The following scripts are adapted from instructions on Robotic Controls.
These scripts (one for the Beaglebone and one for the computer) will allow the computer to forward network traffic to the BBB. This way you only need one cable - USB - to communicate with a networked BBB (I use this in lieu of ethernet because I am nowhere near my router).
chmod +x internet and chmod +x internetclient will make the scripts
executable. Then simply run ./internet on the computer first and
./internetclient after on the Beaglebone.
Keep in mind that many of the commands require root level access so a sudo su
will be needed. (sudo doesn’t apply to any commands after the first so you
will still run into trouble running the scripts from a non-root user).