[TriLUG] file backed storage widget

[Ralph Blach]

With the file backed storage widget and the cable you described,
one can indeed make a virutal usb key.

See

http://www.linux-usb.org/gadget/file_storage.html

the only caveat is that one cannot update or read the file system while it
is mounted by the remote system.

Chip
On 4/14/06, Aaron S. Joyner <aaron at joyner.ws> wrote:
>
> Ralph Blach wrote:
>
> >I have two systems, one a knoppix laptop, occasionally, and the other is
> a
> >knoppix
> >system with a usb key.
> >
> >I noticed that the modern 2.6 kernels have a file backed storage widget.
> >
> >On my Knoppix system, I use the usb key to store my setup and files.
> >
> >With the propper cables could I connect the usb connector on the knoppix
> >system
> >to the my Linux host, bring up the file backed storage widget, and have
> >the file backed storage widget act as the usb file system for the knopix
> >system?
> >
> >knoppix-----------usb------------linux-host- with file backed storage
> widget
> >
> >
> >thanks
> >
> >Chip
> >
> >
> Okay, let me prefix this by saying that I know nothing of this 'file
> backed storage widget' in the 2.6 kernel, but I do know a bit about USB
> hardware.  Any USB device must act as either a host, or a device.  You
> can think of it as acting like a computer, or acting like a usb key.
> This is a hardware level function we're talking about, not merely a
> software convention of who decides to talk in what way.  Thus, a
> hardware device (ala the usb port on a computer) designed to accept
> connections from devices (such as usb keys) can't be connected directly
> to another hardware device of the same type.  This is reflected in the
> cabling standards, as well.  You may find that you won't normally see
> USB A <-> A cables, only A<->B cables, etc.  USB hubs have a USB B port
> on the back and USB A ports on the front (although front/back my be
> figurative, in some designs), for this same reason.  If you find a USB A
> <-> A cable, it's actually a converter, which acts as a device in the
> middle for both sides.  These are usually billed as "USB File Transfer
> Cables" or some such, and are intended to connect two computers together
> as you describe.  They're a fair bit more complicated than a simple
> cable, so expect them to cost upwards of $15-20 (ala a USB serial
> adapter kind of cost range).  With such a device, the setup you're
> describing is not beyond reason from a hardware perspective.  With only
> a simple cable, it is not.
>
> Let us know how it works out,
> Aaron S. Joyner
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