Silex SX-2000U2 USB Device Server ReviewJuly 12th, 2005
Pros: True network sharing for Hi-Speed USB MFPs, hard drives and flash drives; easy configuration.
Cons: Only a single port; speeds only slightly higher than Full Speed (further driver development planned); lack of Mac support.
Verdicts: Finally - a High-Speed USB sharing solution is available; though, a few glitches maybe the reason to hold off buying until the next driver update.
The USB bus has been a boon for computer device manufacturers. No matter how simple or complex their devices may be, there is a relatively simple connection standard that they can all use - Universal Serial Bus. The only problem with USB is that it is a master/slave bus which requires a USB host controller and those have historically only been installed in the computer itself. Sharing a USB device could only be done if the device was connected to a PC. If that PC is turned off or unavailable, the USB device is too.
USB switches are simple routing devices and have helped somewhat, but the switch has to be connected to the USB ports on each computer directly so it has to be in close proximity. There has been at least one USB server available - the Keyspan USB Server. It has a host controller onboard. The only problem with the Keyspan Server and switches that have been available is that they are strictly USB 1.1 - the older and slower USB.
Silex to the Rescue Silex has developed two High Speed USB 2.0 servers for connecting to a network via Ethernet - the SX-2000U2 (one port) and the SX-5000U2 (four ports). We are reviewing the single-port SX-2000U2.
While this model only has a single USB port (in addition to the requisite RJ-45 and power ports), one or more powered USB 2.0 hubs can be cascaded from the one port. It makes for a bit of a mess. If that troubles you, look at the SX-5000U2. That model has other features in addition to the extra ports - like access management and advanced administration.
The server does not support isosynchronous devices such as webcams and audio devices. Some other devices may fail due to their particular drivers. A Logitech optical mouse failed to connect in the tests.
Package Content - Silex SX-2000U2 USB Device Server
- Quick start guide
- AC adapter
- Two-year limited warranty booklet
Setting up The documentation could be better. It’s multi-lingual with each step spelled out in six languages so that you basically read the first of six entries in a column and then move to another column. Still, what you need to know is there. You connect the server to an unused Ethernet port on your network, connect power and then connect your USB device.
Next, you install the “Virtual Link” software on each client PC. When doing this, you must enter the server ID (MAC address) printed on the bottom of the device. The server is then seen in the mini-browser with attached devices in a descending “tree” beneath it.
Each device’s operating speed is tagged to it - Low, Full or Hi. Each device can be added to the “Favorites” tab for quick access. You might think this silly, but many devices can be attached via cascading USB hubs and the Favorites tab can be used to filter out your preferred devices on the network. It’s a thoughtful touch.
When you highlight a device, the “Connect” button becomes available. When you press the Connect button, Windows Plug and Play process sees and installs the appropriate driver. In many cases, you must at this point install a driver package as for a multifunction printer. Also, it should be noted that many new USB devices require that the drivers be installed before plugging in the device. In that case, run the device setup before pressing the connect button!
How does Silex SX-2000U2 look like in Device Manager?
Usage and Performance Silex warns about unplugging devices from the SX-2000U2 before disconnecting with the software and they are right - our PC became extremely unstable if we hurriedly unplugged a device.
Numerous USB devices were tested. All of them worked as if connected directly to the PC except for a USB mouse. All devices worked over our wireless network as well. Silex says that isosynchronous devices like webcams and audio devices are not supported.
Some problems were encountered during benchmarking. Network latency reared its ugly head. Lag was high over cabled LAN and really high (600ms) over Wireless. This complicated benchmarking, but it’s hardly Silex’s fault. Still, we were concerned with the numbers. Below is a series of tests with an Apacer Steno flash drive.
As you can see, the Silex is faster than the Keyspan USB Server by a factor of two, but the performance is a shadow of what can be attained when the drive was connected to the PC. We contacted Silex about this and they said that the combination of network latency and the behavior of the Windows file system driver (which waits for the server and gets impatient when latency is high) caused this. Silex plans on introducing an updated Windows file system driver with extensions for its Server to fix this issue.
Still, the Silex was twice as fast as the Keyspan USB Server, and we did notice that the drive would seem to work at the full 15MB/s on rare occasion. Because of this, we fully believe that a driver update will improve performance. It should be noted that we tested an Epson Perfection 2480 scanner over the network, the performance seemed good. It's difficult to quantify this though - unlike benchmarking drives.
The Bottom Line In all other respects, we’re happy to report that the Silex SX-2000U2 performed exactly as advertised. Finally, we have our first USB 2.0 sharing solution. If you plan on having more than 1 USB device, the SX-5000U2 would be a better choice with its 4 ports and more complete management options. Silex also offers an 802.11b wireless version - the SX-3700WB.
- William DeVercelly, Contributing Editor
Where to buy Silex SX-2000U2 USB Device Server?
User Review(s)
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. SX-2000U2 USB Device Server Specs
Extras Turn on and off this self-powered device automatically with your PC.
Lost a USB cable? Get a replacement USB cable.
Running out of USB ports? Get an extra USB hub.
You may need a new USB card to achieve Hi-Speed USB speeds.
Confirm with our USB 2.0 FAQ if you have Hi-Speed USB on your PC.
