Is This Possible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Newfdog
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Newfdog

Hi...... One external harddrive connected to two PCs at the same time?
Could I plug the harddrive into one port on the hub and the two
computers on different ports and then access the drive from both computers?

Newfdog
 
Newfdog said:
This is not what I had in mind. I have an external USB harddrive that I
want to connect to two PC's at the same time. No network involved.
Click to expand...
Is this possible using a USB hub or some other way?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I thought you meant *Ethernet* hub. As far as using a *USB* hub,
I don't believe that will work. Any solution I would offer would
establish a network, as resource sharing is the principle benefit to
having one.
 
Hi...... One external harddrive connected to two PCs at the same time?
This is not what I had in mind. I have an external USB harddrive that I
want to connect to two PC's at the same time. No network involved. Is
this possible using a USB hub or some other way?
Click to expand...
I'd personally be inclined to steer clear of any solution that would
connect the USB port of one computer to the USB port of another
computer. The USB spec allows transmission of power - to make your mouse
light up, for example - which, if either USB implementation is...
sloppy... or the connection you put between them, could cause some
serious problems. It's probably wisest to go with some kind of
network-based solution, or just unplug from one PC and plug into the other.

But hey, you might not think it's a problem, and it might not be.
They're your computers after all.

HTH.

CK
 
This is not what I had in mind. I have an external USB harddrive that I
want to connect to two PC's at the same time. No network involved. Is
this possible using a USB hub or some other way?

Newfdog
Click to expand...

No, and you should not plug both computers into the same USB
hub even if it 'would've' worked. That can easily damage
one if not both.

Just network them, everyone else doesn't do it just for the
heck of it.
 
I don't think its a power issue, for external Hard drives you would want a
powered USB Hub anyway
 
I don't think its a power issue, for external Hard drives you would want a
powered USB Hub anyway
Click to expand...


It is a power issue but not of powering the drives. Rather
you'd be putting two 5V rails into each other with a common
ground. Something's got to give and I'll bet it's one of
the systems before the hub.
 
On a normal USB hub, no.

However usbgear.com is advertising a product that allows you to share
a usb device.

This Hub (switch actually) is simular to the old printer switches we
used in the old days. You need to select which PC (or MAC for tha
matter) will be using the device by pushing a button on the unit.

Slightly better than unplugging from one machine and plugging into
another.
 
kony said:
Sure it can be done with more hardware but aren't those
essentially setting up a network connection (even
proprietary potocol in some cases) between the two systems
which is what the OP expressly didn't want?
Click to expand...

Well, I looked up some of these, and I'm pretty sure that they don't
usually come with CD's (no software means no propreitary network
stuff). None of the ones that i was able to see a package contents list
for did anyway.

I suspect that the OPs objection is economical. IE already plunked dows
$$$ for USB HDD, and doens't want to buy the extra networking equipment
plus a network HDD.

This one actually looks pretty good. Reasonably priced with lifetime
warrenty. So software needed.

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=245644&SourceID=k22350
 
Not the same as a network at all, in that the two computers are never
aware of each other.

And as I quote the original message
Hi...... One external harddrive connected to two PCs at the same time?
Could I plug the harddrive into one port on the hub and the two
computers on different ports and then access the drive from both computers?

Newfdog
Click to expand...

I do not see where he expressly did not want anything (too many
negatives I think).
 
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