Has any company invented this yet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter l00ll0ll0ll00ll
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l00ll0ll0ll00ll

A 4 port or more USB hub that you can connect to more than one computer so
that you can share external HDDs, printers etc. that has a switch like some
KVMs do? Seems like a no brainer invention to me but I can't find any such
device for sale. I have a KVM that has an extra USB port and I am able to
share one of my external HDDs between two PCs but it only has USB 1.1 ports
on it so is too slow for HDDs. I share a printer with that port instead
though and it works great. I know you can get routers with USB ports to
share over a network but I am talking about just a USB hub specifically
because that doesn't require a home network setup to share.
 
andy said:
Google usb switch.
Click to expand...

Great, now to find a store in Canada that actually sells them. Only thing is
I see the 2 port versions are cheap enough but the 4 port versions are over
$100.00. Kind of pricy for a glorified USB hub.
 
Andy said:
4-TO-1 USB DATA SWITCH US$30.35
http://www.pccana.com/product_info.php?products_id=311788&currency=USD&ref=1
Click to expand...


Yea, I found one like that at NCIX too for about the same price but the ones
that allow 4 USB devices shared between 2 PCs are the ones I am talking
about that are expensive. I only need to share with 2 computers and need to
share more than one device but I guess if it only has one USB port to share
I can just plug a 4 port powered hub into it. I did that on my KVM one day
and it worked fine. It's really too bad my KVM is only USB 1.1 because then
I would not need to buy a USB switch.
 
Previously l00ll0ll0ll00ll said:
A 4 port or more USB hub that you can connect to more than one computer so
that you can share external HDDs, printers etc. that has a switch like some
KVMs do? Seems like a no brainer invention to me but I can't find any such
device for sale. I have a KVM that has an extra USB port and I am able to
share one of my external HDDs between two PCs but it only has USB 1.1 ports
on it so is too slow for HDDs. I share a printer with that port instead
though and it works great. I know you can get routers with USB ports to
share over a network but I am talking about just a USB hub specifically
because that doesn't require a home network setup to share.
Click to expand...

Not possible without gross violation of the standard, read the USB
specs. The way to do this is to use a network print server, a
networked file server, etc.

Arno
 
Not possible without gross violation of the standard, read the USB
specs. The way to do this is to use a network print server, a
networked file server, etc.

Arno
Click to expand...

I do not wish to set up a network through my router. I share a printer
right now over my USB KVM and it works perfectly. I don't know how it is a
"gross" violation of the standard but if it works then screw the standards.
 
I do not wish to set up a network through my router. I share a printer
right now over my USB KVM and it works perfectly. I don't know how it is a
"gross" violation of the standard but if it works then screw the standards.
Click to expand...

Well, if you do manual switchover, that is possible, as it does
a full unplug replug cycle. But it hardly qualifies as "sharing".

Arno
 
Arno said:
Well, if you do manual switchover, that is possible, as it does
a full unplug replug cycle. But it hardly qualifies as "sharing".

Arno
Click to expand...

If it allows me to use my external HDDs on two computers without having
to unplug/replug into the usb ports on each computer then that is all I
want. In hindsight I should have built a NAS device but I have already
invested in the external HDDs so will get a USB switch instead.
 
In message <[email protected]> Arno Wagner
Not possible without gross violation of the standard, read the USB
specs. The way to do this is to use a network print server, a
networked file server, etc.
Click to expand...

huh? Why not? When you hit the switch to flip from one computer to the
next all you're doing is unplugging the cable from one machine and
plugging in to the next.

This is simpler then a KVM since a KVM needs to maintain the appearance
of a keyboard and mouse from other machines' point of view.
 
Previously DevilsPGD said:
In message <[email protected]> Arno Wagner
Click to expand...
huh? Why not? When you hit the switch to flip from one computer to the
next all you're doing is unplugging the cable from one machine and
plugging in to the next.
Click to expand...

That is not sharing. That is just unplugging and re-plugging.
Sharing means concurrent access and you cannot have two masters
in a single-master bus.

Please do not call this "sharing". Call it an USB switchover or
the like, as this is what it logically is. Sharing implies both
computers being aware of the device concurrently.
This is simpler then a KVM since a KVM needs to maintain the
appearance of a keyboard and mouse from other machines' point of
view.
Click to expand...

For simple storage that does not require configuration, yes.
As all confiuration is normally lost when unplugging and
replugging, KVMs typically simulate KBD/mouse for each
attached computer. This can lead to rather wired compatibility
issues.

Arno
 
Arno said:
KVMs typically simulate KBD/mouse for each
attached computer. This can lead to rather wired compatibility
issues.
Click to expand...

*Weird* issues?

My KVM needs me to boot the 1st computer and wait until it's totally
into Windows before switching over and doing the same with the other
(visiting) computer. Otherwise a little later the mouse and keyboard can
freeze up.

--
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Previously Ed Light said:
Arno Wagner wrote:
Click to expand...
*Weird* issues?
Click to expand...
My KVM needs me to boot the 1st computer and wait until it's totally
into Windows before switching over and doing the same with the other
(visiting) computer. Otherwise a little later the mouse and keyboard can
freeze up.
Click to expand...

I had mouse buttons swap themselves with one KVM switch,
but only for one computer...

Arno
 
Arno said:
For simple storage that does not require configuration, yes.
As all confiuration is normally lost when unplugging and
replugging, KVMs typically simulate KBD/mouse for each
attached computer. This can lead to rather wired compatibility
issues.

Arno
Click to expand...

Simulate? It doesn't simulate anything, a KVM simply plugs/unplugs
keyboard/mouse between the two PC's just like one of those USB switches do.
 
Arno said:
I had mouse buttons swap themselves with one KVM switch,
but only for one computer...

Arno
Click to expand...

Was it PS2 or USB? My KVM has both USB and PS2 and only the PS2 ports
have caused an issue and that is because it is not really PS2, it is PS2
ports that are converted to USB. I have another 2 computers on a PS2
only KVM and that one has never given me any issues. Having to allow one
computer to fully boot and then the 2nd one is quite normal so don't
understand that other persons complaint. Mouse keyboard and video has to
initialize before you can start swapping PCs around.
 
Jonathan Mars wrote:

Having to allow one
computer to fully boot and then the 2nd one is quite normal so don't
understand that other persons complaint. Mouse keyboard and video has to
initialize before you can start swapping PCs around.
Click to expand...

It would be good if it were always in the instructions, and now
everybody reading this knows about it.
--
Ed Light

Better World News TV Channel:
http://realnews.com

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org
http://antiwar.com

Iraq Veterans Against the War:
http://ivaw.org
http://couragetoresist.org

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.
 
Previously Jonathan Mars said:
Arno Wagner wrote:
Click to expand...
Simulate? It doesn't simulate anything, a KVM simply plugs/unplugs
keyboard/mouse between the two PC's just like one of those USB switches do.
Click to expand...

It cannot as USB mice and keyboards have state, and that state
is typically different for the connected computers. In addition,
unplugging may cause problems.

Arno
 
It cannot as USB mice and keyboards have state, and that
state is typically different for the connected computers.
Click to expand...

That utterly mangles the story. They dont have state in the sense that there is any
problem with unplugging a replugging the keyboard and mouse with the PC booted up.
In addition, unplugging may cause problems.
Click to expand...

Wrong with USB keyboards and mice.

The real reason that the better KVMs simulate the keyboard and mouse
for the PCs those arent currently switched to is so you can boot those
other PCs without them whining about no mouse or keyboard being present.
 
That utterly mangles the story. They dont have state in the sense
that there is any problem with unplugging a replugging the keyboard
and mouse with the PC booted up.
Click to expand...

Actually there is. Your particuar OS may hide this.
Wrong with USB keyboards and mice.
Click to expand...

No. I have seen it.
The real reason that the better KVMs simulate the keyboard and mouse
for the PCs those arent currently switched to is so you can boot those
other PCs without them whining about no mouse or keyboard being present.
Click to expand...

It is quite possible for them to "whine" about not keyboard or mouse
being present after bootup. As I said, I have seen it.

Arno
 
Actually there is.
Nope.

Your particuar OS may hide this.
Click to expand...

Nothing to 'hide'

The worst that can happen is that the state isnt restored when you reconnect and thats no big deal.
No. I have seen it.
Click to expand...

You've got a ****ed system.
It is quite possible for them to "whine" about not keyboard or mouse being present after bootup.
Click to expand...

Not with a properly implemented OS.
As I said, I have seen it.
Click to expand...

All you have seen is a ****ed OS.

Properly implemented OSs even allow multiple keyboards and mice.
 
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