USB to Ethernet converter questions

[spidermonkey118]

Hello all,

I have a home network that I am in the process of redesigning. I have 2 Western Digital External Hard Drives that I would like to make network drives. I know I could buy an external hard drive that has a USB port that can be used to make other USB drives Network accessable but that is quite expensive. I am thinking of using USB to network converters for each, or a USB to network HUB. Will this work? The websites for USB-Eth says that no software or NIC installation is required for use. But I believe that is assuming that they will be plugged into a PC. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[jimbouk]

You'll need a actual NAS (network attached storage) box for this. The USB-Ethernet adapters are for a PC. Some routers come with USB sockets for hard-drives/printers, or you can get a dedicated box like something from here.

[spidermonkey118]

I'm a little confused. The items shown on that link are for SATA and such hard drives. Would I have to take my hard drives apart and insert them into the NAS or am I over looking something?

[blackbirds]

You haven;t got a link for the USB to Ethernet adaptor, have you? It all sounds like quite an interesting idea if it's possible.

[spidermonkey118]

Define a link. Do you mean have I tried this and are actually seeing communication over ethernet to the drives? If so then no I haven't yet. I did find a USB hub with Ethernet out for about $30 that I think I might try anyways. I doubt it will work though because there is no software on the drive that is looking for DHCP server to use. I think if I plug it in to the drive and the router it will just sit there and the router will not even know what to do with it. If the converter came with a chipset that looked for a DHCP or even contained a static IP I would be much more motivated to give it a shot.

[jimbouk]

Ok, so maybe more specifically this: http://www.scan.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=LN26974

[spidermonkey118]

Well that definately didn't work. The little hub doesn't come with a power cable so you have to plug it into a device that has the drivers loaded to make it look for an IP address. Oh well 36 bucks gone but a lesson learned none the less. Does that icybox actuall act like a client and look for an IP address? Thats kind of what I need here I think.