USB hard drive + USB Network card - possible?

[BA]

Does anyone know if I can make my USB hard drive a network hard drive by
connecting it to a USB network card?

Power is not an issue since the hard drive has its own power cord. I have a
wireless network with a router and 4 ports. I'd like to connect my usb hard
drive to one of the ports.

Can it get an IP this way, and be seen?

Any help would be appreciated.

Here is the usb adapter I have:

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=104991

My hard drive is a Western Digital MyBook 250gig.

Cheers

 

[Newbie Coder]

BA

Why not plug it in to your USB port & then share the drive?

Just a thought

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Does anyone know if I can make my USB hard drive a network hard drive by
connecting it to a USB network card?

Power is not an issue since the hard drive has its own power cord. I have a
wireless network with a router and 4 ports. I'd like to connect my usb hard
drive to one of the ports.

Can it get an IP this way, and be seen?

Any help would be appreciated.

Here is the usb adapter I have:

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=104991

My hard drive is a Western Digital MyBook 250gig.

Cheers

I'm sorry, but that won't work. The USB Ethernet adapter has an
associated driver program, so it only works when it's connected to a
computer.

There are NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives that connect directly
to a network. There are NAS enclosures that let you turn an internal
hard drive into an NAS drive.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[BA]

Different computers are on at different times in the house.

I also want to be able to use it to store music centrally.

 

[BA]

I'm sorry, but that won't work. The USB Ethernet adapter has an
associated driver program, so it only works when it's connected to a
computer.

There are NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives that connect directly
to a network. There are NAS enclosures that let you turn an internal
hard drive into an NAS drive.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Thanks for the note.

I am aware of the NAS options, I was hoping to save some $$ and use what I
already have.

Cheers

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
This type of issue comes frequently. Unfortunately it a little more
complicated then just plugging any USB to any Device.
May be this can Help to clarify, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#usb
So Wireless NAS would has to be designed specifically to Interface with
Network and with a USB Hard Drive.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[smlunatick]

Does anyone know if I can make my USB hard drive a network hard drive by
connecting it to a USB network card?

Power is not an issue since the hard drive has its own power cord. I have a
wireless network with a router and 4 ports. I'd like to connect my usb hard
drive to one of the ports.

Can it get an IP this way, and be seen?

Any help would be appreciated.

Here is the usb adapter I have:

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=104991

My hard drive is a Western Digital MyBook 250gig.

Cheers

http://www.trendnet.com/en/products/TS-U100.htm

You need a NAS stoeage server device in order to control the access.
The above line is such a device. They state you can connect a USB
hard drive or any USB flash drive.

 

[BA]

Jack,

Exactly what I need.... seriously considering getting one, only drawback is
this one only has 2 usb ports... wish it had more.

Isaac

 

[BA]

http://www.trendnet.com/en/products/TS-U100.htm

You need a NAS stoeage server device in order to control the access.
The above line is such a device. They state you can connect a USB
hard drive or any USB flash drive.

Exactly what I need.... seriously considering getting one, only drawback is
this one only has 2 usb ports... wish it had more.

BA

 

[smlunatick]

Exactly what I need.... seriously considering getting one, only drawback is
this one only has 2 usb ports... wish it had more.

BA- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It may have only two USB ports built in but you "may" be able to add
external USB hubs. Also, since normal networks can have upto 254
different IP based devices, you could always add additional storage
servers.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
Your computer's USB ports are not relevant for this issue.
You need to get a NAS unit like this,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833156039
This unit should be plugged with a Network Cable to a regular port on the
Wireless Cable/DSL Router.
The USB Hard Drive should be plugged to the USB port on the new NAS unit.
With proper configuration the hard drive would be available to any computer
on the Network (Wired, or Wireless).
P.S. As you can see from this page they are many NAS devices starting bellow
$50 and going into $1000. In order to make the right choice further self
education on the subject might be needed.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[BA]

I checked out that trendnet product and even called them.

A couple of problems. It formats in FAT, and it cannot be expanded with a
USB hub.

Looking for a better alternative.