[l008com]

Right now my home server is a G4 tower with built in gigabit ethernet for the LAN, AND a pci ethernet card for the modem connection. Yes one of my server's many many functions is routing and dhcp. So I have that popular model of motorola SurfBoard modems. It has ethernet AND usb. Has anyone ever used one of these modems through USB?

I ask because I will be replacing this G4 tower with a kick ass new Mac mini. It only has one ethernet port which will be for the LAN. So my options for the modem are a usb ethernet adapter and an ethernet cable, or skip the middle man, save $30 and just go direct usb.

Do you need special drivers to do this? Or will the modem just show up as a network interface when you plug it in? How buggy is it? My connection is a 10mbit one, but it's not the most solid connection I've ever had. Not as clean and steady as bigger companies like comcast and fios tend to be. I suppose that isn't actually very relevant buuuuut oh well.

[Big Mac]

I'm pretty sure you need a special driver. I have only heard negative things about USB based network devices and have always recommended against them.

[Cold Warrior]

USB modem connectivity is horrible. The $30 you save now will be spent very soon on lost uptime and wasted hours of tech support.

[ghporter]

I agree with Cold Warrior; buy an inexpensive router and let that do that work. You can find Linux-based routers (for example, the older Linksys' WRT-54G series) and use free, third-party firmware to add any functionality you need that you're using your Mini for.

[l008com]

I completely disagree. I see no advantage at all, and only disadvantages to running a hardware router when I already run a home server. But that is off topic anyway because all I'm asking about here is sufboard modems using USB. Has anyone actually done it on a mac? Hows it worked out?

[ghporter]

A quick check of Motorola's pages for the Surfboard series reveals this FAQ entry:

Do you have Macintosh USB drivers?
No. Since Macintosh computers generally ship with Ethernet NICs, no USB driver is available.

I have no idea where you'd find drivers other than from Motorola...

[l008com]

I was reading this very old thread on this forum, with the same title as this what I think was teh same modem. That person said they plugged it in and it just showed up as a network interface. It wouldn't be the first time a company made something that worked with OS X, and rather than test it, just ignored us all together.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by l008com 

It wouldn't be the first time a company made something that worked with OS X, and rather than test it, just ignored us all together.

It is indeed worth the proverbial shot. But barring that, I'd go some route other than USB for a number of reasons.

[Big Mac]

I strongly have to agree with the prevailing wisdom, but it won't hurt you to try USB connectivity.

[l008com]

So I've finally switched to my new mac mini server. I plug in my cable modem and it does show up automatically in network prefs pane. Problem is, it doesn't show up as an ethernet port, where it would just get an ip via DHCP and work. No, it shows up as a MODEM. Looking for a number to dial, and a username and password. There IS NO number to dial, and there IS NO username and password. So right now i'm connected to the modem via ethernet and my server/router is connected to my existing network via wifi. If anyone does know a way to get this to work, let me know!! Otherwise I'll have to get the apple usb ethernet adapter soon.

[ibook_steve]

Reading the whole thread, I still don't understand why you are opposed to purchasing a separate router, which will solve all of your problems. You'll have much more control over how devices connect to each other and to the Internet. If you're going to spend the money on a USB-to-ethernet adaptor, why not spend it instead on a dedicated router?

Steve

[l008com]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

Reading the whole thread, I still don't understand why you are opposed to purchasing a separate router, which will solve all of your problems. You'll have much more control over how devices connect to each other and to the Internet. If you're going to spend the money on a USB-to-ethernet adaptor, why not spend it instead on a dedicated router?

Steve

I see no advantage at all to adding a cheap $30 router to my network, that will last maybe 9 months if i'm lucky before it starts failing. I already have a full time server running OS X. I already have full control of it's DHCP server. It's super reliable, and its one less box sucking down juice. I'm not going to weaken my network by offloading one of the most important functions, off a super fast and reliable mac, on to a piece of ****, goona fail any day now, cheap ass router.

Get it now?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by l008com 

I'm not going to weaken my network by offloading one of the most important functions, off a super fast and reliable mac, on to a piece of ****, goona fail any day now, cheap ass router.

You are a piece of work.

Don't you think that your network will be considerably more weakened with a USB connected cable modem ?

And, btw, you are aware that most likely, the speed that you get via a USB connection is abysmal compared to ethernet ?

Lastly, from all I remember, you are making money off of your hosting.
But you are too cheap to buy a simple switch that will, for sure, last longer than 9 months ?

-t

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by l008com 

I see no advantage at all to adding a cheap $30 router to my network, that will last maybe 9 months if i'm lucky before it starts failing. I already have a full time server running OS X. I already have full control of it's DHCP server. It's super reliable, and its one less box sucking down juice. I'm not going to weaken my network by offloading one of the most important functions, off a super fast and reliable mac, on to a piece of ****, goona fail any day now, cheap ass router.

Get it now?

Then don't get a cheap router. Get an AEBS which has lots of features and won't break down. I love my AEBS and it has had zero problems for years now. And I don't understand how this will weaken your network.

There's no need to get hostile.

Steve

[l008com]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

You are a piece of work.

Don't you think that your network will be considerably more weakened with a USB connected cable modem ?

And, btw, you are aware that most likely, the speed that you get via a USB connection is abysmal compared to ethernet ?

Lastly, from all I remember, you are making money off of your hosting.
But you are too cheap to buy a simple switch that will, for sure, last longer than 9 months ?

-t

I think you are confusing my collocated server with my home server.

I have heard very good things about the apple usb ethernet adapter. So if the direct usb to modem route does prove to be unstable, I could just buy the $30 adapter. But theres no cost in trying direct usb. The modem already has it, and I have boxes of old USB cables. For one single, slow network connection, it could easily be stable.

I don't think speed would be an issue at all. I get 10mbit down and a fraction of that up. If we were talking a full speed connection to a gigabit or even a 10/100 network, I might have some issue with the speed. But for the internet connection, as a network speed, that's a trickle.

And I do have a real nice switch. I want the server to be the gateway, everything passes through it (or gets denied at it).

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by l008com 

I have heard very good things about the apple usb ethernet adapter.

I don't think that's the issue.

I think the weak link is the USB implementation on the Moto Surfboard side.

But hey, test it and see what it does. For me, the question would be how much time I'd want to spend tinkering with it. If you spend 4 hours avoiding to buy a $30 switch, you probably didn't gain much overall.

-t

[Snow-i]

Keep in mind that Cable modems WILL NOT work with both USB and Ethernet at the same time. If you connect one, the other breaks. THEY CANNOT DO USB AND ETHERNET AT THE SAME TIME, I repeat. YOU CANNOT RUN USB AND ETHERNET AT THE SAME TIME ON A MODEM.

Do yourself a favor and avoid this, get a router or even invest in a gateway (modem with built in router).

You'll cause yourself nothing but problems with USB. It was never meant for internet and is poorly implemented on it. You'll also use processor time for internet as opposed to hardware controlled ethernet. Also, you will need drivers supplied from the manufacturer.

I've worked for both Apple and Comcast in my past...do yourself a huge favor and don't go with USB. You're wasting time and money. It is included with modems so that people can use pre-ethernet computers with drivers on the internet. I.E. decades old boxes that would never utilize the full speed of a cable connection anyways.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Snow-i 

Do yourself a favor and avoid this, get a router or even invest in a gateway (modem with built in router).

E.g.

Newegg also has TRENDnet GREENnet Gigabit Ethernet Switch for $24.99 - $10 Rebate = $14.99 with free shipping. Next lowest on Google Products is $35 shipped.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/2272...15-after-10MIR

-t

[Snow-i]

Believe me...talking from experience.

You in a week will want to come back in time to now and smack yourself for ever thinking USB-internet from a modem is a good idea.

Its buggy, not reliable, slow, and generally going to cause an extreme amount of stress.

[OreoCookie]

Thirded. Avoid USB modems at all costs. With a router (which are very cheap these days), you are not dependent on drivers.

[CharlesS]

Frankly, I'm surprised that this whole thread isn't an April Fools' joke, myself.

[abbaZaba]

look at all the guy's cool sites he hosts. he clearly knows more than all you. don't you dare try to weaken his network!