Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: State of the 'union' re: USB adapters

« on: February 29, 2024, 07:31:01 pm »

@

Greetings

Post for information to the general community.

I mentioned that I'm using a USB adapter to provide a second RJ-45 port on my system.
(Commercial systems seem to like lots of USB ports and only 'one' RJ-45 port!!)

Was informed that using such an adapter is often problematic.
The issue is drivers for FreeBSD.

The person letting me know that there could be issues was kind enough to include links to a number of threads discussing this issue.  (Following taken from that note.)

"Please see some examples:
https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=30531.0
https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=26432.0
https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=27189.0
https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=32336.0
The web search you want to begin with is along the lines of "ue0 freebsd", "ue freebsd" and similar.
Try the dongle, it might work and not give you too much trouble.
As for testing for robustness, a few network-intensive operations might give you an idea.
I would imagine it could cope with traffic forwarding but not be suitable for services that take packets off the interface like Zenarmor, Suricata."


I chose to investigate further as I noted that the above threads were from the range of 2018 to 2020 - - - - just in case there has been some movement.

I found a thread from last summer (July 2022):
https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/what-is-the-best-usb-ethernet-adapter-driver-free-for-freebsd.85813/ 

where mention is made of specific chip sets, in the USB adapter, with recommendations and caveats.

Found that the adapter that I had purchased, a TPlink UE305  uses the AX88179. Will report in after some period of usage to advise of the pieces effectiveness. 

(Hoping this is an appropriate mention - - - )

I've seen mixed info about AX88179 also and was about to try it out on a Mac Mini 2012 with the same TP-Link adapter. Any update on your experience with it?