FAQ: AnywhereUSB™ and USB Over IP™
Version 3.0 May 2003
1. How does AnywhereUSB work? AnywhereUSB is a two-part solution: USB hardware and redirector software. The box is attached via RJ-45 to the Ethernet and provides five downstream USB ports. The software redirects data through a TCP/IP interface to the USB hardware. We call this “USB Over IP” technology. 2. What are the benefits of USB Over IP technology? Traditional USB connectivity requires the USB device to be within 5 meters (16.4 feet) of the host PC. USB Over IP breaks this distance barrier, allowing USB devices to be anywhere on the network. Also, a locally-attached host is not required on the peripheral device side, thus saving space and allowing devices to be placed in harsh environments or in non-secure areas. Since AnywhereUSB is controlled from a remote host, devices may be monitored from a centralized location, reducing IT service costs while increasing network security and system redundancy – if the remote host PC fails, another PC on the network can take over. 3. Do I have to load special software on the host PC in order to use AnywhereUSB? Yes, AnywhereUSB drivers must be loaded on the host machine. The drivers enable the host to communicate with the AnywhereUSB box via TCP/IP. 4. How will my remotely attached USB devices appear in my application? Will the device manager show that they are not locally attached? Our software makes the remote USB devices appear as though they are plugged into the local USB ports on the back of the PC. 5. What operating systems (OS) are compatible with AnywhereUSB? The first release of AnywhereUSB includes drivers for Windows XP, 2000 and NT 4.0. For Windows NT applications, the USB devices must use the Inside Out Networks EdgeUSB software stack. 6. What types of devices are compatible with AnywhereUSB? Peripheral devices must use asynchronous or bulk transmission to work successfully with AnywhereUSB. Compatible devices include our Edgeport USB Converters, Watchport Sensors, Watchport/V USB Camera, and various third-party devices like scanners, printers and PDAs. Isochronous devices such as consumer grade cameras and audio devices are not compatible because they require specific timing coordination. When data travels across a busy Ethernet, data packets can experience variable delays due to network traffic. This “first come, first served” delivery method is problematic for isochronous devices because the data must be delivered within specific time restraints. A tool to test for device compatibility will be available in the Fall of 2003.
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7. How are the PC and corresponding AnywhereUSB associated when the network may have many of each? The PC must be configured with the IP address of the AnywhereUSB device(s) to which It should “bind”. Each AnywhereUSB device is owned by the PC and dedicated exclusively to it. 8. Is the IP address static or dynamic? Each AnywhereUSB box has one static (fixed) IP address. 9. Can more than one PC share the USB devices that are attached to AnywhereUSB? Printing devices that can be used with Windows print spooling software can be shared by multiple PCs on a network. Other USB devices cannot be shared concurrently. 10. Can a PC or server have more than one AnywhereUSB connected to it? Yes. 11. Is there a maximum number of AnywhereUSB boxes for one server? Up to 8 AnywhereUSB boxes may be connected to one server. 12. Do you have recommendations for network settings? We recommend a 100mb switched Ethernet per AnywhereUSB box. This offloads the AnywhereUSB processor and maximizes data flow from the Ethernet to USB ports. Also, the network should be at or below 50% utilization. 13. How much system latency should I expect from AnywhereUSB? The unload latency for AnywhereUSB on a switched 100Mb network is 10-20ms. Latency may vary depending on the application and types of devices that are connected to AnywhereUSB. 14. Does AnywhereUSB have its own USB host controller interface? AnywhereUSB has two host controllers, which are Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI), each with a complete 12Mbps USB bus. 15. Are the five USB ports using separate host controllers, or is there one controller with a 5-port root hub? One OHCI has three root hub ports; the other host controller has two. 16. Is AnywhereUSB software-upgradeable in the field? Yes. 17. Is AnywhereUSB firmware-upgradeable? Yes.
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18. What is the speed of AnywhereUSB? Input: 10/100 Output: 12Mbps 19. Is AnywhereUSB compliant with USB 2.0? The chip used on the first-generation product is a USB 2.0 controller, but we are using it in 1.1 mode. We have not ruled out the possibility of 2.0 support, but there is no firm timetable for this development. Customer demand will drive this initiative. 20. Do we have plans for different versions with additional or fewer USB ports? As with all of our solutions, but especially with a new technology like USB Over IP, we are customer-driven. We will collect feedback from initial and prospective customers to determine future feature modifications, port counts, and USB 2.0 support.
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