USB-To-Ethernet Adaptors for Mac OS X
Introduction
Like many Macintosh users, I've wanted to add a second Ethernet to an iBook (iMac, or Mac Mini) to use as a server (or as a replacement for a dead Ethernet built-in). Although USB to Ethernet adaptors are cheap and plentiful, Mac OS X drivers are not. After scouring the web and talking to other Mac developers, I finally found a workable combination. The purpose of this note is to document what works since I haven't seen it widely published anywhere else. I welcome your feedback to help keep this page up-to-date.
OEM Alternative (Gigabit Ethernet but limited by USB 2.0)
Device: http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Gigabit-Ethernet-Network-Adapter/dp/B003VSTDFG
Driver: http://www.asix.com.tw/FrootAttach/driver/AX88178_Macintosh_10.4_to_10.7_Driver_v3.6.0_20111014.zip
Drivers and Supported Devices
After some research on the web, I came to realize there are two basic catagories of USB-To-Ethernet adaptors:
USB 1.1 devices that use a Pegasus driver.
USB 2.0 devices that use a AX8817x driver
(or its successor, the AX88772 which appeared around Aug-2005).
While there are no doubt exceptions, most of the popular low cost adaptors fall into one of these categories.