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[Schmye Bubbula]

I got SharePort Plus 4.2.0R1 installed today on my Mac for my DIR-655, and it's working just fine. Tonight I happened across an old CNET review of my router, which alluded, "Initially, its USB port was designed just to host a USB printer." Does this mean that I can print to my printer connected to the DIR-655's USB port without using SharePort Plus? (All I want to use is the printer, and I'm the only user.) If so, how does that work? Is there some setting in the router's web-based config?

[FurryNutz]

SP needs to be installed for the client to print to the printer.

[Schmye Bubbula]

Yes, I see, thanks. Further reading of some other older reviews indeed clarifies that the DIR-655's USB port always needed SharePort from the very first firmware version that supported any device beyond the original thumb drive to make more convenient the transfer of configs to other computers. But, again, evidently in those early days only simple print serving was supported. Today, almost any USB device works, which is why it's become a more complicated job for SharePort, and why only one client can use a USB device at a time, and why the user has to manually intervene to disconnect his USB device before someone else can use it.

So my question therefore is, did those early versions of SharePort that only did simple print serving present a less-complicated user experience, not requiring as much user intervention, and if so, will they run on the current DIR-655 firmware?

What I'm getting at is this: On my old Apple AirPort Extreme, its USB port only supports print serving — a USB scanner won't work, for instance — and it print serves multi-users, doesn't require installation of any software or other drivers on every client computer... it JustWorks™.

What I'm seeking is whether there ever was a simpler, less-intrusive version of SharePort that would work transparently for me with just a printer.

[FurryNutz]

What make and model is your printer?
Is it only a USB connection printer or is there a LAN cable connection too?
If it's only a USB, You might think about getting a USB to LAN converter adapter put on the printer. Then connect the adapter to the LAN network and then anyone can print to the IP address assigned to the adapter and the print job should be printed.

Not sure about older versions, I know that some version from what i've seen on the forums work better than new, however some newer version have resolved and fixed what some older versions had broke.

I personally don't use SP and believe that it's good for basic user needs, it's good for printers and doing small file xfers to small USB flash drives and such. Realistically, if your need better on demand connections with printers or doing larger file xfers to bigger USB drives, honestly, the only way to handle that with ease is to put them on a LAN network connection. The connection will be always there and easy to access for anyone on your network and doing large file xfers can't be compared to USB since USB can't handle the throughput like LAN networking can. USB is good for doing small minor things. Doing larger data stuff, I highly recommend LAN networking for you main platform.

[Schmye Bubbula]

No, I'm not doing any of that other stuff — just one guy with a printer. That's why I'm asking if back in the day when the DIR-655's USB port only supported simple print serving, did the early version of SharePort accordingly "just work" without all the sleight of hand, pretty much plug-'n-play?

[FurryNutz]

I believe SP was used in printing with clients. Connect and Disconnect. If your the only one using the printer, could just leave SP going and connected.

[FurryNutz]

Another idea and since your the only one using the printer, why not make it easier and just install the printer on your PC? You can share it out there as well with out using SP.

[Schmye Bubbula]

^ Because I'm on a MacBook Pro laptop, and the printer's on the other side of the room, right next to the router.... I see from your sig that you have an AirPort Extreme, so you know what I'm talking about with how easy it is to plug-in a printer and it just works, without installing software or drivers on the computer, no rigmarole. Now we've established that the DIR-655 will always require some version of SharePort, and I've got it working nicely with the latest version, and I'm already doing what you said — setting it to auto-connect and leaving it that way. But all the complication with SharePort and all its kext installations and having to have the app running is because the current SharePort works with any USB device, not just as a simple print server, and while it never may be as seamless as a print-server-only AirPort, I was just wondering whether SharePort was more hands-off back when all the router could do with USB was print serving. Your next-to-last post indicated that the old SharePort probably had to go through the same connection maneuver as the current version, so I guess this is about as good as it's gonna' get. (And it's pretty good, don't take me wrongly — I'm just coming from being a "spoiled" Mac user, with a higher set of expectations of the ease-of-use to which I'd become accustomed. ). Indeed, I'll probably be real happy with SharePort if I ever add a USB scanner or external USB hard drive!

[FurryNutz]

You can get long USB cables as well, if placement of the printer and distance is crucial.

I go agree and am spoiled as you are when it comes to using Macs. There so easy to use and everything just works. I guess things always can't be perfect huh? Hehe.

Actually never tried to use the AE with my printer. My printers are LAN based so which ever router I use, there just there and working. I do test and work with other users problems to help reproduce sometimes to confirm issues. Thats about the extent of my USB port work. I know there is a map to USB port work around that works and you don't have to use SP, I don't know if that works for when printer is connected.

[Schmye Bubbula]

...I know there is a map to USB port work around that works and you don't have to use SP, I don't know if that works for when printer is connected.

I found this; now I'm off figuring out if I can translate that to Mac-speak. Stay tuned...

[FurryNutz]

No...