[GTALUG] USB to Ethernet Dongles WAS: Debian Linux as-a-router Guide

[o1bigtenor]

On Sat, Sep 9, 2023 at 10:20 AM Evan Leibovitch via talk
<talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
>
> On Sat, Sep 9, 2023 at 9:56 AM D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> Notebooks are almost supplanting "regular" PCs.
>
>
> IMO we're well beyond the "almost" in that statement.
> COVID led to work-from-home which necessitated laptops for employees in the services sector.
> Even though the COVID threat has reduced, WFH is never going away.
> For typical business use there is no compelling reason for a desktop.

Dunno - - - I would say that I see no compelling reason for a laptop.
Power headaches, tiny monitor space (I have a seriously multi-monitor
system (think 8620 x 3000 pixels almost all of it visible))
unable to use an ergo keyboard - - - - I wonder why anyone would want
to use a laptop (lol)?
>
> But also, for the purpose of this thread, even "regular" PCs are increasingly coming with wifi as an alternative to wired networking. Ditto printing, where only premium units have Ethernet but most have wifi. This makes sense as most homes are well wired for RJ11 POTS service, but few are wired for RJ45. So the usual solution I have seen lately is to blanket even large houses with mesh wifi like the TP-Link Deco line. This seems good enough for most people as even 4K televisions are fine with wifi.

If one is into privacy and security - - - wifi - - - not so hot - - -
sorry! (radio waves are very indiscriminate!)
>
> I was fortunate enough to buy a house from a developer when all that existed at the time of purchase was a sales office and a hectare or two of dirt. So I was able to do custom wiring. Requesting almost every room wired with RJ45 was so unusual it took me almost a full afternoon to explain it to the contractor. Then they brought in a commercial team that tried to sell me massively overpriced Ethernet switches. But I ended up happy with the result, though I have no idea if it will affect the house's resale value.

Gret for you but did they use cat 5 or 5e wiring. Today you might need
cat 8 (6 and 7 seems to have been obsoleted - - - dunno).
I would have dragged in conduit then you would be very future proof -
- - with just cable runs you will have to redo every 20 odd years.
>
> I have three USB-to-Ethernet devices. One was supplied by Asus with the laptop. Another is a TP-Link UE300C That is used with other laptops. But the one I use the most is a $21 hub I bought on Aliexpress that also includes an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and some additional USB-A ports. All have worked well under both Windows and Linux (KDE Neon), though I haven't exactly stress-tested them. The hub is fussy about the order of plugging things in but it works.
>

I may have found a unicorn. Label says its a Tripp-Lite (model
U209-006-RJ-45-X) usb to RJ-45 cable made by Eaton.
FreeBSD also gives that baby passing marks - - - -its the one one
there that gets that.

Wasn't cheap though (it was a newegg purchase and shipping was quick).

Might be worth a look if you need such - - - I did/do because buying
used commercial computers
it seems that a second RJ-45 is considered irrelevant although there
might be 4 or 5 USB 3.x
ports. Big business doesn't think long term - - - its for use in the
period of the lease (at most
3 years possibly 4) then the systems are replaced. M$ loves this and I
like getting cheap reasonably
high speced small form factor systems (they help keep my power costs
down and space
considerations lower as well).

HTH