Sharing USB Devices?

[Bires]

I have my scanner and printer connected to a hub that connects to my primary computer.
I was wondering....If I connect a A-A USB cable from my secondary computer to the hub, will I be able to access my printer and scanner from my secondary computer also? Hmm...
Thoughts? :cheers:

[DoPeY5007]

that is an idea but I don't think it will work....


There is a switch box you can get...

It works the same way as a moniter switch box....


But that is costly.....


Do you run a network?

If so just share the printer that way....


Or just unplug and plug in the HUB when you want to chage the devices to the other computer....

[Paymaster]

What you will get is bus contention. Your second PC will try to enumerate (assign ID to) your hub, and your first PC will try to enumerate your second PC through the HUB.

Probably no smoke, but definitely won't work.

[jarfykk]

USB is a non-addressbale bus. Basically a USB device just says "I'm here, use me" and the computer says "okay, do this (scan, print, etc). If you tried to hook into the USB hub with another computer it would be like trying to get the bartender's attention at 5pm Friday night....not gonna happen. If you want a more technical explanation just ask, I figured this would make the most sense.

[Speedfreak]

I agree. Either run it through the network (if you have one) or switch off when you need to.

tried to do that with my usb scanner too. i got as far as finding out the address is \\.\Usbscan0 (or \\.\Scanusb0, i forget ;) ). i have not found a way to share that so far. plus the scanning software wouldnt look for it there. as far as the printer goes, just turn on file and print sharing and then share the printer. that should work for any printer, usb or otherwise. plus if you got a network, just create a share folder for scanned images, and access the files from there.

im guessing you dont have a network, if you say that you are going to run an A-A usb cable between your comps, so just use that cable to make a network.

[Edited by TommyBoomfiger on 03-08-2001 at 11:26 PM]

[puppie]

I don't know if this is applicable, but i've shared certian brand printers and scanners by pluggin one computer into the USB port, and another computer in the parallel port (you may not have). I've had some devices work flawlessly, while others require an unplug.

[Bires]

I wonder how long it will take before devices like USB can be shared? I have another cable for swapping between computers, but the idea of sharing usb devices is pretty cool, (am I right?).

[hapoo]

anything worth sharing should be put on an ethernet instead of usb.

[Bires]

but what about the five billion other people that dont have the ability / knowledge to set up small LANS? I know a handful of people that tried to set them up in their houses, and gave up after technical difficulties and broke down and bought special quasi-ethernet components like Homefree.
Anyway, fun post, fun experiment.

[jarfykk]

Bires, as far as my understanding goes, USB 1.0 is a non-addressable protocol. Being able to share them in technically impossible without somekind of external sharing device (none are in production that I know of). IEEE1394 (Firewire, iLink, etc.) is an addressable service as is USB 2.0 (as far as I've read). So, perhaps when USB 2.0 comes out, the new scanners and printers will be addressable and therefore sharable over a hub or LAN (or WAN for that matter). Anywho, my two cents.

[DoPeY5007]

there is a USB switch that alows you so share among computers....



http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=1561&pcount=&Product_Id=72345&Section.Section_Path=%2FRoot%2FPeripheralSharing%2FManualSwitches%2FUSBSwitchbox%2F

2-Port USB Switchbox
Belkin Part Number: F1B201
A fork in the road; one road could lead to fame, the other to fortune. With a belkin Manual Switchbox you can easily share both computers with one USB device. Now you can have the best of both worlds.
The 2-port USB Switchbox permits two PC's to share one printer, scanner or other USB perpheral device. This manual switch is perfect for the budget conscious, small home office user.

The Belkin Advantage:

Share a printers, scanner or any other USB peripheral device from your desk.
Solid switching mechanism provides audible and tactile feedback.
rugged metal enclosure protect against EMI/RFI interferences.
full lifetime warranty.
Compact from factor takes up less desk space.
lightweight, sheilded metal case.
Features:

Two USB "B" female connectors on the input.
One USB "A" female connectors on the output.
Share any USB Peripheral with 2 USB Computers.
PC and Mac compatible.

[Dave_7]

Yes... you'll need a switch.




Dave.

[jarfykk]

Well, if that doesn't beat all. Never new anyone made a switch like that. I figured ti wouldn't be too technically challenging but....

Anyway, good luck with whoever tries any of this!!