EP-0228

W01 U2500 USB 2.5G ethernet + NVME

Description

Introducing Product W01, a versatile HAT for Raspberry Pi 5 that combines NVMe SSD expansion and USB 2.5G network capabilities into a single compact solution. Powered by the reliable Realtek RTL8156BG chipset, this HAT offers seamless integration with your Raspberry Pi 5, delivering high-speed data transfer and networking performance.

With Product W01, users can effortlessly expand their storage capacity with NVMe SSD support, enabling faster data access and improved overall system responsiveness. Additionally, the built-in USB 2.5G network card provides lightning-fast network connectivity, perfect for demanding applications, streaming, and online gaming.

Experience the convenience and power of Product W01 as it enhances the capabilities of your Raspberry Pi 5, offering a seamless solution for storage expansion and high-speed networking. Elevate your projects, boost productivity, and unlock new possibilities with Product W01 and its advanced features.

What is U2500 mean?

 U stands for USB, 2500 stands for 2.5G network. 

NOTE:

USB 2.5G ethernet does not support PoE protocol

Features

• Designed for RPI 5: Dedicated to the latest single-board computer, the Raspberry Pi 5.
• NVMe Capability: Supports installing NVMe (M-key) drives in M.2 format sizes 2230,2242, 2260 and 2280,, extra custom CNC SSD mount screw, no soldering required.
• PCIe Support: PCIe x1 interface in both Gen2 & Gen3 standards.
• Hollow design: Hollow design provides excellent ventilation airflow for cooling.
• Gold-plated PCB: Gold-plated PCBs offer superior electrical performance.
• PCIe ultra-short signal lines:The short trace routing of PCIe is more reliable and faster, fully meeting the signal requirements of PCIe 3.0.
• LED Indicators: Features LED light for M.2 disk activity (“ACT”).
• Compatible Form Factor:Board format is compatible with the original Raspberry Pi HAT dimensions of 65 x 56.50 mm.
• M.2 Standard-Compliant Power System: Integrated voltage regulator delivering up to 3A for the 3.3V power rail, compliant with M.2 (NGFF) standard.
• All Necessary Accessories Included: Comes with a FPC PCIe ribbon, M2 and M2.5 screws, spacers, and extra custom CNC SSD mount screw.
• Camera/Display fpc cutout: The openings in the PCB allow for the routing of two Display/Camera FPC cables.
• Ultra-Fast Speeds: Unlock lightning-fast network speeds of up to 2.5 Gigabit per second, ensuring smooth and lag-free performance for your online activities.
• Realtek RTL8156BG Chipset: Powered by the reliable Realtek RTL8156BG chipset, this network card delivers exceptional stability and performance for uninterrupted connectivity.
• Plug-and-Play Convenience: Enjoy hassle-free installation with plug-and-play functionality, making it easy to set up and start using the network card in no time.
• RPi5 Compatibility: Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5
• Energy-Efficient Operation: Designed for energy efficiency, the network card helps reduce power consumption without compromising on performance, making it a sustainable choice for your network setup.

Specifications

• Size: 85x56x15.15mm
• Power:
  • USB 2.5G ethernet;: +5V 650mA
  • NVMe SSD: Depending on the user's SSD.

 
This USB-C Port is a power input, The Type-C power port is directly connected to the 5V pins of the Raspberry Pi. Max 5V/5A 

Gallery

• Product Outlook

• Back face

• Product Dimension

• NVMe SSD compatibility

• Compatible with M-key 2230/2242/2260/2280 NVMe SSD

• Port Definitions

• Product features

• Fixing with M.2 NVMe M-key 2242 SSD

• Fixing with M.2 NVMe M-key 2280 SSD

How to assmble it?

• Please assemble it according to following figure:

NOTE: Please do not tighten the screws too tightly, otherwise the threads may slip. 

Package Includes

• 1 x W01 U2500 USB 2.5G ethernet + NVME Hat
• 8 x M2.5x4mm Flat head screw
• 2 x 8.5x40mm PCIe FFC cable
• 1 x 40Pin PC104 Pin Header
• 4 x M2.5x17mm Copper pillar
• 1 x M2 Iron Pillar (for fixing SSD)
• 1 x Screw driver

How to enable PCIe on Raspberry Pi 5

• We assume that you are using Raspberry Pi OS (bookworm) 2024-03-15

Step 1

• Enable PCIe function

Edit /boot/firmware/config.txt file and adding following parameter in to the file.

dtparam=pciex1
dtparam=pciex1_gen=3

Save it and then do remember reboot your Raspberry Pi to take effect.

Step 2

• Check if the SSD drive has been recognized

sudo lspci 
sudo lspci -v 
sudo lsblk

Result be like:

Step 3

• Partitioning

Please divide the partition according to actual needs. Here I simply divided a partition and formatted it into ext4. Please refer to the configuration method related to the fdisk command to operate.

 
sudo fdisk /dev/nvme0n1
>d
>n 
>p
>1
> Enter > Enter 
> w
sudo partprobe /dev/nvme0n1

• Formating

sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/nvme0n1p1

• Create mounting point and mount the partition to directory.

mkdir mynvme01
sudo mount -t ext4 /dev/nvme0n1p1 /home/pi/mynvme01 -v 

• Grant access permission

sudo chown -R pi:pi /home/pi/mynvme01 
sudo chmod -R 775 /home/pi/mynvme01

• Modify the /etc/fstab to enable automount function.

 
sudo nano /etc/fstab 

adding:

/dev/nvme0n1p1   /home/pi/mynvme01  ext4   defaults,noatime  0 0 

save it and execute:

sudo umount /dev/nvme0n1p1 
sudo mount -a
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
df -Th

How to configure Network Interface Card?

• Check if the NIC has been recognized, execute following command in terminal.

lsusb

• Check if the address has been aligned by router's DHCP server, execute following command in terminal.

ifconfig 

• Monitoring system information

• Test by using iperf3 with another Raspberry Pi 4B(Wi-Fi) connection to same router.

Keywords

• W01 U2500 USB 2.5G ethernet + NVME hat, PCIe USB2.5G ethernet hat, Raspberry Pi 5 PCIe external hat, PCIe to NVMe M.2 hat board, Raspberry Pi 5 PCIe network interface card with NVMe SSD slot.