USB connection for local storage on home router - still used?

[David]

For a long time, routers have come with at least one USB port which can be
used to mount a HDD or USB stick.

This provides a local file server (of limited performance, usually).

Does anyone make use of this?

I tested this years ago and (I assume because of the limited processing
power of the router) it was far slower than a local HDD/SSD/USB stick on a
local PC.

I am tempted to test my new whizzo router, but in general unless you have
a network of laptops which are here (then not) over the weeks and no other
storage option I am not seeing a great need.

Cheers




Dave R

[Abandoned Trolley]

Post by David
For a long time, routers have come with at least one USB port which can be
used to mount a HDD or USB stick.
This provides a local file server (of limited performance, usually).
Does anyone make use of this?
I tested this years ago and (I assume because of the limited processing
power of the router) it was far slower than a local HDD/SSD/USB stick on a
local PC.
I am tempted to test my new whizzo router, but in general unless you have
a network of laptops which are here (then not) over the weeks and no other
storage option I am not seeing a great need.
Cheers
Dave R

I was under the impression that in some cases the USB port could be used
for a printer so that you could have a printer on "standby" (assuming
the router is never turned off) - but with the proliferation of wireless
printers and the reduced need for printing in general maybe that side of
it has been forgotten.

[David]

Post by Abandoned Trolley

Post by David
For a long time, routers have come with at least one USB port which can
be used to mount a HDD or USB stick.
This provides a local file server (of limited performance, usually).
Does anyone make use of this?
I tested this years ago and (I assume because of the limited processing
power of the router) it was far slower than a local HDD/SSD/USB stick
on a local PC.
I am tempted to test my new whizzo router, but in general unless you
have a network of laptops which are here (then not) over the weeks and
no other storage option I am not seeing a great need.
Cheers
Dave R

I was under the impression that in some cases the USB port could be used
for a printer so that you could have a printer on "standby" (assuming
the router is never turned off) - but with the proliferation of wireless
printers and the reduced need for printing in general maybe that side of
it has been forgotten.

That is another use.
Again, does anyone use it now?
I assume the standard board for a router has a USB port now, due to
tradition.

Cheers



Dave R

[Theo]

Post by David
That is another use.
Again, does anyone use it now?
I assume the standard board for a router has a USB port now, due to
tradition.

I use it for adding a USB stick for extra storage to routers that are
running open source distros - often they come with only a minimal amount of
flash like 128MB, so adding a few GB on a USB stick makes lots of space for
extra packages, logs, etc.

You can also plug in a 4G dongle and allow the router to make an LTE
connection, eg if the broadband is down.

And it's a useful source of power when hanging some widgets off the back.
(set up a Pi Zero like this just last week)

It costs a few cents to add the connector, so I'm grateful they bother.

(I did solder my own connector onto a board of one router with no space for
USB, that was tedious)

Theo

[Pancho]

Post by Theo

Post by David
That is another use.
Again, does anyone use it now?
I assume the standard board for a router has a USB port now, due to
tradition.

I use it for adding a USB stick for extra storage to routers that are
running open source distros -

And to install the distros in the first place. Unless they now come with
a network boot/install bios?

For me, the Raspberry Pi killed off any reason to use a router for
anything apart from routing stuff.

[Theo]

Post by Pancho

Post by Theo

Post by David
That is another use.
Again, does anyone use it now?
I assume the standard board for a router has a USB port now, due to
tradition.

I use it for adding a USB stick for extra storage to routers that are
running open source distros -

And to install the distros in the first place. Unless they now come with
a network boot/install bios?

You typically go to their firmware update webpage and 'upgrade' to a
firmware file you download from the open source project. Some of them have
annoying lockouts and you have to poke them via a serial cable, which you
might have to solder to some hidden pads inside somewhere. I've never
seen one where you install from USB, although they could exist.

Post by Pancho
For me, the Raspberry Pi killed off any reason to use a router for
anything apart from routing stuff.

They are good for networking stuff (lots of ports), which Pis aren't.
Everything else is generally worse.

I used to have a fleet of routers running Debian because that was the
cheapest way to get a small embedded box, but they were a PITA. Had to
solder serial console cables, never enough flash or RAM, weedy 32-bit MIPS
CPU needing a custom kernel, most of the router distros weren't 'proper' so
you couldn't install packages, etc. I was very happy when all that could
move to RPi.

Theo

[wasbit]

Post by David
For a long time, routers have come with at least one USB port which can be
used to mount a HDD or USB stick.
This provides a local file server (of limited performance, usually).
Does anyone make use of this?
Snip <

Yep, that's exactly what I used it for, as anything connected to the
router could see it. Saved setting up all the vagaries of networking
between a changeable list of PCs over the LAN.