USB and networking solutions specialist Belcarra Technologies has updated its USBLAN suite of host drivers for networking computers with embedded devices over USB. Proprietary Windows and MacOS/X drivers are now available, along with a Linux host driver usbdnet available under GPL or another license if used with Remote NDIS (RNDIS).

Belcarra says USBLAN is meant to simplify file, data, and printer sharing over USB between host computers and smart devices such as PDA's, MP3 Players, cell phones, or Personal Data Storage devices. USBLAN allows these personal devices to participate in a peer-to-peer Personal Area Network (PAN).

Belcarra says its USBLAN product includes all necessary software (adaptation to OEM's hardware is separate) for a USB client product to install and use TCP/IP networking in a peer to peer manner over USB to Windows, Linux, and MAC hosts, as well as to other USBLAN capable peripherals on the host's USB bus.

Belcarra says USBLAN supports the Remote NDIS (RNDIS), the defacto USB networking standard pushed by Microsoft, as well as the de jure standard “CDC Ethernet” issued by the USB Forum. SAFE USB transfers, where the device does not implement “INTERRUPT endpoint,” “CONTROL WRITE,” or “SET INTERFACE” are also supported according to Belcarra.

With the new release, Belcarra's USBLAN now works with all three major host operating systems, Windows, MAC OS/X and Linux. MAC OS/9 support is also planned. Belcarra says its USB networking solution simplifies the paradigm of, for example, sync'ing a PDA with a Windows PC at work and a Mac at home.

“The proliferation of smart USB peripherals creates the need for a networking architecture specifically designed for their unique requirements,” said Bruce Balden, Belcarra's President.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.