Scanners are relatively expensive devices that are usually connected to a single PC. But in many cases, the PC user actually only uses the scanner for a limited amount of time each day. As a result, sharing the scanner among multiple users would be an ideal way to save money.

The problem is that scanners are not generally designed to be shared devices. Most of today's scanners have a USB interface, which does not support multiple hosts. Therefore, until now most companies shared a scanner by connecting it to a common PC that can be accessed by multiple users. However, this is an expensive solution that is not very convenient to use.

Silex has solved the scanner sharing problem with its SX-2000U2 USB device server. The SX-2000U2 has a USB port for connection to the scanner plus a high-speed 100Base-T Ethernet network connection. It uses the Silex SX-Virtual Link software to precisely emulate a USB port on each of the PCs that need to access the scanner. That is, the PCs think that they are communicating with the scanner via a direct USB connection, but they are actually communicating over the network via the SX-2000U2 to the scanner. Because the emulation of the USB port is exact, all application software programs work without any changes, and no user re-training is required. 

Case Studies

Silex Enables Network Scanning for Efficient Document Imaging

Today, business is required to use, manage, and store digitized copies or images of the growing mountain of documents it creates. Driven by a growing need to increase productivity, and by a growing amount of government regulation to properly store records and documents, companies are struggling to cost effectively manage the process of turning hard copy documents into digitized images for storage.

USB device servers, such as the SX-2000U2 from Silex Technology America, offer the capability to affordably connect nearly all USB scanners directly to a network. This allows businesses of all sizes to maximize productivity and eliminate costs by conveniently adding a scanner to the network while decreasing the total cost of ownership of its investment.

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