Pogoplug may have been the first to make this type of contraption popular, but now it's time for the no-names to sneak in and offer up comparable devices for a bit less cheddar.
Sharkoon has evidently taken a break from punching out
SATA HDD Docks in order to develop its USB LANPort, which effectively puts any piece of USB storage (flash drive, external hard drive, etc.) on one's local network -- though it seems this is mainly for making multiple drives available to a variety of machines via customized permissions. The USB LANPort 100 converts a single drive into a device that can be streamed from locally, while the USB LANPort 400 handles up to four USB devices. Unfortunately it looks as if these weren't designed to link USB drives to the internet at large, but we're sure the hacker in you could figure it out. Both boxes support automatic and manual IP address contacts, and they're both available now across the pond for €22.99 ($34) / €36.99 ($56) in order of mention. As for a US release? Your guess is as good as ours.
posted December 1st 2009 2:49PM
Put four 16G thumb drives in RAID0 and you get a SSD NAS.
@(Unverified) Why on Earth would you want RAID0 on a NAS?! One of your USB drives disappears/dies/corrupts, and BOOM, no data for you!
I'm thinking RAID 1 or RAID 5 would make much more sense.
@(Unverified)
Sounds slow and unreliable.
@(Unverified) And how would you go about RAIDing USB thumb drives?
@Oli D The better question is why bother. I haven't found anything concrete even after looking over the products site, manual, and tech specs regarding the nic port speed. I am going to take the lack of indication as 10/100 speed which means that most single USB flash drives can saturate the network connection on read. Why would you need to bother trying to raidi 4 together to make sure you cap out the network connection.
@KAL326 Correct it's 100Mbit
Sharkoon make some decent innovative stuff. I bet this fills someones niche.
Anyone else notice the wierd way the USB ports are lined up? 2 1 4 3?
The usb sticks used in the photo make it look really strange, they should have used normal ones - not those crazy right angled ones, http://amirite.net ?
Those are just the built-in USB covers, all pointing up. Besides, a geek would just put the thing on his desk and move the covers back and forth while making transporter noises. (and no, I did think about it, but would not actually do it... more than once....)
me liked amirite dot net
Staples sells 4GB ones similar to that. They have a Metal 360 Degree Rotating Cover.
@tonystafford
Woah that wasn't even me!
I see his point about the memory sticks though, I couldn't figure out what was going on at first.
"Sharkoon USB LANPort gets your isolated USB drives on the world wide web"
Uh...no, it puts your isolated USB drives on a **LAN**. You'd hope that an "Associate Editor" for Engadget would know the difference...
What a brilliant idea for very little money.
I want that. I like it lots.
According to the source article, it's not really a usb storage -> NAS -thing.
It allows the user to use _any_ usb-device over ethernet. usb-sticks, printers, webcams, etc. The downside is that only one person can access each device at once and you need special drivers (and with proprietary drivers, linux and mac support goes out of the window with a 99% probability...)
"The software menu allows users to connect the individual device to one's own computer and use it as if it were directly connected to your PC. If another user needs to access the equipment at the same time, they can simply send a request for release of the device to the current user and then obtain access."
@MacAnkka uh, what a pity...this thingy would have made a great nas with a bunch of hdds attached.
@MacAnkka
Well that sucks. I was hoping for a device just like this that could turn my Sharkoon 3.5" SATA docks into a NAS... my router already has a USB port, but only supports FAT32 :(
This makes me hard. I want one.
How is this useful? Neat, yeah... but how would anyone make decent use of it?
@(Unverified) I have a USB 640 HDD and 2 laptops in my house. With this, I can just connect the HDD to the router and bam, I can access the HDD from the laptops, which I can't do now.
That looked really cool! ... until I saw the requirement of Windows, and the word "custom driver"... Because custom windows drivers are easier to write than SMB? Faiiiiiiiil.
Might be neat for a windows-only shop though, if the UI doesn't suck balls and the drivers don't crash once an hour.
It's not neon pink like the pogoplug. Sharkoon gets props for me just for that fact.
I quickly read "while the USB LANPort 400 handles up to four USB devices." as "handles up to 400 USB devices". Now that'd be something
@decypherSMC Just buy 100 of them.
I'd get one as soon as they support OSX. Simultaneous multiple computer access would be awesome, if even possible.
@TofuSama Then the new pogoplug is lining up to be your friend.
@kingu
Thank you very much, I was unaware of the Pogoplug.
@TofuSama Airport Extreme + USB hub?
I want one!
Where can I get something just like this but compatible with Mac OS and Windows?? I mean... multi platform.
@blunk Apple Airport?
@blunk Patriot Gear Box
My ASUS Wl-520GU router with DD-WRT firmware and USB port can already do this, plus no special software or drivers are reuired. It works with FTP, SAMBA, and if I choose, can be accessible on the internet.
@sbddude
Yeah and? Want a medal?
Yawn, just another 10/100 USB to LAN hub that has HORRIBLE throughput and is really good for nothing when you get right down to it.
Save your money and get a proper NAS, until then use your OS to share whatever it is you think you need a device like this for.
Note that this thing supports all USB devices I'm told, specifically it is handy for printers, and even if your router has an USB port it usually only supports one device at a time so this can still be handy.
If it indeed supports all devices it means it would also support (albeit not at USB2 speeds) webcams for instance, it has some interesting possibilities, it's just a damn shame it's not gigabit since 100mbit is faster than USB1.1 but way slower than USB2.0, it's a pity, but still usable.
I'm not sure why the focus on USB drives just because they ate in the pressshot.
These things are great when you need a USB security key hooked to a VM! Allowed us to VM some machines that we would have never been able to before.