In Use - GUIP201

Configuring the GUIP201 was much easier. The device automatically grabs an IP from your DHCP server. The utility auto-launches with Windows and automatically brings up a window that shows the server (the GUIP201) and attached devices. You just highlight the device you want to connect to and click the Connect button.

If the device that you want to connect to is in use, the Connect button is greyed out and the device icon turns from green to red. But if you right-click on the device you can get details about it or request a disconnect. Figure 7 shows the disconnect request that pops up on the connected user's screen.

Figure 7: GUIP201 Disconnect request

If the user clicks the No button, a message comes back to the disconnect requestor to let him or her know that the request has been denied and to try again later. If the user releases the device, a popup comes back to the requestor, saying that the device has been released. This is much better than the way that the Trendnet handles NetUSB mode.

The few tweaks that can be done to the GUIP201 are handled via a simple web interface (Figure 8).

Figure 7: GUIP201 web interface

Up to four devices can be handled by plugging a USB hub into the GUIP201. I had three handy for Figure 8, which also shows red icons to indicate that another user has connected to the devices.

Figure 8: GUIP201 three devices via hub

Note that connected drives show up in My Computer, not in My Network Places when connected by the GUIP201 or the TE100-MP2U in NetUSB mode. I have circled the connected drives in Figure 9.

Figure 9: GUIP201 connected drives in My Computer

Tags: ioGear, NAS, Trendnet,

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