Peripherals over Network?

[brokebeardedguy]

Is there a way to make USB devices accessible over the network?

 

Let me explain what I'm asking. ( Long drawn out)

I recently purchased a 3D printer. I also own two different hobby grade CNC milling machines and am looking to get a lathe. the 3D printer offers USB connectivity and Wi-Fi. I am not a fan of Wi-Fi by any means. The CNC machine offers USB connectivity as well. Some can be bought as Ethernet as an option but it's direct connection not IP. Is there any way to convert like USB to ethernet so that I can hook everything up to one PC?

 

I have some servers in a rack and would like to use one to control all my equipment. Each item is roughly 30 ft from the server I have in mind. The area where the mills are isn't exact PC friendly. And I'm trying to avoid buying software licenses for set up multiple pcs (one at each piece of equipment)

 

My girlfriend games on one via 30ft of HDMI and USB. With a 7port powered USB hub for her cam, keyboard, mouse and headset. We've installed through the walls.

 

I know that things like print servers exist and I have one of them or one of my laser printers. I also have a photo printer and I bought one of the super tiny fanless PC's off of Amazon to use as a print server because of driver issues.

 

I don't think this would be possible because the equipment in the computer have to talk back and forth constantly as far as positioning in speed of all the motors and cutting tools.

 

The servers are running pairs of xeon 5680 with gtx960 and usb3.0 cards

Also have some dell2950s with X5460 and usb3.0 all servers have over 32gb ram. I can most certainly add a 4 Port network card. To plug things in directly.

 

I don't know if this is even in the right category I apologize if this is an improper thread posting

[redteam4ever]

Something like this?

 

[brokebeardedguy]

That is awesome. no doubt 

the setup we added for her to use one as gamin pc simply uses a 7port hub and a long hdmi cable... I never considered something like this

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Universal-Laptop-Docking-Station/dp/B073787QMY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1536287985&sr=8-6&keywords=usb+docking+station

I just watched a video where he uses a thunderbolt 3 dock. I think that's an awesome idea however at the cost of that per machine I could essentially but a card and dock for the price of the license.

 

I tried asking in the server section about thin clients using VMs but informed each would need its own licenses still so I back to needing a ton of money for software

 

ideally something like this would be great if it worked as usb at the end of ethernet

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Portable-Ethernet-Network-Notebooks/dp/B014ZOJX7W/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1536288343&sr=8-5&keywords=usb+ethernet+adapter

 

[Donut417]

5 hours ago, brokebeardedguy said:

Is there a way to make USB devices accessible over the network?

 

Let me explain what I'm asking. ( Long drawn out)

I recently purchased a 3D printer. I also own two different hobby grade CNC milling machines and am looking to get a lathe. the 3D printer offers USB connectivity and Wi-Fi. I am not a fan of Wi-Fi by any means. The CNC machine offers USB connectivity as well. Some can be bought as Ethernet as an option but it's direct connection not IP. Is there any way to convert like USB to ethernet so that I can hook everything up to one PC?

 

I have some servers in a rack and would like to use one to control all my equipment. Each item is roughly 30 ft from the server I have in mind. The area where the mills are isn't exact PC friendly. And I'm trying to avoid buying software licenses for set up multiple pcs (one at each piece of equipment)

 

My girlfriend games on one via 30ft of HDMI and USB. With a 7port powered USB hub for her cam, keyboard, mouse and headset. We've installed through the walls.

 

I know that things like print servers exist and I have one of them or one of my laser printers. I also have a photo printer and I bought one of the super tiny fanless PC's off of Amazon to use as a print server because of driver issues.

 

I don't think this would be possible because the equipment in the computer have to talk back and forth constantly as far as positioning in speed of all the motors and cutting tools.

 

The servers are running pairs of xeon 5680 with gtx960 and usb3.0 cards

Also have some dell2950s with X5460 and usb3.0 all servers have over 32gb ram. I can most certainly add a 4 Port network card. To plug things in directly.

 

I don't know if this is even in the right category I apologize if this is an improper thread posting

To my understanding what you want doesnt exist. There are USB to Ethernet adapters, but its purely for networking, and if the devices cant be controlled over TCP/IP then your pretty boned. THOUGH, if your just looking to remotely control these times a small form factor PC like a NUC could be remoted in to by like VNC or RAdmin and you could control the machines that way. The only thing is, unless the machines your trying to control are close, you might need more than one NUC. Just a thought. 

[brokebeardedguy]

I have used mini fanless PC's like this one to add my photo printer to the network. Using just printer share features. Because I couldn't find a print server that would work with it.

Z83-W10 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BSDRFCR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2TOKBbKSADD9W

Can any USB item be shared over Network? Like webcams or other items?

 

My original goal was to use thin clients at each machine. But I was told each one would still need its own license. Because apparently every VM has its own Windows key. 

 

This endeavor has made me feel incredibly stupid. I've tried Googling basic information on VMS and I feel like I cannot find s*** online.

 

I don't mind purchasing a bunch of mini PCS for a hundred bucks. the software to control each machine is like 400. So my goal was to install it to a server and then each unit could run that one license.