Internet with USB to LAN adapter

Lucas Malor · 12-06-2013, 05:27 AM

Anyone knows what is needed to connect a device like Kobo to internet using a USB to Ethernet adapter with USB host integrated? I'm using such an adapter with my Android tablet and it works like a charm.

hawhill · 12-06-2013, 07:13 AM

What do you mean with "with USB host integrated"? Do you in fact mean an ethernet adapter that is an USB _device_ (instead of a "host")? Because this is the main point. The Kobo chipset is prepared for USB host support, but the software it runs isn't (kernel, i.e. drivers, as well as userland).

For a traditional USB Ethernet adapter, those things would need investigation.

Lucas Malor · 12-06-2013, 07:50 AM

Yes I mean a normal usb to ethernet adapter. Do you think this is a good start?
http://how-to.wikia.com/wiki/How_to_...ivers/usb/host

Ken Maltby · 12-06-2013, 12:00 PM

Hmm... so you want to attach your portable reading device to an Ethernet cable? The cable would run to your home lan. I guess you find the reader's built-in wireless too limiting? If you have no issue with plugging in a cable, have you considered USB?

Luck;
Ken

PeterT · 12-06-2013, 01:59 PM

Remember you will have to do a lot of messing around with a range of the standard Kobo release including the udev rules and scripts that are invoked when a device is plugged in.

In many ways a far easier approach would be a portable access point that would connect to the Ethernet and provide WiFi access to the Kobo.

See http://www.asus.com/Networking/WL330gE/ or http://www.dlink.com/ca/en/home-solu...d-access-point for examples of devices that provide this functionality.

hawhill · 12-07-2013, 02:27 AM

As for the original plan, Lucas Malor: The link you've given is way to general and desktop oriented. Rebuilding the kernel is not for the faint at heart for starters, porting over a driver for USB host mode to the kernel which might not even be in the kernel source tree for the Kobo yet is an even bigger challenge.

I'm not aware of any success reports bringing USB host mode to the Kobo (yet). Depending on the wiring of the hardware, it might even turn out to be quite hard. Plus, there is probably no proper powering of the port, so there would probably some external powering needed.

yoq · 12-07-2013, 03:46 PM

At the XCSoar projectm, someone has actually managed to compile a kernel with host mode:
http://forum.xcsoar.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1167
http://vimeo.com/68476162
I'm sure you can get the sources from him/her.
But I don't know whether linux supports these dongles out-of-the-box so you might still need to compile a kernel module with the driver.

edit: project page: http://max.kellermann.name/projects/xcsoar/kobo.html, contains an installer but no sources

hawhill · 12-08-2013, 07:19 AM

There might be support in the kernel sources right now. It's probably a bit more fiddly to create a cable that supports external powering. Maybe an externally powered USB hub could do the job - whether that would fit the needs of an OP is another question.

Thanks for the link! It shows it can be done. Maybe dropping Max an email could clarify some questions.

12-06-2013, 05:27 AM	#1
Lucas Malor Pain in the arse Posts: 758 Karma: 77856 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle 4	Internet with USB to LAN adapter Anyone knows what is needed to connect a device like Kobo to internet using a USB to Ethernet adapter with USB host integrated? I'm using such an adapter with my Android tablet and it works like a charm. Last edited by Lucas Malor; 12-06-2013 at 07:51 AM.

12-07-2013, 03:46 PM	#7
yoq Developer Posts: 77 Karma: 206176 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Europe Device: Kobo Glo	At the XCSoar projectm, someone has actually managed to compile a kernel with host mode: http://forum.xcsoar.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1167 http://vimeo.com/68476162 I'm sure you can get the sources from him/her. But I don't know whether linux supports these dongles out-of-the-box so you might still need to compile a kernel module with the driver. edit: project page: http://max.kellermann.name/projects/xcsoar/kobo.html, contains an installer but no sources Last edited by yoq; 12-07-2013 at 04:38 PM.

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12-06-2013, 07:13 AM	#2
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	What do you mean with "with USB host integrated"? Do you in fact mean an ethernet adapter that is an USB _device_ (instead of a "host")? Because this is the main point. The Kobo chipset is prepared for USB host support, but the software it runs isn't (kernel, i.e. drivers, as well as userland). For a traditional USB Ethernet adapter, those things would need investigation.

12-06-2013, 07:50 AM	#3
Lucas Malor Pain in the arse Posts: 758 Karma: 77856 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle 4	Yes I mean a normal usb to ethernet adapter. Do you think this is a good start? http://how-to.wikia.com/wiki/How_to_...ivers/usb/host

12-06-2013, 12:00 PM	#4
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Hmm... so you want to attach your portable reading device to an Ethernet cable? The cable would run to your home lan. I guess you find the reader's built-in wireless too limiting? If you have no issue with plugging in a cable, have you considered USB? Luck; Ken

12-06-2013, 01:59 PM	#5
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,155 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	Remember you will have to do a lot of messing around with a range of the standard Kobo release including the udev rules and scripts that are invoked when a device is plugged in. In many ways a far easier approach would be a portable access point that would connect to the Ethernet and provide WiFi access to the Kobo. See http://www.asus.com/Networking/WL330gE/ or http://www.dlink.com/ca/en/home-solu...d-access-point for examples of devices that provide this functionality.

12-07-2013, 02:27 AM	#6
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	As for the original plan, Lucas Malor: The link you've given is way to general and desktop oriented. Rebuilding the kernel is not for the faint at heart for starters, porting over a driver for USB host mode to the kernel which might not even be in the kernel source tree for the Kobo yet is an even bigger challenge. I'm not aware of any success reports bringing USB host mode to the Kobo (yet). Depending on the wiring of the hardware, it might even turn out to be quite hard. Plus, there is probably no proper powering of the port, so there would probably some external powering needed.

12-08-2013, 07:19 AM	#8
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	There might be support in the kernel sources right now. It's probably a bit more fiddly to create a cable that supports external powering. Maybe an externally powered USB hub could do the job - whether that would fit the needs of an OP is another question. Thanks for the link! It shows it can be done. Maybe dropping Max an email could clarify some questions.

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