SharePort enables D-Link customers to share USB devices over their wireless networks

D-link have provided a firmware upgrade to enable printer and hard drive sharing from the USB port on their Xtreme N family of routers. This new USB over TCP/IP technology is called SharePort, and is available for the DIR-628, DIR-655, DIR-825, DIR-855 and DGL-4500 models.

Originally, the USB port was designed to transfer wireless configuration settings between a PC and the router. The upgrade will allow users to share a variety of USB devices - including multi-function printers.

Don't get too excited if you're a Mac user though - SharePort requires a PC-only client utility to be installed on each machine that is to share the USB devices. D-Link have confirmed that there are currently no plans to provide a Mac version of SharePort.

The upgrade is currently available to the US from the D-Link support site. We spoke to D-Link Australia who told us that SharePort is still being tested with international models, and the upgrade should be available in Australia within 2 weeks if no major problems are found - we assume other countries are in the same boat, but to be sure, check with your local D-Link supplier or support team.