[SOLVED] Installation of "USB 2.0 10/100M Ethernet Adapter" (model QTS1081B 9700) (Corechip RD9700) (Exbom UL-100) in Apple macOS up to High Sierra and Big Sur and higher

 By means of enhacing security, installing drivers for the RD9700 chip based Ethernet Adapter changed from High Sierra  version onwards as explained in Big-Sur signed system volume security protection.

For older versions up to High Sierra, follow the instructions in:

- Up to High Sierra (10.13.6) Installation process 

Big Sur and higher 

Big Sur and newer requires an updated driver. Old ones don't install.
For newer versions, tested on my macOS Big Sur (11.7.10), I follow this post:

- IvanTerrible: Problem after macos 11 big sur update 

Steps done for my Big Sur  MacBook Air (Mid 2013): 

1. Downloaded new drivers provided by UGREEN (Chinese company) from  IvanTerrible post:

Drivers for Type-C Ethernet Chipset AX88179 for MacOS 10.9 to MacOS 11:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14zgRn3ByXK8mjueuws_Cb8MlIqzJ4aX-/view?usp=sharing

Drivers for Ethernet Chipset AX88772A for MacOS 10.05 to MacOS 11:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W2sfestajENincZYpQQ0QnjM_cD7z9Cn/view?usp=sharing

<<<< This one! >>>>

Drivers for Type-C Ethernet Chipset RTL8153/RTL8153B for MacOS 10.12 to MacOS 11:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b3VTsPl7sN4KxGErZZ5-t1UaRt5PJ0e-/view?usp=sharing

It doesn't mention 9700, but worked.

 

Original Chinese page with drivers for download:

https://www.lulian.cn/news/494-cn.html

After downloading and expanding "RTL 8153 Driver for MacOS.zip", you get:

 

So, for Big Sur, expand RTUNICv1.0.21_Update+4.zip and get the driver: RTUNICv1.0.21.dmg 

To upgrade the drivers, follow the steps below.

1. Unplug the external USB/Typce-C ethernet device.
2. Uninstall the outdated driver if you installed drivers previously (I did not uninstall anything).
3. When booting press and hold the "Command+R" key until the Apple icon appears on the screen, and the computer enters the recovery mode (if you have not entered this mode, please restart it again). More about Recovery Mode here: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-recovery-mode-3674052/
4. Select "Utilities" (top menu) > "Terminal".
5. In the terminal run the command "csrutil disable" (it will disable System Integrity Protection, it's probably possible to re-enable it later, I did not try, or when MacOS 11 has been properly updated).
6. Restart the computer.
7. Install the newly downloaded driver (RTUNICv1.0.21.dmg).
8. In System Preferences -> Security and Privacy, you will be prompted to allow this driver installation, accept.
9. Plug in your USB-Ethernet device again, and you should be able to access the Internet normally now. 

A word about this adapter:

 Even ported as USB 2.0 compatible, it just support USB 1.1 speed. So, the effective speed is about 6 MBs, not very useful, but sometimes is better than zero.