The Giga NAS Dongle easily makes most USB storage devices and printers network capable. It can serve as an FTP server, Samba file server, UPnP media server and download server (BitTorrent). Configuration and settings are easily done via the Web browser.

• Pros Easy to install. Excellent throughput connected to USB 3.0. • Cons No Linux support. CD could include some network utilities and extra goodies. • Bottom Line StarTech's USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet NIC Network Adapter stands out among the disappointing USB-based network adapters we've tested, thanks to impressive performance. StarTech's USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet NIC Network Adapter (USB31000S) takes advantage of USB 3.0 connectivity to deliver network throughput that's almost as good as using an on-board Gigabit Ethernet controller.

A USB adapter such as StarTech's, is an easy way to install a NIC because you only have to attach the adapter to a USB port. Even better, the StarTech adapter is very easy to install, supports advanced networking features, and boosts throughput significantly beyond most USB adapters. The problem with USB-based adapters, especially in the case of Gigabit Ethernet, is that the speed of USB negatively impacts the Gigabit throughput rate. USB is slower than Gigabit, so when you connect a USB NIC to a USB 2.0 port, you aren't leveraging the full speed potential of Gigabit—which can slow down network performance. In the case of StarTech, performance was so good that the adapter is an easy Editors' Choice for networking devices. Specs and Features StarTech's adapter is a small device, with a type A male USB plug at one end and an RJ45 Gigabit port at the other.

Although you get the best performance connecting to USB 3.0, the adapter is backwards-compatible with USB 2.0 and even 1.0. That backwards-compatibility extends to the network connection; the adapter can connect to a 10/100 network as easily as to Gigabit (10/100/1000). There are some advanced settings in the adapter's properties worth exploring.

For example, you can enable VLAN tagging and Wake on LAN. There's also support for more granular controls such as Jumbo Frames, ARP Offload, and Flow Control. The StarTech adapter supports client machines running Windows XP, Vista, Window 7 and 8 (32 and 64 bit), as well as Windows Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2, and Mac systems running OS X 10.6 and later. Install The adapter ships with an instruction pamphlet and an install disc. Connect the adapter to a USB port and run setup off the disc to install.

Setup executes a wizard that has the adapter installed in seconds. I installed on a Windows 7 laptop and afterwards, the ASIX AX88179 USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter driver showed up in my laptop's network settings. As with any standard network port, when the adapter has a live network connection its LEDs light up. I have DHCP assigning both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses to my network clients and the StarTech adapter picked up both IP addresses without any problem.