Why do you love USB?

jandafields · October 26, 2011, 12:12pm

I have recently found that Mikrotik supports many USB devices, even though there is no documentation for it.

I’m sure chipset of the USB device has a part in it, but here are USB devices I have successfully used with Mikrotik:

USB 3G Modem
USB 56K Modem
USB Ethernet Port !!! You can add more Ethernet ports to a router this way!!!
USB Serial Port
USB SD Card Reader
USB Hard Drive

I have not tried a USB Hub, but I am almost certain they work so that you can plug many things in at the same time.

So, what interesting devices or uses have you found for USB? Please share!

honzam · October 26, 2011, 12:53pm

What USB Ethernet Port do you use?
Thanks

jandafields · October 26, 2011, 1:10pm

The one I used is an old Netgear FA120.

If you look at the following website, you can see devices that have drivers built into the linux kernel source. Of course, we don’t know how much Mikrotik modifies the kernel they use.

http://www.linux-usb.org/devices.html

janisk · October 26, 2011, 1:15pm

use precise names of the USB devices you used. there are 3G modems that does not work etc.

you can go to http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Supported_Hardware and check what is supported.

jandafields · October 26, 2011, 1:25pm

The “official” list seems to be very lacking.

That list does not show any 56K modems.

That list does not show any USB-Serial ports.

That list does not show any SD Card readers or USB hard drives.

That list does not show the USB NetGear FA120 Ethernet adapter, and it only shows 1 USB ethernet total (D-Link).

Models of some of the devices I used:
USB NetGear FA120 Ethernet
USB Ativa SD/CF/MM Card Reader
USB U209-000-R Serial-Port
USB USRobotics USR5637 56K Modem

janisk · October 27, 2011, 6:20am

generic devices do work with RouterOS, especially, if they do not require drivers, like USB hubs, some card readers.

edit:

also note that there are a lot of generic devices out there that cannot be listed due to vast numbers. Like USB storage devices - all USB flash drives i have tried - works, same goes for external hard drives that work same way as SUB flash storage. Simple photo camera that supports USB storage mode for picture transfer also works.