Sharing USB Peripherials on a Small Network.

[Gene K]

I presently operate two computers but only one at a time. Eventually I will
add a third. I prresently connect to the internet via a 4-port router hooked
to a cable modem. My problem concern peripherals. Each time I shut down one
computer and open the next one; I have to disconnect a printer, separate
scanner, external drives, etc. from one and hook to the other. Very, very
irritating!!!. I solved the monitor, keyboard, and mouse problem with a KVM
switch which works well. At least one more user [maybe two] will start when
school is out so I plan to establish a true network which will share that
internet connection plus, I hope, the peripherial equipment so therein is
where I need help in choosing hardware. I have looked at various USB
switches and print servers till my eyes are red but I am unable, so far, to
select any. I would like to have a device which would share any USB device
plugged in to it. I realize that this requires printer and scanner software
to be installed on each computer and, in some cases, the same for some
external hard drives but so be it.
I would appreciate comments and help plus hardware recomendations.
Gene K
NOTE: this will be posted to both the XP net_work web and XP Hardware
newsgroups.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

A scanner is not normally a shareable device unless it is specifically a
networkable scanner. Epson make some nice ones which start at about $1,500.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=38633256

They are only networkable on an Ethernet port, NOT on USB or IEEE1394.

Nearly all printers are shareable.

However why do you not network your PCs?