Multi-Gig Ethernet and 2.5G Multi-Gig Ethernet ports are newer types of Ethernet ports used on some modems and routers. Multi-Gig Ethernet and 2.5G Multi-Gig Ethernet ports support higher connection speeds than the Gigabit Ethernet ports previously used on most devices.
The previous Gigabit Ethernet and 10-Gigabit Ethernet standards do not support speeds between 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps. As a result, multi-gig cable modems, network-attached storage (NAS) devices, switches, and other devices capable of 2.5 Gbps and 5 Gbps speeds do not operate at full capacity when connected to a single Gigabit Ethernet port.
For example, if you have a multi-gig Internet connection, but your modem and router only have Gigabit Ethernet ports, your home network speed is limited to 1 Gbps unless you aggregate the Ethernet ports to increase bandwidth between the devices.
Multi-Gig Ethernet and 2.5G Multi-Gig Ethernet ports support various speeds between 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps, and subsequently enable your devices to operate at full speed without the additional setup and network complexity that Ethernet port aggregation requires.
Multi-Gig Ethernet ports support the following connection speeds:
- 100 Mbps
- 1 Gbps
- 2.5 Gbps
- 5 Gbps
2.5G Multi-Gig Ethernet ports support the following connection speeds:
- 10 Mbps
- 100 Mbps
- 1 Gbps
- 2.5 Gbps
Multi-Gig Ethernet and 2.5G Multi-Gig Ethernet ports are backwards compatible with standard 100 Mbps and gigabit devices and support higher speed connections on legacy Category 5E (Cat5E) and Category 6 (Cat6) cables. This means that you can experience the full capability of your high-performance network devices without upgrading your cables.
For more information:
- What is multi-gig Internet?
- What are link aggregation and LACP and how can I use them in my network?