi]

There is a new adapter on the market using a new chip Realtek RTL8157

Realtek RTL8157 USB 3.2 5Gbps Wired Base-T Ethernet Adapter (WP-UT5)

WP-UT5 is the first batch is expected to be shipped before August 1st 2024. The first 50 orders can use the coupon(B5H8BWKS7VTT) to enjoy a $5 discount. Thank you for your support. Features Chip: Realtek RTL8157. All support 10/10/100/2500/5000 Mbps links and consumes under 1.5 watts, against...

www.wisdpi.com

Has anyone tried it? Or is brave enough to?

Also I found out that if I bring down interface speed down to 100Mbit on my switch the packet loss issue goes away with AX88179A chip

We are WisdPi. This is WP-UT5 test result on Macbook Air M2.

 

[SG-]

We are WisdPi. This is WP-UT5 test result on Macbook Air M2.

View attachment 2429449

i heard it can only work at 2.5Gbit in macOS?

 

[wisdpi]

i heard it can only work at 2.5Gbit in macOS?

WP-UT5 works at 5Gbps on macOS（we test on macbook air 2022 M2）. About 4.4Gbps test. But only CDC driver now, display 2.5Gb/s

 

[SG-]

WP-UT5 works at 5Gbps on macOS（we test on macbook air 2022 M2）. About 4.4Gbps test. But only CDC driver now, display 2.5Gb/s

View attachment 2433348

excellent thank you, I will buy one now shortly.

 

[Wolf1701]

WP-UT5 works at 5Gbps on macOS（we test on macbook air 2022 M2）. About 4.4Gbps test. But only CDC driver now, display 2.5Gb/s

View attachment 2433348

Thank you, ordered. Were you able to test it with macos 15 sequoia?

 

[wisdpi]

Thank you, ordered. Were you able to test it with macos 15 sequoia?

It should be available soon, but for now, Mac is using the CDC driver. I believe it should work without testing, and the performance difference should not be significant.

 

[Wolf1701]

It should be available soon, but for now, Mac is using the CDC driver. I believe it should work without testing, and the performance difference should not be significant.

I asked because there are discussions on the subject here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/anyone-seeing-speed-drop-on-a-2g-plan-since-upgrading-to-15-0.2437227/

I await the arrival of the two new devices hoping that they will work better and/or Apple will have corrected the problem in the meantime.

 

[wisdpi]

I asked because there are discussions on the subject here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/anyone-seeing-speed-drop-on-a-2g-plan-since-upgrading-to-15-0.2437227/

I await the arrival of the two new devices hoping that they will work better and/or Apple will have corrected the problem in the meantime.

We will test this issue as soon as possible. However, since we only have one Mac, we need to first confirm whether it is possible to downgrade after upgrading to address other testing issues.

 

[rajs]

I use a 8156B chipset based USB mini hub with 2.5gb ethernet connected vis USB-C to a 2021 M1 Pro 14" without any issues (i.e. with 18613183 Ipkts and 42802020 Opkts I have 0 Ierrs | 0 Oerrs | 0 Drop. Obtained via netstat -ndi ). I've also used the following which may be better as it's in an alumium enclosure USB-C 2.5gb dongle so sheds heat better (all these older 2.5 gbps chipsets run a bit hot. I haven't tested newer chipsets since mid 2022 as I'd found what works reliable without any freezes.).

You want to make sure you've got the CPU offloading driver from Apple (NCM driver, not ECM. You can see which driver is being used by going to System Information app --> Hardware --> Ethernet --> Driver. The driver should be com.apple.driver.usb.cdc.ncm ). Note I made sure I am using the MacOS built in driver (I don't want to have 3rd party drivers from some website on my machine when Apple has a totally good driver they ship with the OS.

For more details around the NCM vs ECM drivers and chipsets I found this post interesting.