I am investigating the possibility of receiving internet via a smartphone on my old Linux box (Slackware 10). The cell provider affirms this can be done via a USB connection (with an appropriate choice of phone and data plan).

The Linux machine does have USB ports, but they are USB 1.0 and are slow and unreliable.

However, the Linux machine, running dhcp, has successfully received both cable internet and DSL via a modem connected to a ethernet cable.

So the question is: Is there a way, using either cables or a router, to transfer data from the micro-USB cable on the cellphone to an ethernet cable connected to the machine's ethernet port? Does this question make any sense?

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I understand question as to be cell phone data to OTG to usb ethernet to router/computer.


I have used a OTG cable to a USB to ethernet adapter on Android 4.4. Then that could be used to send to a computer or router. It didn't however let me do it until I had a wifi connection on the phone. The current Android took that device out of the kernel so you'd have to find a current model that is supported in your OS and version. This assumes you have a modern smart phone with OTG.


The most easy way would be to set a common router to receive wifi from the tethered phone and then it would allow ethernet access. Many soho routers and opensourced router OS's can do that. I think I have a small Rosewill n150 that cost under $20 with opensourced router OS on it that can do almost everything.