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.
Hate to reply to my own comment, but more data… Here’s the behavior of the Vista 32 laptop relative to admin login… If I login as a user (not admin), SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 fails to connect to the USB drive. If – while it trying and failing – I switch users to me (an admin) – BOOM – SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 succeeds and the USB drive is available for *both* user and admin. Now, if I log off as admin and log back in as user, everything is still fine. If I disconnect now and try to reconnect – FAIL. So, it seems to me that SX Virtual Link 3.4.0 implicitly requires an admin login, but fails to offer the opportunity to supply an admin password if a non-admin user attempts to initiate a connection.
I’ve finished with this “Share” stuff after many hours of unsuccessful attempts to make work as intended.
I’ve bought an USB Server for my printer and many other USB devices to be connected to home network, for about $30 on eBay. Works great from the first moment it’s connected to DIR-655 via Ethernet cable. I have Vista 32 & 64 bit, and Win 7 64 bit PC connected to the net. So, I recommend this solution to all who’s frustrated with this Shareport.
Hi there any4room…I too gave up on Shareport almost a year ago. Can you tell me the model you bought off of eBay? I like to investigate this option that you presented. Thank you for a great solution!!!
To: Yukon721
Hi,
If you wish Multifunction Server (printer, scanner, storage, etc.), this is my solution:
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-Devices-MFP-Printer-over-Ethernet-Server-/320561432404?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa2f34754#ht_4456wt_1133
If you like a printer server only, look at this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-LPR-Print-Server-Printer-Network-Wireless-Wired-/180505244915?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a06f374f3#ht_5231wt_1037
Sure it solves D-Link Shareport non-connectivity.
25$ for a mfc print server seems low. Do you have that unit?
to: sammydad1
Sure I do. Same one. Try to contact with this seller (kitty something…) I have it for about 2 months already, works great. I saw other stuff on the Net and eBay, like HP or similar. You’re right it sells for more, but this one just do the same job for you for less. My opinion…
Thanks very much for the information.
Any4,
Can you get “feedback” from your printer such as ink levels using that $25 MFC server ? That has been my only gripe about my $25 USB print server….I have to guess my ink levels, but it works great for printing.
I f you can get ink levels from that $25 MFC unit, I might consider buying one from Miss Kitty….
to: Sammydad1
it is fully functional. It works as I were connected directly to it. Maintenance, everything. They have a list of tested devices, based also on OS. Check it 1st. Mine is HP PSC 1315 multifunctional with scanner and copier. All works remotely from any computer connected in my home net. The only limitation you can do it from one only computer at a time. You need to disconnect from one PC in order to connect from another.
to: any4room
You need to disconnect from one PC in order to connect from another? What happened to “share” in SharePort? Has anyone connected with a Canon DR2580C scanner?
You can set it to do it automatically, you still can only have one computer connected at a time but it will automatically connect to it when needed and disconnect as soon as it’s finished, so you’d only really have trouble in an environment with many computers trying to use it.
to: blackjack
Read prev. comments: it is not about Shareport anymore, which doesn’t seem to work properly ever…
virtual link 3.3.0 mac osx will print but locks up my macbook pro vir 10.6.5 every time I print???
Try using the latest version 3.6.0.
You can get it at:
http://www.silexamerica.com/support/downloads/software/svl/mac/sx-virtual_link_mac_360.zip
I bought a Dlink DNS-323 with the (supposed) shared USB. The network storage works fine.
When I run SharePort (or SX Virtual Link v 3.6.0), it says it does not see any “device servers” on the network. When I go to the Status-> USB Device Info page (using the web interface to the DNS-323), it does not see a USB device on the machine.
Firmware: it came with 1.08. I flashed to 1.09 – no change.
What to do?
I’m not too familiar with that device but going by general SharePort issues it’s common to find some devices to be incompatible with it, especially hard drives, other devices like mice,keyboards and other simpler devices are much more compatible. Generally usb devices that need a powered usb port, or more power than the early ports provided are incompatible, or need external power to function correctly.
It’s hard to say whether that error means there’s a problem between the usb device and the server or between the server and your PC. The best way to find out is to get a few usb devices and try them out one by one until the software detects them, it’s unlikely that it would be incompatible with more than 2 devices.
Ben: thank you for your quick reply.
> “Generally usb devices that need a powered usb port, or more power than the early ports provided are incompatible, or need external power to function correctly.”
I’ve connected an HP laser printer, very standard.
> “It’s hard to say whether that error means there’s a problem between the usb device and the server or between the server and your PC”.
I would think that it is clearly a problem of the server – maybe the SX (SharePort) process on the Linux server is not running or faulty – I would assume that even without a usb device connected, the “SX Virtual Link” software would identify a server on the network? In addition, like I mentioned before, when you enter the web application of the server, it claims it sees no USB devices
In the case of SharePort not detecting a server, certain software firewalls interrupt SharePort and completely block communication between the PC and the SharePort server, other people who have had this problem have posted comments in the past. Last time I checked it uses UDP port 9303 to communicate with the PC, but this was the old version, since then someone has commented that it uses TCP and UDP port 19540.
Depending on how good you are with networks you should also make sure that the network is fairly simple, no NATing etc between the server and the PC that’s trying to use it, no hardware firewalls etc and that they’re both on the same subnet.
In the case of it not detecting a usb device on the server, a printer should be easily detected, I can only think that perhaps the server’s usb port is faulty or the firmware is faulty and isn’t reporting correctly.
I did as suggested and uninstalled Shareport, keeping the Dlink USB utility, and then installed SX Virtual Link. After a reboot, it seems to be working.
I have one other person in the office and he hasn’t had too much trouble using Dlink. It’s been a chronic problem for me for some reason. The updates were no help.
Fingers crossed that SX Virtual Link will do the trick. thanks for the tip!
(We are both running XP and sharing an old HP 3 in 1 on the Dlink Router)
Get DIR-655 in July 2011. Shareport software comes with it does not work:
– can detect USB device and report status as available.
– when you try to connect to the USB device, it think a while and then rejected you, so device status stays as available.
Uninstall Shareport and use the SX Virtual Link v 3.7 instead. Everything works like a charm.
https://www.techgremlin.com/2009/08/20/d-link-shareport-update/
Have tried that with Windows XP as well as Win7, and have DIR-655 port connected to non-powered USB 2.0 hub for 2 external HDD.
By the way, initially, I did not uninstall shareport, just installed SV Virtual Link on top of it. That makes the D-link app work (but leave Virtual Link App complaining that Virtual Link driver has been used by someone else), meaning that the Virtual Link driver is the one that makes it all work.