USB Server Adds Devices to Your LAN

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Two USB servers can add ports to your LAN without the need for a PC connection.

Want to share a USB device but don't necessarily want to plug it into one PC? Perhaps you have an external USB hard drive that needs to be accessed by several computers at once. Sharkoon may have the device you need, offering the new USB LANPort device that adds USB support to a LAN.

Sharkoon offers the USB server two flavors: the USB LANPort 100 providing one additional USB connection, and the USB LANPort 400 offering four ports of USB fun. Despite all the USB 3.0 talk circulating the news, both units only provide USB 2.0 connections, so no SuperSpeed data transfers until Sharkoon churns out advanced models.

"With the USB LANPorts we introduce a simple yet effective way to integrate USB devices into local area networks," the company said. "Therefore the respective USB LANPort is connected to the LAN using a patch cable and the included software is installed. Afterwards any USB devices such as printers, external HDDs, USB sticks etc. can be connected to the USB LANPort and may be accessed from the local network."

Sharkoon's two USB servers are expected to hit Germany and the rest of Europe soon for 23 Euro ($35) and 37 Euro ($56). The company has not yet released details of a North American distribution, although they may become available via Tech Data soon.

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Kevin Parrish
12 Comments Comment from the forums
  • angleheart
    Enclosures wiht LAN port will do just fine.
    Reply
  • acecombat
    angleheartEnclosures wiht LAN port will do just fine.Unless you need to share a scanner or $400 printer that you purchased a few years ago.
    Reply
  • buwish
    For some this will prove useful. For me, I'm a proponent of the good old fashioned server like PC/network to share devices.
    Reply
  • JohnnyLucky
    GEEZ! Another electronic box to add to the home network. When is someone going to make an all-in-one device?
    Reply
  • audiomasta
    Whats the point in having fast LAN transfer speed struck down by the old USB 2.0?
    Reply
  • nawat
    What about sharing USB hardlocks?
    Reply
  • gilbertfh
    It will be interesting to see the performance of and compatability with different usb devices. A lot of usb devices have unique interfaces that may not be compatable with a network connection.
    Reply
  • gilbertfh
    audiomasta 12/02/2009 5:49 AM Hide Insert quote. Report -0+
    Whats the point in having fast LAN transfer speed struck down by the old USB 2.0?

    After doing some research here is what I have come up with and somebody please correct me if I am wrong. All speeds are theoretical as hardware and drivers affect the observed transfer rates. USB 2.0 is 480 Mbps, USB 3.0 should be 4800 Mbps, 100TX is 100Mbps and 1000TX is 1000 Mbps, wireless G is 54 Mbps and Wireless N is 150-600 Mbps depending on the number of antennas.

    Most people that are running wired networks are using 100TX networks and mixed mode wireless G and N devices. Even utilizing a USB 2.0 standard connection for devices most users should not notice a difference when running across a network.
    Reply
  • This isn't particularly breaking news, since Belkin already did this over a year ago with their Network USB Hub. See http://www.belkin.com/networkusbhub/ for *five* USB ports. :-)
    Reply
  • neilnh
    JohnnyLuckyGEEZ! Another electronic box to add to the home network. When is someone going to make an all-in-one device?
    They do. It's called a computer. This is does less, but is cheaper. It has its place.
    Reply