Mixed Ethernet and USB networks

[Herbalist Dr MziziMkavu]

Parts of these pages on USB Networking are a cooperation with
Parallel Technologies, the creator/ inventor/ developer
of the DirectParallel® technology licensed to Microsoft
for the Direct Cable Connection (DCC) feature in
Windows 95/98/2000/ME ( supplier of the fast
DirectParallel® cable and of USB connection cables).

You can connect your USB network

of Windows98 or ME , Windows 2000
and Windows XP systems to an
Ethenet network.

The system connection these 2
different network, having both
an Ethernet adapter and a USB
network adapter, is acting as a
Router between the network segments.
(Except for Windows XP, where it is
better to use the Windows XP Network
Bridge )

To be able to have on ALL systems
all other systems displayed in the
"Network Neighborhood"
or "My Network Places",
you need to install a
"Bridge Protocol" (Windows9x/2000)
or define on the router both the
Ethernet and USB Network Adapter
as "Network Bridge" (Windows XP only)Note: This "USB-USB Bridge Protocol" must only be installed on the computer in the
USB Network that is connected to the USB Hub or the Ethernet LAN.
After you install this Bridge Driver on Computer A, there will be one more protocol:
USB-USB Networking Bridge in the Network Configuration. This is a routing protocol;
you can use it to bridge between an USB LAN and an Ethernet LAN.

When using Windows XP, it is much better to
use the Windows XP Network Bridge.

The installation of the USB
drivers loaded already the
files for the "Bridge Protocol"
onto your system.








You just need to add it by
selecting:
- "Add"
- Protocol
- Manufacturer: Prolific
- USB-USN Network Bridge

With a Dialup-adapter, an Ethernet
network adapeter and the USB
network adapter, NetBEUI and
TCP/IP protocol, the combinations
of adapters with protocols
(= "Bindings") is now resulting to a
long list, showing also the
"USB-USB Network Bridge"

On the Computer with both the Ethernet and USB network adapter ( system A in my example),
do the following steps:
-Right click on My Network Places

- Right click on the
Local Area Connection
for the USB Network
(if you hold the mouse for
a second over a connection,
it will display the adapter )
- select Properties

-in the General tab click Install.

- Select Protocol.
- Select Prolific.
- Select USB-USB Network Bridge.
Click OK.










If this protocol is NOT in the list of
protocols:

click on the "Have Disk" button and
insert your Windows 2000 Network
Bridge Diskette in your floppy drive.

Follow the instructions and the file
Pro2000.SYS (Bridge Protocol Driver)
and Pro2000.INF (Bridge Protocol
Installation file) will be installed into
your network configuration.


You will have to reboot for the
installation to be complete.

Important (and therefor I repeat it):

This "USB-USB Bridge Protocol" mustonly be installed only on the computer in
the USB Network that is connected to the
Ethernet LAN.All systems belonging to the same workgroup will then be displayed in the
"Network Neighborhood " and/or "My Network Places":

This will allow to access data on other systems.
however: the systems will be communicating via NetBEUI-protocol, which should be no
problem at home networks. But in office networks, TCP/IP is often the standard protocol
and very often also the ONLY protocol installed in the office server. Also on home networks,
there may be a need to use TCP/IP (for any Internet related issues, like: Internet connection Sharing)
and then it is required to make advanced configurations for :
TCP/IP in Mixed Ethernet and USB networks