I've been looking for reliable USB over LAN software to share a few devices, like dongles and a printer, around the office. I tried Kernel Pro but found it unreliable and way too pricey for multiple devices. I've seen options like USB Network Gate, VirtualHere, FlexiHub, and usbip, but I'm not sure which ones actually perform well and aren't outdated. Has anyone had good experiences with any of these?
5 Answers
We have some SEH dongle server appliances that really fit our needs. They let us automate the use of license dongles in a really smooth way: check out a dongle from the pool, launch the associated app, and then check the dongle back in when done. They also come with a solid web admin interface and extra features like redundant NICs and encryption support.
DigiAnywhere USB is another option you might consider. It's well-maintained and pretty secure, making it a solid choice if you want something that just works without hassle.
VirtualHere has worked really well for us. The licensing is affordable and lasts forever. I’d definitely recommend giving it a shot. It’s been super reliable, especially when running on a Raspberry Pi, serving around 12 dongles to about 50 users! Just a heads-up, though: the developer can be a bit grumpy and not the most helpful.
If you're into open source, check out usbip-win2 on GitHub. It seems well-maintained, although it only offers a client since the server part is embedded within the Linux kernel. If you need something stable and reliable, AnywhereUSB from Digi is your best bet, but remember it's not meant to connect directly to Windows.
Glad to hear you had a good experience with an open-source option! That's my preference too.
I used VirtualHere for a project connecting a Linux embedded device to a Windows PC. It allowed me to use a USB webcam and a special USB programming cable over a VPN, and it functioned perfectly!
+1 for VirtualHere - it just works and is probably the best on the market!