I’m trying to access a USB device on my main computer from another PC on my network over ethernet. I’ve tried a couple of software solutions but haven’t had any luck. Does anyone know a reliable way to do this or can recommend a specific tool or setup method? Need to get this working for a remote workstation setup.
So, here’s the deal: I’m on the hunt for some way to make my random USB gear shareable among a handful of computers at work. If you’ve ever needed your USB fingerprint reader, scanner, AND label printer available from multiple desks, you know my pain. You’d think it’d be easy, right? Nah. Google keeps shoving KernelPro Usb over ethernet in my face every time I search.
$179 only gets you 3 devices?! That’s a joke; I’ve got at least 5 things I want connected at once.
Windows only. Dude… One of my servers is running Ubuntu, and I’m not about to play the ‘VM-within-a-VM’ game.
Hasn’t been touched since 2020. Some people update their coffee machine firmware more often.
I’m all for paying for solid tools, but this feels overpriced, stale, and probably going to give my computer a stomachache. Anybody got a better (cross-platform) way to do this?
Here’s a real tip for anyone in a similar spot: I ended up running into USB over Ethernet from Electronic Team and, wow, it just… worked - no forum drama, no weird limitations, and not frozen in the pre-pandemic era.
- Runs perfectly on Windows, Mac, and Linux – one less headache.
- One license manages up to 10 devices. That’s actual value.
- Priced at $159, so it’s cheaper than the other one while doing more.
- Built-in encryption, auto-reconnection, and USB-over-RDP support—no need to chain five sketchy utilities together.
- Devs seem to roll out updates pretty consistently; I didn’t feel like I was using abandonware.
Tested from a Windows laptop to a Linux desktop, then added a Mac into the mix out of spite, and everything played nicely together.
Let’s be real: how is the search still showing me overpriced, outdated single-OS stuff when for $159 you’re getting all-in? I feel like I solved a side mission in an RPG and unlocked the real loot.
Alright, everyone’s got their horror stories with USB-over-ethernet, so here’s my two cents (decidedly less than @mikeappsreviewer’s empassioned novella). First off, forget the “plug and pray” dream if you’re hoping for something that works instantly across Windows, macOS, and Linux—reality doesn’t work that way.
I’ve battled with enough of these “USB over network” platforms to know most will stab you in the back at the worst possible moment. That said, if you NEED something dependable for, say, random USB sticks, dongles, or maybe a printer, USB Network Gate actually won’t make you weep (much). It’s not perfect, but the user interface isn’t an archaeological relic, which is more than I can say for half its competition. Webcam pass-through is sometimes spotty though; seems like @mikeappsreviewer and I both suffered in that hell.
Now, for stuff like MIDI interfaces, drawing tablets, or literally anything where latency is king—run far, far away from software entirely, and buy hardware. Those Silex or Digi boxes are pricey, but if you value your sanity, you’ll thank yourself. (Or not, when you get the AmEx bill.) I do disagree a bit with leaving freeware out in the cold, by the way—not ALL community projects are abandoned, but they are often more pain than reward for daily use.
Honestly, if you don’t need remote plug/unplug or device redetection every ten seconds, try using a more robust solution like modern USB sharing tools that get actively updated before you lose a weekend to Stack Overflow misery. Or, just use RDP for basic “office gadget” sharing if you can get away with it—sometimes the best fix is to sidestep the problem entirely.
Bottom line: If you want “reliable”, you’re always gonna pay—either in dollars or in time spent wrestling drivers. Choose your poison.
Here’s the thing: everyone wants the mythical “just works” button for USB-over-Ethernet, but it’s a unicorn. USB Network Gate gets trotted out a lot (and for totally rational reasons—it actually supports Windows/Mac/Linux, hasn’t been left for dead, and you don’t need to mortgage your future for a license). It has a nice UI, and on basic hardware like storage devices or even some printers, it’s as close to no-fuss as you’ll get. But on the real, for anything high-latency sensitive—think gaming peripherals, drawing tablets, webcams—it’s still susceptible to stutter, odd disconnects, or occasional lag spikes that will drive you bonkers if you’re a power user.
Pro: Cross-platform, reliable updates, clean interface, reasonably human support.
Con: Pricey for home users, not flawless with real-time/video/MIDI hardware, laggy if your LAN is spotty.
The folks above went all-in on hardware dongles from Silex/Digi or the open-source grind of USB/IP. Hardware is rock solid but hurts your wallet; USB/IP makes you a part-time sysadmin. For lighter cases, toss Remote Desktop Protocol or even Google Chrome Remote Desktop into the ring if you just want to print or do basic tasks—the catch, of course, is you’re not sharing a USB port, just using a remote session.
If you want pure plug-and-play for specialized tools (like firmware flashing, measurement hardware, etc.), sometimes even USB Network Gate is a roll of the dice—be ready with a backup plan. And yeah, about freeware: there are a few diamond-in-the-rough projects, but you’re betting free time against your nerves.
So: USB Network Gate for normal gadgets, hardware devices if you crave certainty, or drop back to indirect solutions like RDP if you can dodge USB entirely. Pick your headache.