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M.2 Ethernet cards and ribbon cables (alien.top)

submitted 10 months ago by Balthazar-B@alien.top to c/homelab@selfhosted.forum

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https://preview.redd.it/e16b8zhx4szb1.png?width=536&format=png&auto=webp&s=350586f1ae0aac8b1c2b290f8dc6bfec06bae423

I want to add an additional 2.5GbE network interface to an old HP EliteDesk Mini device. The ubiquitous pictured device, which uses a Realtek 8125B processor, is available from any number of sources on Ebay, AliExpress, Amazon, etc., but given the layout of the HP, the end of the card is very close to the case, and therefore the ribbon cable as shown will simply not fit. I haven't found any of these for sale with a connector that faces towards the pins, raather than away, or is even vertical, which would likely fit. My knowledge about ribbon cable construction is pretty much nonexistent, and so far Google has been no help, but is it feasible to change one of these cables, or is anyone aware of one of these M.2 adapters sold with a cable with the form factor I need? Thanks!

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[–] xgnarf@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Be prepared to not get 2.5gbe. There's a reason ethernet cable is twisted pairs.

[–] aj10017@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

You can probably get 2.5G out of this no problem

[–] kY2iB3yH0mN8wI2h@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

My knowledge about ribbon cable construction is pretty much nonexistent,

its a cable.

[–] themicahmachine@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I've done this. You can get another ribbon cable for between the card and mb connector, and relocate it anywhere in the case you want.

[–] MikesVirtualAlterEgo@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If you are happy with the Realtek chip, why don't you just get a 2.5 Gbps USB dongle? In the EU they sell for 20-30 EUR on Amazon.

I did that for my setup, one of those each for the NAS, my laptop's docking station, and my Elitedesk Mini Linux server. I get more than 2.4 Gbps between each of those with iPerf3 and up to 255 MB/s transfer speed with Windows File Explorer and an SMB drive on the NAS.

[–] Balthazar-B@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Thanks, Mike. I might experiment with one of those, as that is pretty impressive throughput. Of course I'd rather have an i226 controller than an RTL8125B, but the pickings are mighty slim for Intel chips on adapters like these.

[–] MikesVirtualAlterEgo@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Same here; I am considering to pick up a Lenovo Tiny at some point and add a proper low profile PCIE card with a riser card. But as long as I am not using as a router (e.g. with opnSense or pfSense) the performance is good enough for me with the USB dongle.