What is this?
The USB Server is a network-attached USB switch that allows a user on the network to take control of a remote USB device, provided that no one else already has control of it.
Keyspan USB Server ReviewMay 19th, 2004
Pros: Share USB devices on network; compact; easy to connect and configure.
Cons: Not all USB devices are supported yet; strictly USB 1.1 support.
Verdict: The Keyspan USB Server adds much needed flexibility to the USB front; it is easy to set up and works as billed.
The Keyspan USB Server is the first wave of a new type of USB switch. It is not a PC device per se. It is a network-attached USB switch that allows a user on the network to take control of a remote USB device, provided that no one else already has control of it.
Let's Talk about Sharing USB The Keyspan very similar to a standard USB switch except for the fact that a conventional switch must be within 5M/15ft of the PCs that it is connected to while the USB Server can be hundreds of feet away. As a result, cable management is much easier with the USB Server. You connect one Ethernet cable to the USB Server and then up to four USB devices to the unit - simple and clean. The software "client" is then installed to each PC that requires it for managing the USB Server. With a normal 4-port switch, you may have to connect 4 more USB cables - one to each PC. That makes for a real mess. Premium switches use management software too.
Setting up the USB Server Installing the software is uneventful. No reboot is required. Opening the Keyspan USB Server software shows the device itself and status of the devices connected.
As long as a device is not already 'subscribed', the user can take it over.
Once you do, you will have to install the software for that device on to the PC you are using (if it isn't already). If the USB device you are trying to 'subscribe' to requires driver installation, you need to do that before subscribing to the device.
The Configuration menu is kind of intimidating, but the electronic manual (on CD) explains it pretty well.
Note that the Firmware version is viewable. One of the really nice features of the software updates is that it reminds you of outdated firmware and offers to update it. This is a wonderful feature because future firmware updates may support more USB devices than are presently supported (the USB Zip drive in the lab was recognized, but not usable). That sure beats buying a new USB Server. Please note that this device is USB 1.1 only.
Technical Stuff The drivers for the USB Server actually install an additional USB controller called the 'Keyspan USB Server'.
Note that since this is a network device, firewalls may affect access to it. The electronic manual is very helpful in sorting this out. As a matter of fact, look above at the Configuration menu and you can clearly see the port that the USB Server uses. Open your firewall to that port and the USB Server becomes available.
Compatibility Issues As you can see in the illustrations above, we had no problems getting it all to work. The Keyspan USB Server worked better than we had imagined it would. It was simple to set up and use. As far as USB devices go, here is Keyspan's FAQ concerning that:
Q: Can I use a USB Server with any USB device?
A: No - at least not yet. Our focus for product launch has been on USB printers, USB multi-function printers, and USB scanners. USB HID devices -- mice and keyboards -- also work. Some of the devices that do not work are USB hubs, USB audio products and USB video products. Our web site provides a compatibility list that is the best source of information on this topic.
Practical Considerations While remote multifunction devices worked as if connected directly to the PC, scanning was a test of nerves. Since you cannot see the device, misfeeds and other problems are very frustrating. After all, the USB Server is used to scan remotely. You must line up your scan at the device and then return to your workstation to actually scan. If something goes wrong, you will be scratching your head until you return to the other location to check the problem. Frankly, scanning remotely doesn't make a lot of sense, but at least we now have the option! Printing is much less problematic.
The Bottom Line The Keyspan USB Server adds much needed flexibility to the USB front. It is easy to set up and works as billed. We are glad to see this sort of USB device hit the market because there is a real need for it. Thanks to the firmware updates that Keyspan provides, we are confident that other USB devices will be supported in the future. The Keyspan USB Server is highly recommended where there is a need for it.
Next Step: Feel free to ask us any questions you may have.
- William DeVercelly, Contributing Editor
Where to buy Keyspan USB Server?
User Review(s)
"Does not work with HPOffice Jet G85 and Win XP" Purchased KeySpan USB Server January 27, 2005. Even with the latest updates, the product continues to give me the blue screen of death on Windows XP Pro and Home. Support was no help except to keep me thinking they might fix the problem until it was too late to return the product. From Janet Trent, May 04, 2005
"A fantasic device...just watch your XP SP2 serup" This is simply a fantasic device. It does what it promised to, exactly as ordered.
When purchased the box contains the unit, a surprisingly small wall wart-style power cube, a (very) small instructional leaflet for setup and the driver CD. Don't use the driver CD, go to www.keyspan.com and download the new 1.1 driver with improved functionality.
The only issue for those using Windows XP SP2 is that the server software will give you Blue Screens of Death until you properly configure the Windows firewall to pass the TCP & UDP ports used by the unit. To BSoD on a port error seems *very* severe but once properly configured - see the included documentation on the driver CD for setup details - it worked like a charm.
I currently have 3 devices connected - Epson C86 color inkjet, HP Laserjet IIIP using a USB-parallel converter and a Microtek scanner. Everything works perfectly, although the scanner is much slower. But it does work perfectly, just slow.
Since I am a single user I selected "Single User" in the Admin page, which makes the unit *automatically* connect to the device when asked. No manual "subscription" needed!! It's like the unit isn't even there!
It gets configured automatically via DHCP, RendezVous, Static (auto config) or full manual. I have it on a wireless router and it got it's IP config via DHCP, and now I print *and scan* wirelessly!! Look Ma, no wires!!
This thing is GREAT!! From Snake, December 24, 2004
"Zero Customer Support" I read a review of the USB Server and decided that it was exactly what I needed for my home wireless network.
However, it didn't work out of the box so I spent the better part of a weekend trying to resolve the problem. Everything checked out, I could "see" the printer and could subscribe and unsubscribe, but print jobs just went out into the void.
I submitted a customer service request at their website and received a canned acknowledgment, assigning a number to it and promising a reply within 72 hours. Several days later I submitted a second request, with the same results. A few weeks later I sent an e-mail to their sales department that included the two service request numbers I'd been given. They responded by saying they would pass it along to tech support.
It's now been several days and I still haven't heard anything.
Apparently when this gadget works, it's great. But if you think you might possibly need customer support, proceed very cautiously when making a purchasing decision. From Don Wiggins, August 27, 2004
"This is an excellent tool." I've used this for two months now and installed the new version 1.1 software a few days ago. The new software runs in the systray, and includes an auto-connect and drop feature for printers. now we have seamless printing. That is a remarkably useful feature.
I'm currently running a Canon LIDE 50 scanner, a Samsung 2150 duplex printer, a Canon i950 printer, and a 120 gig USB drive. All work perfectly with all features functioning.
An excellent purchase. From PiffleMaster, August 05, 2004
"Throw away your Print Server!" I opened the packing box 10 MINUTES AGO, and both of my printers are up and running on every PC.
I was a little worried when I saw the 'documentation' was smaller than a CD, but everything went off without a hitch:
Step 1: Power up the USB server with no USB device hooked up to it, and connect it to the network via RJ45.
Step 2: Install the software (if WinXP, use the unsigned drivers). Your OS searches the network at this time and finds the USB Server.
Step 3: Hook up your USB devices.
THAT'S IT!!!
If you have a Multi-Function printer, you NEED this device, because even if you find a compatible print server, it will only let you use the print function. A Printer Server turns your Multi-Function printer into a Uni-Function Printer.
With this device, it will be just as if the printer were directly connected to your PC. In fact, you are not limited to PCs; you can connect ANY USB device to it (camcorder, scanner, webcam, even a mouse or keyboard).
The ONLY advantage that a print server has over this device is that with a server, multiple PCs can control a target device at once (really, that's not quite true, since the requestes are put in a queue).
With the USB server, every PC uses a little administration program. When launched, it opens a window that lists all of the devices that are connected to the USB server. A PC on the network that wants to use a device (i.e. print) needs to first take command of that device. You just select the device by name, and hit the connect button. From that point on, it's as if the printer were plugged directly into your PC. Others trying to use the printer would see that you were subscribed to it; they would have to wait until you release the subscription - which you have to do manually.
They could really use a virtual queue that keeps checking until the subscription is open, then releases the subscription when the job is completed. The problem is that if the device isn't a printer, how does it know when the job is finished?
So, even if you have only one PC on the network, you need to request access to use the printer. On the (sort of) bright side, every time you power up the PC, it will remember who owns what. I think the memory is maintained in the USB Server itself, not the PC. So if a PC takes control of a device, then dies, cycling power on the server releases all devices.
This is a little hokey (they claim they MIGHT fix it in a later release) but it's 1000% better than losing printer functions you paid for. They have an 'Admin' panel on the software, but I don't think it currently lets you boot someone off of a device.
If you already installed the devices you want to share, then once you connect to the server, every device will show up by name. When you take control of one or more of the devices, Windows goes through the 'new device ready' popup.
If you haven't added the device to your PC, then the server will show a default name for the device. Once you take control of it, Windows will detect the PnP device, and start the 'add new hardware' wizard.
It's truly as if the USB server didn't exist, and you had a REALLY long USB cable.
I have a Canon i950 Photo Printer, and a Brother 9600 MFC.
The Brother is particularly painful in that it won't even work with most printer servers. In fact, Windows XP doesn't even have a dedicated driver for it; Brother has all but stopped supporting it.
I was highly skeptical, but the MFC's scanner worked right away. As for the Canon, I launched the Status Monitor, and was soon seeing I had to replace an ink cartridge. So, the USB server is bi-directional, too (most Print servers aren't).
It took me longer to write this review than it took me to get the server up and running.
I can't recommend this product highly enough!
From Brian Fuchs, June 18, 2004
"Great cross-platform compatibility" It worked like a champ for me. I had 2 existing printers that I wanted to use with my PC Laptop, PC Desktop, and my iMac.
I'd tried doing the print sharing thing, but that wasn't working, turns out some USB printers don't let you share them.
This is NOT a print server, it doesn't make the printers usable by all on the network at the same time, but it does let you share them. You run the client on your machine when you want to access someting on the USB server. When you click on "connect" for the printer the PC acts just like you plugged it into the USB port.
I'm using XP on the PCs, OS X on the iMac. The two printers are an Epson inkject and a Samsung laser. I'll be connecting my Canon scanner next. From Mike, May 21, 2004
"Great Hardware, Terrible Software" The concept behind this device is great, but the user interface is quite clunky and difficult to configure. It worked out-of-the-box with my Epson scanner, but no amount of fiddling with it ever got my Lexmark printer up and running (although the device recognizes that the printer is connected to it, the computers cannot talk to the printer). I would wait for the USB 2.0 version Keyspan promises in late 2004, and, if you can't wait for that, at least wait for a software update that allows it to run in the system tray. From Todd, May 21, 2004
"PC failed to maintain connection to the USB Server" I've wanted something like this for a long time, and it's a good price.
Their client software on my PC (Windows XP SP1) failed to maintain a connection to the USB server for longer than a few seconds.
It would simply detach, then re-attach, then detach etc.
Sent it back.
Oh, their drivers we NOT signed - which is a bad sign.
Their tech support is not 24x7, their webiste is weak to say the least. From Flexi, May 19, 2004
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. USB Server Specs
Note that since this is a network device, firewalls may affect access to it. The electronic manual is very helpful in sorting this out. As a matter of fact, look above at the Configuration menu and you can clearly see the port that the USB Server uses. Open your firewall to that port and the USB Server becomes available.
