Radxa ROCK 5 ITX, Ethernet Port Connection and Non Destructive Verification Ethernet Interface Guide
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Independent CC BY 4.0 adaptation - ROCK 5 ITX Ethernet 1
ROCK 5 ITX dual Ethernet ports
Connection and non-destructive verification guide | 15 September 2026
Purpose and board identity
This independent checklist covers the two 2.5G RJ45 Ethernet ports on the ROCK 5 ITX Mini-ITX
motherboard. It is a connection and diagnostic supplement, not a replacement for the full Radxa board
documentation or a guide for unrelated models.
Before applying power
•
Use a known-working Ethernet cable and a router or switch. Radxa lists one or two network cables for initial
setup and notes the two RJ45 ports are useful for installation and updates.
•
Connect one cable to the first RJ45 port and note its physical position. Do not identify ports by a guessed
network-interface name; operating systems can enumerate interfaces differently.
•
If using a chassis, route the cable without crushing it. Finish all internal motherboard cabling with power
disconnected before first boot.
Basic link check
•
Boot the board and confirm the connected port reports an Ethernet link in the operating system. Check the
switch or router port indication as an independent physical signal.
•
Verify the board can reach a known local network host or the router. A link indication alone does not prove IP
configuration or network reachability.
•
Move the same known-working cable to the second RJ45 port and repeat. Record each port separately; do
not assume both ports are configured with the same IP settings.
Stable MAC-address observation
Radxa states that the ROCK 5 ITX MAC address is unique and fixed across power cycles, software reboots,
and reflashing. For a non-destructive check, note each interface address locally, reboot normally, and compare
the same interface after reboot. Do not publish MAC addresses or network credentials in an upload or
shared test record.
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Independent CC BY 4.0 adaptation - ROCK 5 ITX Ethernet 2
Optional throughput check
ROCK 5 ITX Ethernet | test only on a network you control
Prerequisites
A reachable second computer on the same authorized network is required. Both endpoints should run iperf3; a
negotiated 2.5G link does not guarantee 2.5G application throughput. Cable, switch, peer, and network load all
affect results.
•
Install iperf3 from the trusted operating-system package source if it is not already present. On the peer, start
iperf3 -s. Replace the example address below with that peer's local IP.
•
From the ROCK 5 ITX, run iperf3 -c PEER_IP -t 60 for board-to-peer traffic.
•
Run iperf3 -c PEER_IP -t 60 -R for peer-to-board traffic. Compare the two directions; do not treat either
number as a guaranteed product rating.
•
Repeat per Ethernet port if the peer and switch support it. Stop the server after the test. Avoid testing across a
metered or production-critical link without authorization.
If one port fails
•
Keep the same cable and switch port while changing only the ROCK 5 ITX RJ45 port. Then try a second
known-good cable if needed.
•
Check whether the operating system enumerates the second interface and whether it has an appropriate IP
configuration. A missing IP address is not proof of hardware failure.
•
Do not short pins or probe live contacts to troubleshoot. Preserve observations for a later controlled hardware
inspection.
Local test record - keep private
Board revision: __________ Date: __________ Cable / switch test setup: __________
Port 1 link / reachability / throughput: ________________________________________
Port 2 link / reachability / throughput: ________________________________________
Corrective action: ____________________________________________________________
Source, license, and adaptation
Adapted and reorganized from Radxa Documentation: ROCK 5 ITX Quick Start and Ethernet Interface Test Methods. Radxa
documentation carries CC BY 4.0; this independent, text-only adaptation is also shared under CC BY 4.0. It adds a staged, non-destructive
port-isolation checklist and does not imply Radxa endorsement. No source photos, logos, personal data, MAC addresses, or credentials are
included.
https://docs.radxa.com/en/rock5/rock5itx/getting-started/quick-start
https://docs.radxa.com/en/rock5/rock5itx/getting-started/interface-usage/ethernet
License: https://docs.radxa.com/en/license | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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