Use of a KVM Switch?

[jw]

I want to connect an external 1TB USB hard drive to a KVM in order
that 2 machines can access that hard drive. Otherwise I have to
manually move the USB connector from machine to machine. I also would
like to connect a USB printer similarly instead of sharing it via XP.

Is this possible? Or am I dreaming?

I was hoping to buy a 2-port DVI KVM to do this, but I don't think I
am looking right. Anyone tell me of a KVM model to do the job?
Cheaper the better.

Thanks

Duke

 

[Bryce]

I want to connect an external 1TB USB hard drive to a KVM
in order
that 2 machines can access that hard drive. Otherwise I
have to
manually move the USB connector from machine to machine.
I also would like to connect a USB printer similarly
instead of sharing it via XP.

Is this possible? Or am I dreaming?

I was hoping to buy a 2-port DVI KVM to do this, but I
don't think I
am looking right. Anyone tell me of a KVM model to do the
job? Cheaper the better.

Thanks

Duke

Bad idea. Operating systems use write caching to speed up
the user experience. Hot switching that hard drive without
unmounting it risks data loss (everything still in the
cache). You can try to remember to unmount every time, or
maybe disable caching and live with laggy performance.

If your two computers aren't already networked together, it
is easily done. Then add a NAS device to your network and
plug the HD and printer into it.

Cheaper isn't always a good idea.

Bryce

 

[jw]

Bad idea. Operating systems use write caching to speed up
the user experience. Hot switching that hard drive without
unmounting it risks data loss (everything still in the
cache). You can try to remember to unmount every time, or
maybe disable caching and live with laggy performance.

If your two computers aren't already networked together, it
is easily done. Then add a NAS device to your network and
plug the HD and printer into it.

Cheaper isn't always a good idea.

Bryce

I understand.

I tried a different approach. I connected my external hard drive to
USB on one machine and set it up for sharing of folders and files with
a share name. I had some same thing for other folders on this
machine's internal hard drive. When I tried to link to it from a
second machine using 'network places' it said I didn't have needed
permissions etc. This same linking to an internal folder that is also
shared works just fine. So, do you know what I need to do to allow
access to the external hard drive from a second machine via XP's
sharing scenario?

Thanks

Duke

 

[Bryce]

I understand.

I tried a different approach. I connected my external
hard drive to USB on one machine and set it up for sharing
of folders and files with
a share name. I had some same thing for other folders on
this
machine's internal hard drive. When I tried to link to it
from a second machine using 'network places' it said I
didn't have needed
permissions etc. This same linking to an internal folder
that is also
shared works just fine. So, do you know what I need to do
to allow access to the external hard drive from a second
machine via XP's sharing scenario?

Thanks

Duke

I gave up on windows 6 years ago. I'm sure an XP user will
step up with the necessary magic.

Bryce

 

[PeeCee]

I understand.

I tried a different approach. I connected my external hard drive to
USB on one machine and set it up for sharing of folders and files with
a share name. I had some same thing for other folders on this
machine's internal hard drive. When I tried to link to it from a
second machine using 'network places' it said I didn't have needed
permissions etc. This same linking to an internal folder that is also
shared works just fine. So, do you know what I need to do to allow
access to the external hard drive from a second machine via XP's
sharing scenario?

Thanks

Duke

Turn on the Guest account on the machine hosting the USB drive.

Paul.