Why is my Mac mini m4 ethernet not autosensing 2.5 GHz connection?

Robert Gordon1 wrote:

Hi Phil0124, My macmini is a M4 Pro. The ethernet port should be auto sensing my Netgear 8 port 2.5gig switch, MS308E. Using one of my Cat7 cables, which I am using successfully on my PC and my Mac Studio. Oh and my FIOS connection is 2.3gig to the house. But when using a 2.4gig dongle my mini will use the switch properly. So my question is still, why won't my mini ethernet auto sense the 2.5 speed? Thank you Phil0124

Is firmware version 1.0.0.5 loaded? If not, start there.

PS: To prevent ongoing confusion, I would humbly suggest using GbE, Gb, or gigabit, and refraining from “gig”. 😉

I have the following hardware devices all of which state that they have 2.5 Gbps Ethernet interfaces and are connected with Cat 5E or 6 cables:

• Cable modem: Motorola MB8611 (DOCSIS 3.1)
• Router: Synology RT6600ax
• Switch: StarTech DS52000

This was a forklift upgrade from an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station, a DOCSIS 3.0 Motorola cable modem, and a Gigabit switch. I went from 70 MB/s downloads to 370 MB/s downloads without changing the cable Internet plan.

How does this have nothing to do with Ethernet?

Although my M4 Mac Mini Pro does have the 10 Gbps option, I am in the corner of the house without Ethernet cabling, and use Wi-Fi 6. If using my NetGear M6 Pro hotspot, I will use Wi-Fi 6e.

Robert Gordon1 wrote:

Hi Phil0124, My macmini is a M4 Pro. The ethernet port should be auto sensing my Netgear 8 port 2.5gig switch, MS308E. Using one of my Cat7 cables, which I am using successfully on my PC and my Mac Studio. Oh and my FIOS connection is 2.3gig to the house. But when using a 2.4gig dongle my mini will use the switch properly. So my question is still, why won't my mini ethernet auto sense the 2.5 speed? Thank you Phil0124

1. The question still remains, when you bought your Mac Mini, did you choose the 10 Gigabit Ethernet option or not?
2. What do you mean by "won't sense"? do you mean it does not get the full speed? Do you mean it does not get an IP address? It gets no internet connection? What exactly is not happening?
3. What kind of dongle is this 2.4 gig dongle you are using? Make and model?

Robert Gordon1 wrote:

it seems that my m4 ethernet will not autosense my 2.5 gig connection. I bought a 2.5 gig dongle and it works fine. Whats the issue?

When you bought your M4 Mac Mini, did you custom-order 10 Gigabit Ethernet? The standard Gigabit Ethernet port does not support 2.5 Gbps.

Replace the cable with a different Cat 6 or 6a, preferably new.

If the switch supports it, try configuring the port as Nbase-T 2.5 GbE.

Check for switch firmware updates.

Check for macOS updates, too.

2.5Ghz (actually 2.4) refers to a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection. It has nothing to do with Ethernet. Also, it has nothing to do with actual bandwith. Though in general 2.4GHz is limited to under 100Mbps (100 Megabits per second).

If you mean a 2.5Gbps (Gigabit bit per second) connection, that would be tied to the ethernet hardware being used.

You need Cat 6e cables and a router with a port that supports 2.4 gigabits per second.

Also, when the Mac mini M4 was purchased you needed to have selected the 10 Gigabit ethernet option.

If you have the 1 Gigabit ethernet, then it will not support 2.5Gbps.

VikingOSX wrote:

• I have the following hardware devices all of which state that they have 2.5 Gbps Ethernet interfaces and are connected with Cat 5E or 6 cables:

Cable modem: Motorola MB8611 (DOCSIS 3.1)

• Router: Synology RT6600ax

• Switch: StarTech DS52000

This was a forklift upgrade from an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station, a DOCSIS 3.0 Motorola cable modem, and a Gigabit switch. I went from 70 MB/s downloads to 370 MB/s downloads without changing the cable Internet plan.

How does this have nothing to do with Ethernet?

Although my M4 Mac Mini Pro does have the 10 Gbps option, I am in the corner of the house without Ethernet cabling, and use Wi-Fi 6. If using my NetGear M6 Pro hotspot, I will use Wi-Fi 6e.

2.5Ghz [sic] is the older frequency for wi-fi. nothing to do with Ethernet at all. The post starts with 2.5Ghz, Giga hertz.

I was just making sure, they were referring to Gigabits per second.

If they mean 2.5Gbps as mentioned, that is ethernet. Gbps and Ghz are different things.

I never said there wasn't a 2.5Gbps (Gigabit) ethernet option. I even confirmed that the hardware needs to support it, and that the Mac Mini needs to be configured with the 10 Gigabit port to support 2.5 Gigabit.

Again, the original question started by mentioning 2.5Ghz. Giga-HERTZ. Giga HERTZ have no relation to ethernet.

That is either a mis-label by the OP, or we are talking about different things.

That is the only thing I was trying to clarify.

2.5 Gigabit exists in ethernet, yes, not arguing that,

2.5 Giga-HERTZ either incorrectly refers to 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi or is incorrectly using HERTZ in place of Bits.

The old Wi-Fi frequency is 2.4 Ghz and there very definitely is a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet option or all of my LAN hardware is lying.