SMSC promises low-cost USB-device sharing

[Bob Crabtree]

Integrated-circuit maker SMSC has come up with a low-cost IC that will, it says, allow four USB devices to be shared between two PCs or even between a games console and a PC. If it works as promised, the IC will save the hassle of plugging and unplugging USB devices into different PCs and the current alternative of buying expense networkable devices.

SMSC says that samples of the USB MultiSwitch Hub (part number USB2524) are available now with production quantities due in the third quarter of 2006. Cost in OEM quantities (ie large volumes) will be $3.75 per unit.

Among the possible uses that SMSC lists for USB hub equipped with its circuitry are:

A laptop sharing all the devices connected to a desktop system
A game console sharing all the devices of a Macintosh or Windows PC
A set-top box and digital television sharing devices within an entertainment center

Sounds to us like a great idea - even though it would appear possible only for one PC or host to access any of the attached USB devices at a particular time.

Check out the full details in this HEXUS.headline then let us know if you agree.

[DR]

Incredibly useful for people who have a notebook and a PC - god, need one now!

[Lee H]

Incredibly useful for people who have a notebook and a PC - god, need one now!

*cough*

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=152537

Something like that you mean ?

I use 1 for sharing my G15 between desktop and Isotope system

[Jonny M]

I'd prefer to access my desktop resources on my notebook via the network, and for things like keyboards and mice, use Synergy:

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

[Silent Shark]

*cough*

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=152537

Something like that you mean ?

I use 1 for sharing my G15 between desktop and Isotope system

Kinda like that, but without having to press a button.

Sort of like the poor mans NAS (if used with a Mass Storage Device).

Sounds good. If it's cheap like they claim, I can see it being used in office/work environments.

[Bob Crabtree]

*cough*

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=152537

Something like that you mean ?

I use 1 for sharing my G15 between desktop and Isotope system

Eeek! SMSC telling porkies, then!

And yours is CHEAP, too - under £11!!

I'm PM'ing you with my office address - cos I'd very much like you to let us have one to review.

Oh, and I'll be doing an update to that news story!!

However, please advise whether my take is right on this product - that it only allows you to share (as is) a single device between two PCs, rather than the four that SMSC's chipset would allow?

There's reference in your product info to using a hub to share more than one device but I don't quite understand how that would work.

Also, the pic is rather confusing, showing four USB ports.

Care to give us the full rundown?

TIA

Bob

[Bob Crabtree]

Oh, and not wishing to be overly negative but, blimey, the product description on Scan's site is exceeding lumpy, isn't it?

[Ken@mcbru.com]

Folks,

Having been on the press tour to help launch SMSC's USB MultiSwitch Hub, when it's compared to the SCAN device or the other, I think we're talking apples and oranges.

Although these devices may look or even sound similar to SMSC’s USB MultiSwitch Hub, they appear to be considerably different devices.

Think of the USB MultiSwitch Hub being '2 to 4', meaning 2 computers sharing up to 4 devices between them. The data sheet on the SCAN box indicates it's '2 to 1', two computers sharing a single device. The description says 'two' computers, but from the picture it looks like it could be up to four, so it would be a '4 to 1' sharing box. This doesn't seem to be a 'hub', since it has only one peripheral/downstream port. The four visible connections in the product shot appear to be 'square' host or upstream connections, not rectangular or downstream connections.

Again, from the product photo and the written description, the SCAN device supports sharing a single device, not four. The product description says that to share more devices, you'd need a hub.

BTW: With SMSC’s USB MultiSwitch Hub there is an option for a 'switch bank', where you can cascade a standard USB hub off of one of the sharing ports. All the ports (and devices connected to them) on the standard hub would be shared the moment they were switched.

It would appear the SCAN device is a practical way to allow two to four computers to share one device -- say, a printer.

Conversely, with the USB MultiSwitch Hub, a single host can share up to four downstream devices – or more, if one of those devices is a standard hub with other devices connected to it. And if one of those devices were another standard hub, then those devices would be shared as well – and so on.

Trust this explains what appear to be the main differences.

Thanks much for the comments.

[Bob Crabtree]

Ken,

Thanks VERY much for your input.

I have, of course, asked Scan to respond - not least because there is a query from me outstanding from last week.

Cheers

Bob

[Lee H]

The image on the website is the 4 port and not the 2 port which is confusing to say the least so I've emailed our webteam to get this sorted out as soon as possible.

As for the technical information - I've asked Edimax for more data on this device. Once I have this I shall let you know accordingly.

Best Regards,

[Bob Crabtree]

Thanks Lee!