How to connect a USB device to an existing LAN network?

[usta]

I have a LAN network at home created by an Asus WiFi router.
I'd like to add a USB printer and some external USB Hard Disks, and make them available to all computers. Is there any cost-effective way to do this?
My thoughts go to Belkin Network USB Hub (http://www.belkin.com/networkusbhub/), but are there any other ways (cheaper)?

Thanks.

[Dv8ted2]

You would connect the devices and the rest is just a matter of windows permissions. You would share the devices. Then you can map drives or use the UNC path so that the other computers would be able to access the drives and printers.

[AlanHK]

My thoughts go to Belkin Network USB Hub (http://www.belkin.com/networkusbhub/), but are there any other ways (cheaper)?

Cheapest is to connect all the devices to a PC and then let it serve them to the network. But that makes the PC the bottleneck, and of course that PC has to be on for it to work.

USB ports on routers for printers are common, and if you haven't already bought your hard disks, you might look for ones that already have ethernet, known as NAS (Network-Attached Storage Devices) rather than having to use such a hub.

[usta]

Thanks for the info!
The search is for the interface to link the USB divices (printer, HDD) to LAN. So, my options are:
1) Set one PC in between (as suggested by AlanHK) - I would prefer not to do this, as I'm trying to reach the devices from each pc independantly.
2) Use Router USB port - The Asus WL-500g has a USB port, but this is only to be used for compatible HDDs. So, some of my HDDs and the printer will not work.
3) Buy another Router (wired) that has an option to add USB devices, and link it to LAN.
4) Use NAS with USB ports - interesting. Not only I get extra storage, but I might extend it with extra hardware. Any idea which one to use?
5) Use "something else" kind of USB to LAN adapter (Belkin, Linksys). I haven't looked much here.

OK, now that the options are on the table, what are your experinces/suggestions (remember, it should be cost effective )?

[Dv8ted2]

The most cost effective method would be the first option. I also suggested option 1.

You could go for a NAS and a print server, but that sounds like it would be out of your range.

[usta]

Dv8ted2, you are right, option 1 is the most cost effective method, since it doesn't require an extra purchase.
However, for a home user an investment under $100 should not be an issue. So, provided I don't want to keep one PC on (or let other computers depend on 1 PC), what other choice I have? I'm sure you guys have some kind of network and are using some kind of solution to connect all your gadgets together.
Please share your thoughts further. That allows me to consider some extra options. Thanks!

[edDV]

I would like to add another more high end option that solves several additional issues. Windows Home Server OS can run on a small dedicated PC providing unlimited NAS storage, auto backup and media serving. The HP MediaSmart Home server goes futher adding remote access to media collections over the internet, centralized iTunes collections and support for Mac computers.

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/mediasmart-server/#/HomeServerComparison/
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_hp.asp

The last year version of the MediaSmart EX server with the AMD Sempron CPU is still available on eBay for around $300. You can add up to 2GB RAM and run most current Mediasmart apps. I've got one of these with 4.5TB of internal drives. External drives can be added using eSATA, IEEE-1394 or USB2.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hewlett-Packard-MediaSmart-Server-EX470-GG795AA_W0QQitemZ250450349...3A1%7C294%3A50

[Dv8ted2]

You normally do not add drives and miscellaneous storage to routers. Usually a router would be connected to switches and patch panels. The drives and printers would usually be connected to some sort of server. In a server client relationship, the server would have the equipment, which would be shared, and the clients would connect to it.

In a P2P environment which is usually under ten computers, all machines could share resources, if they are in the same workgroup. Each machine would act as clients and servers. Either way, the products would be connected to a computer and would be shared on the network. There is no need to add it to the router.

Your approach will often lead to incompatibilities and problems.

[usta]

HP MediaSmart server is actually quite a good one, except it is above the budget...
Looks like my options have reduced to two: 1) use one PC to connect the USB devices, or 2) use a NAS.
I'll explore further a NAS solution for home (preferably with a print server function).

[edDV]

HP MediaSmart server is actually quite a good one, except it is above the budget...
Looks like my options have reduced to two: 1) use one PC to connect the USB devices, or 2) use a NAS.
I'll explore further a NAS solution for home (preferably with a print server function).

Before the HP server, I spent money on various NAS enclosures but quickly maxed them out. I should have saved that money for the server. It has unlimited expansion through external drives.

The server has saved so much time having all files centrally located and backed up. I can also access files via the internet and remote run networked computers from anywhere.

[elkfir]

This thing works pretty well for the USB hard drives (not for printers):

http://www.pogoplug.com/

It's intended so that you can access the data on your USB drive externally from the Internet (using an encrypted tunnel thru their service), but you can also use it to access the drive internally on your network.

[p71rock]

I have a 8 user network and want to limit the problem of having one PC on to share my printers.
So to solve this I purchased a D-Link DP-300U. It services three printers [two old LPT and One USB]
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=166 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127031 $65.00 EST newegg has free shipping. <== Wired only

If your printers are newer with all USB use DPR-1260 RangeBooster G Multifunction Print Server
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=482 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127074 $80.00 EST free shipping <== both wired and wireless. supports printers with scanners.

[usta]

Thanks for the suggestions!
The Pogoplug is only for USB HDD, but not for the printers. Hmm, for that price, perhaps, I should go for a more versatile product.
D-Link Print Server DPR-1260 is actually quite interesting product (the DP-300 is way too old with LPT and USB 1.1 ). However, this doesn't enable to connect USB HDDs.
By the way, I see Newegg has bunch of NAS solutions: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=124&name=Network-Storage-NAS
Surely some of these goodies have the possibility to connect a printer and provide extensive features. Let's raise the budget to $200 max.

[RabidDog]

Your best bet is to simply get or resurrect an old computer to act as your network hub, with all the usb drives attached (Or perhaps internal) and with the printer attached. I have looked at these some NAS devices and while they are good, seem overpriced .. of course they will use less juice than a full scale PC, so possibly will pay for themselves in time.

[usta]

Perhaps, for the moment being I'll satisfy myself by connecting the USB devices to one PC and sharing them via LAN.
I'm sure sooner or later I'll need more storage (that is the fate of all those who are video fans ), and then I'll have a closer look at NAS solutions (preferably containing more than one disk). It makes sense to store/backup/share large amount of data centrally.