Networked USB storage device on 2 different networks?

[MadAd]

I have 2 separate networks (1 machine and 3 machines) that have no physical link and each network has its own internet connection.

Im fed up moving data between the 2 networks via flash memory and wondered if there are any storage devices that I can plug into both networks (meaning a device that connects via 2 usb connections to 2 machines) so i dont have to keep getting up to physically move this stupid thumb drive from one machine to the other.

Of course i can send myself stuff via the net but thats slow and not the same.


Thanks for any ideas

 

[MadAd]

Tough one huh?

 

[alpineranger]

You need to explain the setup better. What do you mean by no physical link? Do you mean that they are in different physical locations? Or perhaps they're in the same physical location but can't be connected because of some policy. In that case, is there anything preventing you from connecting a computer to both networks simultaneously? This would not require any additional network equipment. Alternatively, if you have a computer with one interface, you could use routers to direct traffic to the "storage" network (this has the benefit of making the storage network easier to expand to multiple devices). Or you could consolidate everything on the same physical layer 2 device and use 802.1q vlan tagging to administratively separate the networks. Since you only have a few machines, this seems preferable.

 

[JackMDS]

Under normal condition one computer (can be any) need a second Network card. Can be wire or wireless according to what is available on the other Network.

Once installed an configured Windows Bridging can b set and the Neworks are connected.

If you do not want permanent connection right click on the Card's connector and Enable/Disable as you wish.

http://technet.microsoft.com/e.../library/bb457038.aspx

http://windowshelp.microsoft.c...-1235ba2e146d1033.mspx

 

[imagoon]

You could also use a router (in router mode not NAT) to connect the two networks and setup the appropriate routing commands so that each network will still gateway of last resorts to the proper internet modem. Then just connect the NAS to one or the other and connect to the IP.

 

[MadAd]

Hi thanks for the replies. Everythings in the same place, pcs are next to each other, but the one is my personal one and the other 3 are machines that dont get rebooted for months at a time so even if i wanted to go the network route, installing nics would take time.

Plus yeah if i get it wrong i wouldnt like to have the connections argue if it decided that nets traffic could go down this one - till it cant and the sw crashes, and subnetting is way too geeky for my needs. I just want to hook up a flash drive to both nets via usb to share a bit of data.

I take it no ones ever made one?

 

[JackMDS]

If you do not want to touch the computer the choice is an additional Router and segregation.

The simple way would be like this.

http://www.ezlan.net/shield.html

If you use it this way copy from from the second network to the first would be simple. Copy form the first to the second will need a remote control (like VNC arrangement).

 

[mxnerd]

to OP:

You probably want to use USB switch if the PCs are close enough.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16812191012

 

[alpineranger]

You could add a usb network adapters to the pcs that can't go down. Or (if you run windows), you can use a usb host to host cable.

 

[gwd]

get hamachi or open two accounts om MSN Messenger and setup two sharing folders and be done with all this,routers,network cards,usb drives,lol

 

[RebateMonger]

n.m.

 

[MadAd]

Originally posted by: mxnerd
to OP:

You probably want to use USB switch if the PCs are close enough.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16812191012

That is almost the solution, bar pressing a button, something I can live with. Thank you mxnerd.

Keeps the networks completely apart which i want, dont have to install anything on the machines that never reboot, and allows me to just hook it all up and leave it. Fantastic.