Sharing external USB drive through router

[lazytiger]

I have an external USB hard drive that I'm wondering if I can access from multiple computers by hooking it up to my router. I know this is easily possible with, for instance, the Apple AirPort Extreme. I'm guessing that this is easily possible only because of some software that is present with the AirPort Extreme.

My router (actually a DSL modem/wireless router/4-port ethernet switch all-in-one) has a USB port that is meant to be used in lieu of an RJ-45 jack to hook up a computer for internet access. What would happen if I hooked up my USB external hard drive instead? I'd just try it and see, but I would first need to purchase a (somewhat uncommon) USB B to B cable.

Has anyone tried this? How fast was it, if it worked at all? If some software is necessary, do you know of any? Do you have to use some easily hackable hardware? I have a 2wire HomePortal 1700HW, which I'm guessing does not fall into the easily hackable category. ;) And it's only 802.11b and 10/100, but I'm just wondering if I can work with what I have!

Thanks!

[BigBen747]

I've used a External HardDrive through a router. To do this, have the external HD on the first computer. if this is a XP Computer, go to MY Computer and find the HD, then right click and find the File Sharing. and select the check box. and then go to another computer. Type in the internal IP to the first computer. Then find the External HD. And your all set. On the other computers. Just type the internal ip to the first computer.

[johnwill]

Unless you have a router that's specifically designed to manage mass storage, that's not going to work. You can buy an inexpensive NAS enclosure and stick the hard disk in that to share it directly on the network.