USB to Ethernet Frequently Asked Questions 

Windows* 98:
Q. How do I install the Xircom® USB to Ethernet hardware and drivers?
Q. How do I install Basic Microsoft* peer to peer networking?
Q. How do I Configure TCP/IP for a two-computer network?

Windows* 95, Windows NT* and Windows* 2000:
Q. Will USB to Ethernet work under Windows* 95, NT and 2000?

MAC:
Q. Will USB to Ethernet also work on a MAC?

Q. How do I install the Xircom® USB to Ethernet hardware and drivers?

1. With Windows running, plug your Xircom USB to Ethernet adapter into an available USB port. You should see a window stating "New Hardware Found".

2. Put your Xircom Drivers floppy disk in drive A: and click Next.

3. Click Next Again.

4. Make sure only the "Floppy disk drives" box is checked, then click Next.

5. Windows may ask where the files are more than once. Type or select A: in the box, then click OK. Always point to the A: drive first when Windows asks for files during the installation, since most of the files are on the floppy disk.

6. When the files are finished copying from your floppy, click Finish.

7. You will be asked if you want to restart. Answer Yes.  At this point your installation of the Xircom converter is complete.

8. Now you need to install networking. Many books are available on this subject. Simply treat the Xircom converter like it was any other type of Ethernet adapter.

9. For general Microsoft networking support, try the Microsoft* Support Web Page*.

Q. How do I install Basic Microsoft* peer to peer networking?

• Before you install the networking software you will need to make sure your Xircom network adapters are properly installed. First check the device manager under Network Adapters.

• Then check that the network adapter appears correctly under
  Control Panel -> Networking. Both the adapter and TCP/IP networking should appear under installed components.

• The steps below illustrate the procedure of adding a Microsoft* protocol to the established network device.

Step 1:

• RIGHT mouse click on the Network Neighborhood Icon on the desktop

• Select Properties

Step 2:

• Select Add? from the Configuration tab

Step 3:

• Select Protocol from the Select Network Component Type dialog box

• Click Add?

Step 4:

• Select Microsoft* under Manufacturers, and under Network Protocols, select the desired  protocol

• Click OK

Step 5:

• The "(desired protocol) ----> Xircom USB to Ethernet Converter" will appear in the Network settings dialog box

• Click Add? from the Network settings dialog box

Step 6:

• Select Service as the Network Component Type and click Add?

Step 7:

• Select File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks

• Click OK

Step 8:

• File and printer sharing for Microsoft* Networks will appear in the Network settings

• Click on File and Print Sharing?

Step 9:

• Check both options to share files and printers attached over the network

• Click OK

Step 10:

• The network protocol that you requested including File and printer sharing has been added to the network settings

• Click OK

Step 11:

• Windows 98 will configure the network, and may ask for the Windows 98 CD-ROM to be inserted

• Insert Windows 98 CD-ROM

• Click OK

• If you don't have the Windows* 95 CD-ROM, select the C:\\windows\\options\\cabs directory instead.

Step 12:

• Click Yes to Restart the computer

Q. How do I Configure TCP/IP for a two-computer network? How do I Configure TCP/IP for a two-computer network? How do I Configure TCP/IP for a two-computer network?

Step 1:

• RIGHT mouse click on Network Neighborhood on your Desktop

• SELECT Properties

Step 2:

• SELECT the Identification Tab

• Enter a unique name for your computer in the Computer name: field (i.e. Machine 1)

• SPACES are allowed for the Computer name

• The default Workgroup is WORKGROUP.

• If this field is blank, enter WORKGROUP for the Workgroup: field

• NOTE: BOTH machines must be on the same workgroup.

• Enter a description of the computer in the Computer Description: field. (i.e. 333MHz Machine)

• You may also choose to leave this field BLANK.

• Click OK

Step 3 (Only if using TCP/IP Protocol):

• SELECT Windows Logon from the Primary Network Logon drop-down list box.

• DOUBLE CLICK on TCP/IP -> Xircom® USB to Ethernet Converter

Step 4 (Only if using TCP/IP Protocol):

• SELECT Specify an IP address:

• Enter an IP address (see explanation below) or browse http://whatis.techtarget.com/* for more information on IP addresses and networking.

• 10.0.0.10 is a suggested example that will be used throughout this document. This number will identify one particular machine on your network. The other machine(s) will have unigue IP addresses that differs from 10.0.0.10 (i.e. 10.0.0.11)

• Enter 255.255.255.0 for the Subnet Mask: field.

• Click OK

• In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol (IP) today, an IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent in packets across the Internet.

The Local or Host Part of the IP Address

• In addition to the network address or number, information is needed about which specific machine or host in a network is sending or receiving a message. So the IP address needs both the unique network number and a host number (which is unique within the network). (The host number is sometimes called a local or machine address.)

• Part of the local address can identify a subnetwork or subnet address, which makes it easier for a network that is divided into several physical subnetworks (for examples, several different local area networks or LANs) to handle many devices.

Step 5:

• You might be prompted for the Windows& 98 CD-ROM

• Insert the Windows* 98 CD-ROM and Click OK

Or?

• Click OK and select c:\\windows\\options\\cabs as the cabinet files directory. This will only work if the cabinet files have been installed from the manufacturer.

Step 6:

• When asked to reboot your machine, Click Yes.

• REPEAT Steps 1-6 for your second machine.

• If you followed Steps 1-6 above for BOTH machines, you are successfully configured to communicate using the TCP/IP protocol between two machines. See the Network Trouble Shooting TIPs section for additional information.

Network Trouble Shooting TIPs:

• Networking can be difficult and frustrating when two or more machines are not communicating despite having taken all necessary steps to insure a proper network installation. The below TIPs will help debug your configured network.

Cabling:

• Figure 1 shows a typical network configuration using two U1E45 Xircom USB to Ethernet Converters. The cable used is called a CROSS-OVER cable. This cable does NOT require an Ethernet HUB to be placed between the machines.

• Cross-over cables can be asked for by name at any major computer store. If you are NOT sure if you have a cross-over cable, you can tell by looking at the colored wires at each end of the cable. If the colored wires DON'T change ordering, then your cable is NOT a cross-over cable. 

• Cross-over Ethernet cable has the wires "crossed-over" between the connectors as shown in Figure 3.

Settings:

Q: Are both machines on the SAME Workgroup?

• Step 2 above illustrates how to configure your machine(s) on a Workgroup.
• The Workgroup must be the same for both your machines.

Q: Does each machine have a properly configured unique IP Address?

• Step 4 above illustrates how to configure an IP address.
• Machine 1 will have IP address 10.0.0.10 and Machine 2 will have IP address 10.0.0.11

Q: Does each machine have the Subnet Mask configured to 255.255.255.0?

• Step 4 above illustrates how to configure the Subnet Mask.

Q: Can you PING "to get the attention of" the other machine?

• Ping is a basic internet program that lets you verify that a particular IP address exists and can accept requests. The verb ping means the act of using the ping utility or command. Ping is used diagnostically to ensure that a host computer you are trying to reach is actually operating. Ping can also be used with a host that is operating to see how long it takes to get a response back. Using ping, you can learn the number form of the IP address from the symbolic domain name.
• The PING command must be run from a DOS box with the IP address of the other machine as a command line switch. The illustrations below show how you can "ping" a machine on the network to see if the machine is able communicating on the established network.
• Open a DOS Box
• Go to the Start Menu, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt
• Run the PING command from this DOS box.
• The command  PING 10.0.0.11  will "ping" the IP address 10.0.0.11 for example. This will send 32 bytes of data over the established network to the machine with IP address 10.0.0.11. Four packets are sent out, and the machine will reply as illustrated. The time for a reply is recorded in milliseconds (ms).
• If you receive "Request Time Out" from the other machine, then your network is NOT configured properly, and you may need to trouble shoot other areas to get the network working.

Q. Will USB to Ethernet work under Windows* 95, NT, or 2000?

• Yes!  Drivers for the PortGear USB to Ethernet adapter for Windows* 95, NT, and 2000 are available on our web site.

Q. Will USB to Ethernet also work on a MAC?

• No!  There are no MAC drivers at this time.

This applies to:

Xircom® PortGear USB to Ethernet Adapter (PGENET10, U1-E45)