Keyspan intros USB 2.0 Server

They certainly took their time doing it, but the folks at Keyspan have finally churned out a follow-up to their original USB Server, offering much of the same and one notable improvement with their new USB 2.0 Server. The big advantage here, as the name suggests, is the server's new USB 2.0 interface, as opposed to the sluggish USB 1.1 interface of the original. Otherwise, you'll get a pair of USB ports that you can use to share printers, scanners, and other USB devices over either a wired or wireless network, with full compatibility with both Macs and PCs. If that'll do, you can grab one now for $129.

[cmonkey @ Aug 1st 2007 6:55PM]

I'd rather have an NSLU2: http://www.nslu2-linux.org/

[rento @ Aug 1st 2007 7:01PM]

What about the Nokia N80?

[KeyspanDude @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:55AM]

Yes but the NSLU2 only works with USB drives. You can run unsupported firmware to get other features but it's not an apple to apple comparison.

The Keyspan USB 2.0 Server works with more than USB drivers. You can use printers, hard drives, scanners, thumb drives, etc. We support _USB_. You can't turn our server into a web server but you can use to connect virtually any USB device over a long distance.

[Stephen @ Aug 1st 2007 8:50PM]

Such a multi-function product, it even serves as a paper weight. Which it will be doing most of the time while it's software is giving you the blue screen of death...

[Mike @ Aug 1st 2007 9:08PM]

Looks interesting. FYI, it's under a hundred bucks at http://www.provantage.com

[Todd @ Aug 1st 2007 11:45PM]

I have the first gen (USB 1.1) model and would advise people to skip this product. Keyspan's drivers are such that only one computer can connect at a time to the device, after which you must manually go into the software and disconnect the USB device before connecting another computer to the device. I would prefer this to be automatic, or for the software to allow multiple simultaneous connections.

[KeyspanDude @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:54AM]

Hi Todd,

By default, our server product allows you 'virtually' connect and disconnect USB devices as needed. The usage analogy is that using devices via Keyspan servers is like checking out a book. You check it out when you need it and put it back when you don't. We automate this process for printers today so you don't need to do anything else. There are other settings that you set (see your user manual for details) but I will outline a few here

If you have a printer, check out the AutoConnect feature. It automates the use of printers so you don't have to do anything but select print.

If you only have one computer, you can make the server act like a USB hub by putting it into 'single-user mode'. In this mode, everything is connected when your computer comes on the network.

If you want to assign a one device to a computer, you can also do that and have other devices be shared with multiple computers (ie Bob has a thumbdrive assigned only to him but Bob and other users can access other devices).

All of these settings are available today in our software. If there's a feature request you have, please contact support and state exactly what you want. We're happy to work with you.

There's also some cool new features coming our next software release. I can't talk about them yet but the new features are free to all Keyspan Server customers (either our US4A (aka the 4 port USB 1.1 server) or the U2S2A (the 2 port USB 2.0 server))

[scott @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:49AM]

AAAAAAHHH CORPORATE PERSON!!!!

*mods down*

[Arthur Nonamiss @ Aug 3rd 2007 1:08PM]

How could a company spokesperson coming to this website and responding to criticisms be seen as anything but good? I wish more companies had the balls to do this. It shows that they have faith in their product, despite criticisms.

You know they're reading the board, because this item being on Engadget is going to increase their business. Do you think it would be a better idea if they just lurked in the shadows, and not respond to criticism, maybe even clear up misconceptions?

Now if his username were not "KeyspanDude" and he was acting like a shill for his company without identifying himself, maybe I could see a criticism, but he wasn't trying to pretend he was someone from the general public.

[pc12free @ Feb 28th 2008 9:08AM]

I got one in Nov07. The manual is NOT referring to USBv2 server, and I cannot use it with Vista64. I telephoned to the 1-866-739-7859 for support, and nothing could be provided. I asked for the USBv2 manual, and asked whether there is Vista64 beta software, and was quite disappointed with no help at all.
You said there would be new version of software - what's that?

[whatmeworry @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:45PM]

Per the website, the network connectivity is listed as RJ-45 (only) so where does the wireless network come into the picture ?

[scott @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:31PM]

Connect to your wireless router via the built-in ethernet hubs they typically have in back.

[fbb @ Aug 14th 2007 12:17PM]

Well, I got mine in the mail yesterday. It works fine with a printer, but when I tried to access my LcCie D2 160 gig external hd on my mac, it gave me the "gray screen of death" 3 times.

[Gary @ Dec 20th 2007 3:11PM]

Unfortunately the USB 2.0 sever doesn't work with Verizon FIOS when you have an Actiontec router. Keyspan currently doesn't know how to make it work with this router. Verizon won't help because it is third party hardware. The place I bought from wants a 15% restocking fee if I return it. Don't buy this if you have FIOS and an Actiontec router!

[pc12free @ Feb 28th 2008 8:50AM]

I got it in Nov08 and asked Keyspan about Vista64 driver (even a beta one), but they did NOT reply.
Keyspan's customer service is the top of the WORST list.

[pc12free @ Feb 28th 2008 8:54AM]

Sorry, I meant I got it in Nov.07 (not 08)

[indalo @ Apr 29th 2008 8:22AM]

I tend to buy the Keyspan USB 2.0 server with only 2 ports, if not another solution is in petto do get 4 USB 2.0 ports (without buying 2 pieces ...). But my queston asks for compatibility also with linux for keyboards, mices, external disks (WD Media), MF printers ... Does exists a manual to download to get more informations?

[indalo @ Apr 29th 2008 8:23AM]

I tend to buy the Keyspan USB 2.0 server with only 2 ports, if not another solution is in petto do get 4 USB 2.0 ports (without buying 2 pieces ...). But my queston asks for compatibility also with linux for keyboards, mices, external disks (WD Media), MF printers ... Does exists a manual to download to get more informations?

[Kakunka @ May 1st 2008 6:09PM]

I've got the first version. . . It's too slow to use a usb harddrive, but it's a useful tool in Windows. . . I've not seen any indication that the tool works in Linux, however. . . even though it can't be that hard to write a driver/server
for it.

I actually like it, and use it for scanning, printing. . . whatever. I'd buy it before buying any product from Linksys. (I've had very bad experience from those folks)