TechGremlin
Update: D-Link has released a new firmware for the DIR-655 here, it contains a version of SharePort that is newer than SX Virtual Link.
I haven’t been following D-Link’s SharePort fiasco since the first few months of my previous blog posting about it here. This is due to the fact that as many users have experienced since the original release it appears to have gained more and more bugs in each new version and we only occasionally see them being fixed.
A forum post in the official D-Link forums about the Apple OSX users of the software pointed me to the fact that the drivers and software used to connect to the router appears to have been made by a company called Silex Technology.
I searched around and found SX-Virtual Link, the original name of the D-Link SharePort Utility, upon downloading and installing the latest version 3.2.3 I found that the application was the same as the SharePort Utility except for the branding and the version. D-Link’s latest SharePort Utility has the date 2009/01/06 and theirs is 2009/02/02, there is also a major version difference, the specific version number for the utility/drivers with SharePort is version 4.9.5 and SX-Virtual Link is up to version 5.3.0.
Upon using the utility I had no problems at all connecting to my D-Link DIR-655’s device, I used a wireless mouse to test the functionality and it worked flawlessly for some time, so I am encouraging users who currently have issues with SharePort to uninstall it and install SX-Virtual Link and see if it fixes any of the issues you are currently having with your devices.
For OSX users I have not been able to test out the OSX version and I am unaware of any changes you might need to make to get it working but I will provide a link below for those users to test if they so wish.
You can get the latest version of SX-Virtual Link just below:
These are updated versions (3.4.0) 31/12/2009
SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 Windows
SX Virtual Link 3.3.0 Mac OSX
Please comment below with your experiences.
Shareport is working for both mac and windows for me.
This is the set up I have.
Please note i have tried with all other firmware 1.3X, beta softwares and Other latest SX Virtual link software and also with DLINK Shareport software.
working
firmware: DIR 655 1.32 NA Build 01 Beta
Date on router firmware page – 2009/08/27
https://www.techgremlin.com/downloads/dir655_fw_132b04NA_beta01.zip
SX-Virtual Link for Windows 3.2.3 (10.9 MB) 20-08-2009
SX-Virtual Link for Mac OSX 3.1.0 (9.41 MB) 20-08-2009
Thanks a lot Ben.
Hello i got the same problem.
I have a d-link dir 855 and connected a seagate extreme external hdd on it.
Is it maybe that the device connected to the sharepoint is going in to some kind of a sleep or a standby and the router can’t activated it?
Because if i dissconnect the external hdd and connect it with my pc my external hdd is beining activated.
And when i put the usb back in the sharepoint of the router than the sx virtual link works again.
And i can use my external hdd at the sharepoint.
But iff i wait to long and the external hdd doesn’t get a signal from my pc than the external goes to sleep and after a while i cannot connect to my external hdd anymore with sx virtual link.
Thank you so much for sharing this. After shareport nightmares on Windows 7 (with a Laser Jet Printer), this is a GREAT solution. By the way, I noticed that the Internet speed drops to the ground while printing. Actually on shareport, my router dir 955 restarted frequently. Great help. God bless
Hi, seems like you all know alot about this router, and since I dont I just want to ask you all a question.
I want to use the shareport to get a 1T hd on my home nettwork, so that all the computers in the house can use it as a back up disk or to download and upload.
Even tho I have been googled it a lot I cant seem to find the answer to it.
What hard drives is compitable with the software.
All of them or …?
I have a WD My Book Essential Apollo 1TB, is this hd compitable with the d-link shareport?
There’s no way of really knowing what is compatible or not, I believe D-Link have said that all of them should work, but it is clear that some people seem to have problems. I can only really recommend the minimum you would need to get it working, it needs to have it’s own power source and shouldn’t be powered by the USB port, your drive’s model seems to fulfill that requirement from looking at the specs, other than that there’s really no way of knowing but to try it out.
I really recommend checking out other routers that can do this, I believe there are a few out now that are quite a bit newer than this router and they may have better compatibility, also….
The USB port on the DIR-655 is very slow, it takes a long time to copy large files so I don’t recommend it, however if you don’t have any other means of getting the drive shared to all computers it should be bearable.
I am European user of the Dlink DIR-655.
I have firmware FW v1.30EU running (currently latest EU version) with SharePort_v1.15.9.
Could not get sx-virtual_link_win_340 to work with it yet.
I found out that writing lage files (800MB and larger) to USB stick connected to DIR-655 is very slow. However reading is lightning fast. My test has been done while connected to GB port, via wireless its slow reading to (which makes sense).
Oscar.
To: Ben
Re: D-Link SharePort Update
I have given a try to this SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 Windows. Looks the problem remains as it was before. My HP printer connects after about 20 seond, then stays connected for 10 sec, then my Win7-64b issues a message for SX Virtual Link
“HP… did not dosconnect properly”, printer is disconnected, then it connects autmatically again for 20 sec, then disconnects, and so on… Shareport just does not connect at all until Dlink DIR-655 is rebooted.
Ben, I added my e-mail when I initially posted this (LONG) comment. E-mail me if you want copies of the screen-shots I was able to take. You can insert them where I’ve got the [image] descriptions.
———–
Wow! Thanks Ben, for the pointers to the SX Virtual-Link software.
I ended up downloading both the latest D-Link and Shareport files, plus I followed Ben’s link and downloaded the SX version of the SharePort software.
I updated the D-Link DIR-655 drivers to the latest version (1.33NA as of March 31, 2010) and that was all nice but didn’t help the printing situation.
I installed the latest version of D-Link’s Sharepoint software (version 4.9.5 as of March 31, 2010). Since my ability to print did not improve, I un-installed tha software and launched the installer for the SX Virtual Link v5.3.0 software.
Guys, I suspect this issue is so astoundingly simple it will make you want to kick yourself. Fortunately for me, I’m no longer as flexible as I was during my martial arts training years….
It was during the installation process for the SX Virtual Link software that I could see the salient difference. While the installer was quietly doing what it does, a warning message appeared that said something roughly like, “Shareport needs to create an exception through your Windows Firewall. Be forewarned that exceptions through your firewall can leave your computer vulnerable to viruses, trojans, swine flu, hurricanes, and Ragnarok.”
No, seriously, though. The SX Virtual Link installer gave me a warning that the software needed to add Shareport to the exception list in my firewall so things would work, but there were some standard dangers inherent in letting software make such an exception (particularly if the software is unfamiliar to you). The warning window had buttons so I could allow the exception and continue, or disallow the exception and stop installing the Sharepoint software.
Since it’s a hole in my firewall that goes through the 4 ports on the DIR-655 just over to that USB-A connector, I felt pretty confident I wasn’t opening a door to some Eritrean Bank Scammer who would commandeer my computer in the middle of the night and use it to send e-mails to unsuspecting lobbyists who just might be interested in quick-and-easy insurance investment profits. I clicked
The software then continued to do whatever it was doing, asked where I wanted my shortcuts, then asked if I wanted Shareport to start up with the computer (to which I answered ). When it finished what it was doing, I got another warning, noting that Shareport needed to detect USB devices. It then listed my keyboard, thumb drive, printer, mouse, Blackber—what!?! There’s a printer listed there?!
Since I knew there were now some new entries on my Firewall exceptions list, I quickly opened up Windows Firewall, navigated to the Exceptions tab, and found
[Image: Windows Firewall Interface > Exceptions Tab: Checkboxes for Network USB Utility, Network USB Utility, Network USB Utility UDP Port; SharePort, SharePort, SharePort.]
I selected the printer (a Hewlett Packard 832C) and told the Sharepoint to consider that its default connect-to device. Then I pulled up a document in MS-WORD and told WORD to print using the HP832C. My computer seemed to contemplate the matter for a moment, then spit my list of Zatoichi movies out on the printer. In other words….
IT WORKED!
Then I had to run off and take care of some honey-do errands.
Then next day, when I fired up my computer and logged in, the system went through its usual preparatory motions and then gave me an additional warning, noting that a start-up task was opening a hole in my firewall and such a practice was not recommended. Did I want to continue anyway? I checked yes, and told it that I didn’t want to be asked again. The system contemplated for a while. . .
[Image: SharePoint Icon “Preparing. Please wait…”]
. . .and then the warning faded to an icon in the taskbar.
So the key seems to be in specifically letting SharePort and the Network USB Utility poke holes in your firewall (Windows Firewall, or ZoneAlarm, or whatever you use). The D-Link version of the SharePort installer doesn’t bother to ask for permission this critical adjustment, and I’m suspecting it’s not even bothering to try to make that adjustment. Whether they’re assuming everyone will just instinctively know to create those exceptions, or whether they’re just too lazy to make the installer do that extra step, those of you (us) who have been complaining about the SharePort software not working and/or the DIR-655 not being able to work with our printers through the USB port end up losing a lot of valuable time, energy, and adrenaline because it doesn’t work.
Thanks Ben. I’ve been looking at this blog since last week when I got my DIR655. SX Virtual-Link software really WORKS. It even resolve my printing problem with HP C4280 and now can use the “Connect automatically only for printing” option. The DLink (re)branded version(SharePort) of this software really SUCKS!.
For sure D-Link folks are even getting ideas from this blog. If you ever get to this part…. yeah this part…The original software already works, use it and do not make any stupid changes, we now know that you only added Help File, changes some Icon, added Shareport as Windows service and as startup program, which didn’t do much except to fail.
btw, I’m currently on FW 1.32NA. Tried FW1.33 update but getting connection drops both wired/wireless.
THANKS very much for the sleuth work! I’ve finally managed to get it to work. Before I tried SX VIrtual Link, even though Windows Firewall showed SharePort & SharePort UDP allowed, it still didn’t work. After installing SX Virtual Link it does. I’m using a DIR-825 with 113NA firmware.
Hi,
I am pulling my hair out here now…. Last week I moved to a new pc using Windows 7 x64…. Now when I try to print anything at all “complex” I get get partial pages spitting out and again and again. However if I reboot the DIR-655 A2 FW: 1.34b03 I will get complete printouts for one or two times…..than back to partial prints; also the second or third partial pages often come out in psychedelic or monochrome colors…
Very Frustrating….. I have done the uninstall/reinstall driver drills…and everything else I can think of….Have posted on the DLink user forums…. Windows firewall has been tweaked also….
Please do check into this x64 bug….I am not the only one seeing this, and it occurs in both Shareport and Silex softwares….
Please help or point me in a direction….
It sounds like there’s quite a few of those problems going on at the moment, perhaps it’s interfering with the connection at some point, usually there’s not too much that can be done until D-Link decide to update the software, though I would assume Silex have to update it first.
Thanks for the link to SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 Windows, I was so excited to think my brand new dlink 655 would finally work with my spanking new Seagate 1.5 t free agent.
But I have the same issue, connect, disconnect, connect, disconnect. I finally unplugged the seagate usb to get started on my work day. I cannot lose any more time troubleshooting new equipment. I just replaced my maxtor external which failed and I lost pic’s and audio files of course no other back-up. I will bookmark this blog in hopes there is an answer before my 90 day take back to costco is up.
Thanks
Hi,
Thanks for the reply…. I have been working with a DLink tech about my shareport issues, but in the meantime I installed a small USB/Ethernet Print server off ebay for $25 and it resolves my issues.
Shareport is an interesting idea whose execution has been VERY hit or miss for users. For me with XP it has been really quite good…Win7 has obviously been a very different story….
I just bought a DIR-655 and I agree with Ben that is a tremendous FIASCO. I had 2 Macs and 2 Pcs in my home network, plus a PS3. The Shareport is a joke. A crap in my macs and in a PC running 7 I never found my 500 GB external hard disk. I want to find some solution that I can plug a external hard disk to one router and can use DNLA, share the disk inside and outside of my lan. I think its a lot of imagination from my part… Thanks Ben!!
Using DIR-655 with Vista 64 and an HP F4440 multi-use printer. Couldn’t connect with Shareport. Removed Shareport and installed SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 Windows. Works fine now. Thanks for the tip.
Using the DIR-855 (1.22NA) and Windows XP, the problem isn’t fixed with either Dlink’s Sharepoint utility 3.0.0 nor SX Virtual Link 3.4.0. Further more, the utility is not able to configure auto-connect, as it can’t find the printer drivers even though they have been installed.
Oooops spoke to soon. SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 did manage to find the printer and work, but…. same problems as Sammydad1 above. Partial prints on several pages.
Thanks for the post.
On my Mac (10.5.8) SX Virtual Link 3.3 works neatly!
Never got the Shareport utility from D-link to work.
Just installed a new DIR-655, HW=A4, 1.32NA. Really need a 1 Gb USB drive to be a pseudoNAS using Sharepoint. Sharepoint worked fine on an Asus netbook running Win 7 starter. Then installed on a Vista 32 and a Vista 64. In both cases – and wired or wireless – the device would be slow to connect, connect for a moment, immediately disconnect, then try to reconnect. Same behavior with three USB storage devices -all work with the Win 7S client, none with the Vista clients. Awful. I uninstalled Sharepoint from the Vista clients and installed SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 Windows. The Vista 64 client is perfect. The Vista 32 client was perfect when I was logged in (administrator). When another user is logged in (user, not administrator) – same behavior as before – long time to connect, then immediate disconnect. Reproducible – I can log in to the Vista 32 client and SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 Windows works perfectly. Some data useful for debugging. Anyone else see this behavior?