Sonnet Twin10G Thunderbolt 2 Edition User Manual

User’s Guide

For
Windows

for Twin
Dual-Port
Thunderbolt

10

G™ Thunderbolt™ 2 Edition

10

GBASE-T

2

Adapter

10

Gigabit Ethernet

Contents

1 Chapter 1 – Introduction, System Requirements, and System Preparation 1

Introduction
Mac Compatibility
Windows Compatibility
System Requirements
Driver Information
Preparing to Use the Twin10G Adapter With a Mac Computer
Preparing to Use the Twin10G Adapter With a Windows Computer

2 Twin10G Thunderbolt 2 Edition (T2E) Description 3

Twin10G T2E Indicators, Sockets, and Ports
Power Adapter
Thunderbolt Cable
Thunderbolt Connector Retainer Clip

3 Software Installation Steps 5

Driver Download and Installation Steps—Mac Users

Driver Download And Installation Steps—Windows Users

4 Twin10G T2E Adapter Connection Steps 6

5 Verification and Configuration Steps 7

Confirm the Twin10G T2E and Its Ethernet Controllers are Recognized—Mac Users

Confirm the Twin10G T2E and Its Ethernet Controllers are Recognized—Windows Users

Basic Configuration Steps—Mac Users

Performance Tuning Steps—Mac Users

Basic Configuration Steps—Windows Users

6 Tips, General Information, and Known Issues 11

Tips, General Information
Known Issues

7 Warnings, FCC Compliance, and Support Information 12

Warnings
FCC Compliance
Contacting Customer Service
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Chapter 1 – Introduction, System Requirements, and System Preparation

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase! The Twin10G Thunderbolt 2
Edition (T2E) is a Thunderbolt 2 to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE)
adapter that enables you to connect your computer with
Thunderbolt 2 ports to 10GbE infrastructure.

Support Note: This document was up to date at the

time of printing. However, changes to the hardware or
software may have occurred since then. Please check the Sonnet
website for the latest documentation.

1. Go to www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php

2. Click the Thunderbolt Product link.

3. Click the Twin10G Thunderbolt 2 Edition link, and then click

the Documentation link.

4. Click the Twin10G Thunderbolt 2 Edition User’s Guide [English]

link and then check the Document Version information. If the
version listed is later than this document (revision F), click the
Download Now button for the latest version.

Mac® Compatibility

• Mac with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports

• Mac with Thunderbolt 3 ports when used with an Apple
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

®

10.8.5+

• OS X

• macOS

®

Mojave compatible

Windows® Compatibility

• PC with a Thunderbolt 2 port

• 64-bit editions of Windows 10, 8, 7

System Requirements

The Twin10G T2E adapter requires the following to operate:

• Thunderbolt cable (included)

• One or two CAT 6 or CAT 6A cables

Support Note: For link aggregation (teaming) support,
the switch or router to which the Twin10G T2E is
connected must also support link aggregation, and ports must
be configured for link aggregation. Windows 10 teaming requires
Creator's update, version 1703 or greater.

Driver Information

The drivers that enable the Twin10G T2E adapter to work with
your computer must be downloaded from Sonnet’s Website;
instructions follow.

1

Chapter 1 – Introduction, System Requirements, and System Preparation

Preparing to Use the Twin10G Adapter With a Mac
Computer

To enable the Twin10G T2E to work with your system, you will
do the following:

1. Download and install the Twin10G T2E drivers (instructions

follow).

2. Connect the Twin10G T2E adapter to a switch or storage

system (instructions follow).

3. Connect the Twin10G T2E adapter to your computer, and

then power on the computer (instructions follow).

4. Confirm the Twin10G T2E adapter and its Ethernet

controllers are recognized by your computer (instructions
follow).

5. Configure the adapter through the System Preferences’

Network control panel (instructions follow).

Preparing to Use the Twin10G Adapter With a
Windows Computer

To enable the Twin10G T2E to work with your system, you will
do the following:

1. Download and install the Twin10G T2E drivers (instructions
follow).

2. Connect the Twin10G T2E adapter to a switch or storage
system (instructions follow).

3. Connect the Twin10G T2E adapter to your computer, and
then approve the device (always connect); instructions
follow.

4. Confirm the Twin10G T2E adapter and its Ethernet
controllers are recognized by your computer (instructions
follow).

5. Configure the adapter through the Network and Sharing
Center control panel (instructions follow).

2

Chapter 2 – Twin10G Thunderbolt 2 Edition (T2E) Description

Support Note: Sonnet has sold two versions of the Twin10G

T2E adapter. The first version was manufactured through
approximately late October 2018, with the second edition
manufactured November 2018 and after. The ports are the same on
both versions; only the activity and link indicators dif fer as designated.

Twin10G T2E Indicators, Sockets, and Ports
1 – Power Indicator

This lights when the Twin10G T2E adapter is powered, the
Thunderbolt cable between the adapter and your computer is
plugged in securely, and the computer powered on. Note that if
the Twin10G T2E is connected to another Thunderbolt peripheral
device instead of directly to the computer, any other Thunderbolt
device connected between the computer and adapter must also be
powered on before the adapter’s power indicator will light up.

2 – Activity Indicators (Adapter Version 1)

These LEDs flash green to indicate a link is established between
the Twin10G T2E adapter and the switch, and there is activity
between the two.

3 – RJ45 (10GBASE-T) Port 2

Connect a CAT 6 or CAT 6A cable between this port and the
switch’s or storage device’s RJ45 port.

4 – Link Speed Indicators (Adapter Version 1)

When a link is established between the Twin10G T2E adapter
and the switch, these LEDs light to indicate the link speed to the
switch: yellow = 10Gb, green = 1Gb, off = 100Mb.

5 – RJ45 (10GBASE-T) Port 1

Connect a CAT 6 or CAT 6A cable between this port and the
switch’s or storage device’s RJ45 port.

6 – 12VDC Socket

Connect the included DC power adapter between this socket and
the included power cord.

7 – Thunderbolt 2 Ports

Connect the included Thunderbolt cable between either of these
ports and your computer’s (or intermediate peripheral device’s)
Thunderbolt port; the open port may be used to connect another
Thunderbolt peripheral device. You may not connect two computers

to this adapter’s Thunderbolt ports, nor to a daisy chain of Thunderbolt
peripheral devices.

A – Activity/Link Indicators (Adapter Version 2)

These LEDs light up green to indicate a link is established between
the Twin10G T2E adapter and the switch, and flash green when
there is activity between the two.

B – Link Speed Indicators (Adapter Version 2)

When a link is established between the Twin10G T2E adapter and
the switch, these LEDs light to indicate the link speed to the switch:
green = 10Gb, yellow = 1Gb, off = 100Mb.

3