Do you have any USB-based scanners or all-in-one printers (printer/scanner/fax) in your office? If you do, you've probably found that can't share the device so that all features are available to network users. Only the user that's on the computer that directly attached to the device can use scanning and/or faxing capabilities. With some all-in-one devices, you might be able to give network users the ability to print if you are lucky, but forget scanning and faxing.
Silex has a great solution: a USB Device Server. You attach the USB device to a Silex USB Device Server, and you load Silex's software on any computers that require access to the device. To the computer, it looks like the device is attached to a local USB port. Then you install the manufacturer's software (such as the OfficeJet Suite) as if the USB device was directly attached to the computer, and the user has full access to all functionality of the USB device.
It's pretty slick! This can save the organization some money by not having to multiple scanners, printers, etc. when more than one employee needs access.
I first heard about these devices when talking with Danny Ha (dha@fujitsu.com, 408-746-7096), a product manager at Fujitsu. Danny recommends these units when a company wants multiple people to share one of Fujitsu's business-class scanners. By the way, Fujitsu makes a fantastic scanner, and Danny is more than happy to answer any questions you might have about Fujitsu's scanners.
I purchased one of these units for our office. I got the SX-2000WG model, which is a wireless unit for about $120 (their comparable non-wireless models are less expensive). I initally bought it for my Fujitsu scanner, but I found it more beneficial to keep the scanner near the computer and move the printer away. So I moved our HP DeskJet 3740 Series printer out into "no man's land" far away from any network jacks and hung it on the SX-2000WG. Talk about freedom! All you need to be near is a power outlet. It works flawlessly.
There is one quirk that I would like to see changed in future versions, though. Right now, only one person can access the device at a time. The user initiates a connection to the device using the Silex "SX Virtual Link" software. When this connection is initiated, no other user to can access the device. When the user is done using the device, they have to manually disconnect using the SX Virtual Link software. Inevitably, someone will forget! So the Silex device access method is a tad tedious. However, I'm still very happy with the product.
If you want to learn more about this device, go to http://www.silexamerica.com/us/products/network/usb/index.html