USB to USB Direct link question

[Jackals]

The package my USB to USB Bridge came in states that it is capable of
tranferring internet access as well as files between the local and remote
computers. It works great with moving files between my PC and laptop, but I
can't figure out how to set it up to share the internet also.

I went to a website that offers an MS Word user's manual to download. Turns
out it not only doesn't open with Word, but it is freaking virus-laden.
Can't find any other instructions anywhere. Is anybody familiar with setting
these up for internet access?

Thanks, Jack

 

[Paul]

The package my USB to USB Bridge came in states that it is capable of
tranferring internet access as well as files between the local and remote
computers. It works great with moving files between my PC and laptop, but I
can't figure out how to set it up to share the internet also.

I went to a website that offers an MS Word user's manual to download. Turns
out it not only doesn't open with Word, but it is freaking virus-laden.
Can't find any other instructions anywhere. Is anybody familiar with setting
these up for internet access?

Thanks, Jack

There are three manuals here (tiny manuals though):

http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?ID=29

http://www.prolific.com.tw/support/files/\IO Cable\PL-2501\Doc\User Manual\um_pl2501_v10.pdf
http://www.prolific.com.tw/support/files/\IO Cable\PL-2501\Doc\User Manual\qm_pl2501NW_v01.pdf
http://www.prolific.com.tw/support/files/\IO Cable\PL-2501\Doc\User Manual\qm_pl2502NW_v02.pdf

It looks like the basic concept could be:

1) Disconnect the PCLink cable (both ends).
2) Remove the bridge mode software (assuming the software you are
using, only offers one mode at a time -- there could be software
that does both modes, but that seems unlikely). Remove on
both computers.
3) Install the network mode software, on both computers.
4) Plug in the cable. New hardware wizard etc...
5) Do the rest of any necessary network setup, as per
one of the above manuals.

I believe there are also products based on an ALI chip,
in which case you might have more trouble finding docs etc.

Best guess,
Paul

 

[DaveW]

USB to USB was not designed to share the Internet effectively.

 

[Jackals]

USB to USB was not designed to share the Internet effectively.

Thanks for the input Paul and Dave
According to the manuals it is expected that some software that they
provide be installed initially, presumably that installs a type of
"High-speed" network on the host PC, which makes the USB act like an
ethernet cable, or something like that. This did not come with my
hardware --mine seems to be of more generic type rather than like the brand
name in the manuals; all I got was a mini CD with drivers for W98 (Xp is
presumed to already have appropriate drivers installed).

As it is my hardware is being seen as a CD Drive (G on both sets, is using
the standard MS CD-Drive drivers, and that drive is referred to as
"Thunderbird" with an icon. I open the connection by double-clicking that
drive on both computers -- works great for files.

It looks like I need to get my hands on what they call the "High-Speed
USB-USB Network Cable Setup Program" for that additional high-speed network.
Do you know if I can download this software someplace? -- it appears that
any brand will suffice because the hardware looks identical across brands.

Thanks for your help.

Jack

 

[Paul]

Thanks for the input Paul and Dave
According to the manuals it is expected that some software that they
provide be installed initially, presumably that installs a type of
"High-speed" network on the host PC, which makes the USB act like an
ethernet cable, or something like that. This did not come with my
hardware --mine seems to be of more generic type rather than like the brand
name in the manuals; all I got was a mini CD with drivers for W98 (Xp is
presumed to already have appropriate drivers installed).

As it is my hardware is being seen as a CD Drive (G on both sets, is using
the standard MS CD-Drive drivers, and that drive is referred to as
"Thunderbird" with an icon. I open the connection by double-clicking that
drive on both computers -- works great for files.

It looks like I need to get my hands on what they call the "High-Speed
USB-USB Network Cable Setup Program" for that additional high-speed network.
Do you know if I can download this software someplace? -- it appears that
any brand will suffice because the hardware looks identical across brands.

Thanks for your help.

Jack

The *concept* is identical between brands. The concept is one of FIFO
buffers, in that chip in the middle of the cable. Like a set of two
mail boxes, one computer puts a "letter" into one mailbox, and the
other computer pulls the "letter" out. That is the basic premise.
The mailbox isolates the two computers, which is why the protocol
works. Otherwise, you cannot connect the two computers with just a
bare wire.
+------> Mailbox ------>+
| |
Computer_#1 <----->+ +<-----> Computer_#2
| |
+<------ Mailbox <------+

The *implementation* can differ. As I pointed out, I know of at
least two companies who made chips. It is quite likely your chip
is a Prolific, as they are still in the business. But ALI also
made a chip. If the housing on the USB-USB PCLinq cable is transparent,
you may be able to read a part number off the main chip, and track down
a "network" driver that way. Or, if you can figure out a utility
that can read USB Device and Vendor information, get the chip
info that way.

It isn't likely that one company's driver works with the other
hardware, because AFAIK there is no "standard" for this technology.

The software makes all the magic here. The hardware is just a set
of mailboxes. The software can either set up a file transfer protocol
between computers. Or a more general TCP/IP stack (that preferably
also works when ICS, Internet Connection Sharing, is being used).

Paul

 

[Jackals]

. If the housing on the USB-USB PCLinq cable is transparent,
you may be able to read a part number off the main chip, and track down
a "network" driver that way. Or, if you can figure out a utility
that can read USB Device and Vendor information, get the chip
info that way.

Paul

I appreciate the education, Paul. It was naive of me to think I could count
on appearances that any software would do.

It turns out the case opened easily (I think I might leave it open -- it
gets pretty warm in there). The text on the chip says:

SST (looks like a brand type of font)
39VF040
70-4C-WH
0517235-K

Does this tell you anything? If so, where would I look to locate its
software? I am clueless from this point on other than to try Googling it..

Thanks, Jack

 

[Pen]

I appreciate the education, Paul. It was naive of me to think I could count
on appearances that any software would do.

It turns out the case opened easily (I think I might leave it open -- it
gets pretty warm in there). The text on the chip says:

SST (looks like a brand type of font)
39VF040
70-4C-WH
0517235-K

Does this tell you anything? If so, where would I look to locate its
software? I am clueless from this point on other than to try Googling it..

Thanks, Jack

I'm afraid that's not going to help a whole lot. The chip is a flash
memory device.

http://www.sst.com/products.xhtml/parallel_flash/39/x8/SST39VF040
http://www.semiconductorstore.com/Pages/Items/SST/39VF040-70-4CNH.htm

 

[Paul]

I'm afraid that's not going to help a whole lot. The chip is a flash
memory device.

http://www.sst.com/products.xhtml/parallel_flash/39/x8/SST39VF040
http://www.semiconductorstore.com/Pages/Items/SST/39VF040-70-4CNH.htm

There has to be something else in there. A flash memory by itself
can't do anything useful. I'm surprised it even needs flash, unless
this is a new entrant into the market. Maybe the "brains" is on the
other side of the PCB, if it is a double sided assembly.

The Prolific site calls their chip a "USB Host to Host Bridge".

Genesyslogic apparently makes one too. I cannot reach their site in
Taiwan right now, but this archived page shows they have both types
of drivers for their chip. They call theirs "Genelink" GL620.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070221...contents/search.asp?keyword=gl620&Submit22=Go

And there is no need for flash memory on the Genesyslogic one:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030428020305/www.genesyslogic.com/pdf/gl620_a_r16.pdf

You can find even more chips that do that function, by looking
for "USB-USB" bridge in this file of chip IDs.

http://linux-usb.sourceforge.net/usb.ids

I'm really surprised a flash memory is needed.

Paul

 

[Phluge]

http://web.archive.org/web/20070221...contents/search.asp?keyword=gl620&Submit22=Go

And there is no need for flash memory on the Genesyslogic one:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030428020305/www.genesyslogic.com/pdf/gl620_a_r16.pdf

Paul

I thought of downloading the Genesyslogic network driver to give it a try,
but it seems that if you aren't a member you can't download all of it, or
even print their FAQ page.

I appreciate your generous help and will just have to keep looking based on
what you have shared.

Thanks, Jack

 

[Jackals]

Sorry about that -- forgot to switch IDs.

Jack

 

[Paul]

I thought of downloading the Genesyslogic network driver to give it a try,
but it seems that if you aren't a member you can't download all of it, or
even print their FAQ page.

I appreciate your generous help and will just have to keep looking based on
what you have shared.

Thanks, Jack

For a utility, I found this:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/stream/vidcap/UVCViewdwn.mspx

UVCView will dump some info from a connected USB device.

For example, on my USB floppy, it reports:

idVendor: 0x03EE = Mitsumi
idProduct: 0x6901

Looking at the previously referenced "usb.ids" file, gives the
identity based on the above:

03ee Mitsumi
0000 CD-R/RW Drive
641f WIF-0402C Bluetooth Adapter
6440 WML-C52APR Bluetooth Adapter
6901 SmartDisk FDD <-----

So perhaps between UVCView and this file, you can figure out
who made your PCLinq cable.

http://linux-usb.sourceforge.net/usb.ids

Paul