USB to LAN adapter and USB over LAN software - how to choose?

Olga Weis Sep 2, 2020

Many modern computers and laptops do not have an Ethernet port. In portable computers, this is often for weight saving, but it is also due to the popularity of wireless network connections. There are however times when an Ethernet connection is preferred or required. It is possible to overcome this physical hardware limitation with a USB to LAN converter and specialized software like USB Network Gate. This USB over LAN software will allow you to share the adapter, making it accessible remotely to other computers.

USB over LAN software

Traditional hardware options for sharing USB is very limited due to proximity of devices. Coupled with that, you are stuck with a clutter of wires and cables all over your desk. By using USB Network Gate instead to access the USB to LAN adapter, you have a convenient and efficient way to share any of your USB devices, including USB to LAN dongles, over a network without all the hassle.

How to use USB Network Gate to share your USB device?

Download and install USB Network Gate on the server machine (The computer with the physical USB port where you have attached the adapter that you want to share)
Launch the application and locate the device you want to share in the “Local USB devices” tab. Click “Share”
Then install USB Network Gate on the client machines. (The Client refers to all machines that require access to the remote USB device)
Start the application and click on the “Remote USB devices” tab. Locate the shared USB adaptor and click “Connect”.
You're all set. The client machines will now be able to see the remote network adapter in the computer's Device Manager and will have full access to it as if it was physically connected to the client.

Key advantages of sharing USB devices with USB Network Gate

USB Network Gate allows you to create cross-platform connections. You can connect to a shared network interface with USB to LAN for Mac and from a Windows to USB to LAN Linux machine, and vice versa without losing any functionality.
USB Network Gate has no restrictions on physical distance or network type. You can share devices over LAN, Ethernet, WiFi or Internet.
Any type of USB device can be shared with USB Network Gate not just network adapters.

USB to LAN hardware – What are the best options available?

If you need an Ethernet port but your computer lacks a LAN card, you have the option of using a USB to Ethernet adapter. By using a wired connection with the Ethernet port, you generally have a faster connection than a wireless connection. An Ethernet connection is also more stable and reliable, and it offers more security than a wireless connection.

Inland USB over LAN converter

If you are looking for a high performance but simple plug and play network adapter, look no further than the Inland USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter. The Inland adapter is a versatile option for all sorts of devices that use a standard USB port. By plugging the Inland adapter into your USB 3.0 port, you can connect a stand RJ-45 Ethernet cable giving you network or Internet access with up to a 1000Mbit/s connectivity speed. You also need to download Inland usb to lan adapter driver for further work.

Lenovo USB to LAN extender

Lenovo's The ThinkPad USB 3.0 Ethernet (4X90E51405) adapter is a dual purpose adapter. It can provide high speed Ethernet through a USB 3.0 port on a computer that does not have a traditional Ethernet RJ-45 connector, but it also allows you to boot up selected Lenovo ThinkPad systems over LAN. With its compact design, the Lenovo ThinkPad adapter puts convenient portable networking at your fingertips, allowing you to connect your Ultrabook or Tablet easily to your corporate VPN, or to the Internet wherever you are.

Belkin USB to LAN adapter

With the Belkin USB 2.0 Ethernet Adapter, you can create a USB to LAN connection from any desktop or laptop to your network or modem. With a router as your central connection point, you can not only share your high-speed Internet connection, but you can also share files and hard drives. The Belkin Adapter is a great option for USB to LAN for Mac as it is designed to work with MacBooks but it is fully compatible with various Windows versions from Windows 2000 through to Windows 10. Linux supports USB to LAN by default.

Startech USB to LAN

Convert your USB port to a RJ45 port by inserting the Startech USB to LAN Adapter into your computer's USB port. This Ethernet USB dongle includes additional features like built-in Checksum, Large Send Offload (LSO) support and Jumbo Frames (Ethernet frames with payloads of over 1500 bytes). The Startech Adapter also features Crossover Detection & Auto-Correction (Auto MDIX) thereby ensuring a dependable connection.

USB to LAN FAQs

What is LAN?

LAN stands for Local Area Network. It is quite simply a group of computers and devices that are connected to a server within a finite physical location, such as an office or school. The connection can be wired or wireless and the number of computers on a LAN are not limited.

Is it possible to connect an Ethernet cable to a USB port?

Yes. If you need to connect to a wired LAN or router or modem but you do not have an Ethernet port, you can use a USB to Ethernet adapter. Your Ethernet cable can then be plugged in to the adapter providing you with Ethernet capability.

How can I convert a USB port to LAN?

Using a USB to Ethernet plug and play adapter is the quickest way to convert a USB port to Ethernet. Installing an Ethernet card is more costly and time consuming, whereas by simply attaching an adapter as and when you need it, you are not making any permanent configurations to your computer, and it is quick and easy to use.

How does a USB to LAN adapter work?

A USB to LAN dongle simply has a USB connector on one end and an Ethernet controller on the other. By inserting the adapter into the computer's USB port, and an Ethernet cable in the other end, you have access to full speed Ethernet data transfer. The Ethernet controller receives Ethernet frames and transmits them over USB in a format that the specific driver will understand.

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Requirements: OS: Windows 7 SP1/8/8.1/10/11; Windows Server 2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019/2022
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Latest version: v10.0.2450, Released 16 Jan, 2022 Release notes