PCI USB Ports

[WA9SVD]

OK, I'm perplexed. I'm using some PCI bus USB 2.0 add-in cards (on different computers, not the same one!)
. Along with the USB connectors on the bracket, they ALSO have a USB connector on the BACK of the card, that would only be accessible internally. Of what use could THAT be? Seems to me that there are no INTERNAL peripherals that use a USB connection...

[K8ERV]

I have the same question, hope somone has the answer.

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[AE6IP]

There are devices that go into disk slots in the cabinet but are USB devices. Multi-card card readers are a good example.

Some of them have header pins so that they can be plugged into a USB header on the mother board.

Others have standard USB connectors.

[K8ERV]

I hope those header pins have Bibles on them---

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[WA9SVD]

Quote[/b] (AE6IP @ Dec. 31 2007,10:51)]There are devices that go into disk slots in the cabinet but are USB devices. Multi-card card readers are a good example.

Some of them have header pins so that they can be plugged into a USB header on the mother board.

Others have standard USB connectors.
I'll look into that. The only card reader's I've seen are external USB units. One of the motherboards I have came with an internal cardreader/dual USB port, but those connect directly to the USB 10 pin header, not with a regular "A" type USB female connector.

[AE6IP]

Quote[/b] (wa9svd @ Dec. 31 2007,17:22)]Quote[/b] (AE6IP @ Dec. 31 2007,10:51)]There are devices that go into disk slots in the cabinet but are USB devices. Multi-card card readers are a good example.

Some of them have header pins so that they can be plugged into a USB header on the mother board.

Others have standard USB connectors.
I'll look into that. The only card reader's I've seen are external USB units. One of the motherboards I have came with an internal cardreader/dual USB port, but those connect directly to the USB 10 pin header, not with a regular "A" type USB female connector.
StarTech (http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemSpecs.aspx?productid=35FCREAD20BK&c=US) has an external/internal that comes with both a b to 10 pin and a b to a cable.

It's an example of what I was thinking of, but as you say, mose of the case mounted readers have the 10 pin header.

[KU7PDX]

Quote[/b] (wa9svd @ Dec. 31 2007,09:36)]OK, I'm perplexed. I'm using some PCI bus USB 2.0 add-in cards (on different computers, not the same one!)
. Along with the USB connectors on the bracket, they ALSO have a USB connector on the BACK of the card, that would only be accessible internally. Of what use could THAT be? Seems to me that there are no INTERNAL peripherals that use a USB connection...
Excellent question! Luckily I have an excellent answer!

I help with a local public access show about using linux and in a recent show they went over the different types of linux. One of the types was PenDriveLinux (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/) and the way they demonstrated it was using a converted desktop computer with a PCI USB card.

I was extremely surprised when they opened the case to install the USB memory card and put it back together. Then they talked about how it would be extremely useful for kiosk purposes or in situations where a technician would want to just open the case and swap USB memory sticks to make changes or updates to the software.

That would definitely be a lot easier than swapping a hard drive...

[WA9SVD]

Quote[/b] (KU7PDX @ Jan. 02 2008,07:45)]Quote[/b] (wa9svd @ Dec. 31 2007,09:36)]OK, I'm perplexed. I'm using some PCI bus USB 2.0 add-in cards (on different computers, not the same one!)
. Along with the USB connectors on the bracket, they ALSO have a USB connector on the BACK of the card, that would only be accessible internally. Of what use could THAT be? Seems to me that there are no INTERNAL peripherals that use a USB connection...
Excellent question! Luckily I have an excellent answer!

I help with a local public access show about using linux and in a recent show they went over the different types of linux. One of the types was PenDriveLinux (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/) and the way they demonstrated it was using a converted desktop computer with a PCI USB card.

I was extremely surprised when they opened the case to install the USB memory card and put it back together. Then they talked about how it would be extremely useful for kiosk purposes or in situations where a technician would want to just open the case and swap USB memory sticks to make changes or updates to the software.

That would definitely be a lot easier than swapping a hard drive...
That's an interesting concept, but updates to software usually don't require swapping hard drives! And most techs that update software would rather not have to "tear apart" a computer just to install updated software contained in a new thumb drive; in many settings, where a computer has been installed, that involves considerable disassembly and or the abilities of a contortionist to get behind a computer or desk to remove the case or side panels.

I do see one other serious possible problem with that solution, however.

It's the way (internally) that the flash drive is designed and accessed. ALL such drives (Flash drive, thumb drive, whatever) have a finite life span, or number of times the memory can be accessed before errors in memory cells become unacceptable.or uncorrectable. SOME drives not only read a drive with each access, they re-write to at least certain areas of memory involved in indexing with either a read OR write access to ther drive. So even with 100,000 accesses in the MTBF spec, that can be achieved in a fairly short time in some systems; estimates are from 2-5 years, depending upon actual use and design. Most people are NOT aware of the fact, and think a thumb drive has an infinite life span; not true; so such drives are best not used for mission critical purposes or long-term archiving.
But it's certainly a use that I would not have guessed easily.