usb to ethernet adapter, module smsc75xx

[mmmrr]

hello all,

i'm trying to get an old toshiba laptop, satellite 4010cds,
pentium 2 inside, to connect to the internet via ethernet
cable. today i bought a usb to ethernet adapter, which a
newer laptop with a puplinux with a 3 series kernel identified
as module smsc75xx. the pentium 2 runs early 2.6 x kernels
very well, ie pup412/431, later 2.6x kernels -wary 5.3- a bit
more slowly...ram is maxed at 160mb.

wary 5.3 does not see the device.

i've also found linux websites which give a driver file when
i search with smsc75xx but i'm not sure what to do with the
file if i download it.

any help much appreciated. if there's a better usb adapter i
can take this one back. ideally i'd get a usb/ethernet adapter
running with pup412.

cheers, mm

from the docs that came with the adapter, the info [below] looks
helpful but i don't know the step by step procedure for building
and installing the driver:

1. Platforms and kernel versions supported
------------------------------------------

- x86 (32 bit PC): Built & minor tested with 2.6.31 and 2.6.32

2. Device support
-----------------

This release supports:
-LAN7500 (VID = 0x424, PID = 0x7500) USB to Ethernet 10/100/1000 device

3. Driver structure and file description
----------------------------------------

Driver module:

smsc7500.ko: lan7500 driver.

Files:
smsc7500usbnet.h - usbnet header file
smsc7500usbnet.c - usbnet source file
smsclan7500.h - lan7500 hardware specific header file
smsclan7500.c - lan7500 hardware specific source file
ioctl_7500.h - ioctl header file definitions
smsc7500version.h - Driver version number header file.
Makefile - Makefile
readme.txt - This file


4. Building and installing the driver
-------------------------------------
The following instructions work fine for a PC build environment, embedded
platforms may need slight build modifications, consult your platform documentation.
a. Obtain the kernel source tree for the platform in use and build it.
b. run 'make' command to smsc7500.ko module
c. load the module:
insmod smsc7500.ko
d. Plug in the lan7500 device into the USB port.
e. Configure the ethernet interface eth<n> in the usual way for an ethernet device.