StarWind configuration

[alphaex32]

Ive been trying to set up some shared devices uses starwind and Im having a lot of trouble figuring out the right configuration settings. I got a DVD+rw drive to share, but I also want to share some hard drives, a scanner, and some other usb devices. Im confused as to which plugin dll does what (CdiImage.dll, ImageFile.dll, VirtualDvd.dll). I got the burner to share using the following settings. Now which plugin should I use to share hard drives and how do I set it up? Also, what about the scanner and other usb ports? The scanner, for example, is on port \\.\Usbscan0

[plugins]
addplugin -module:VirtualDvd.dll -symlink:VirtualDvd -type:"CD/DVD"

[devices]
add \\.\D: -timeout:108000 -sessions:2 -share:"rw"

[Alex (staff)]

Hi,

StarWindService.exe itself supports access to physical devices through SPTI (SCSI Pass Through Interface). In other words it is IDE, SCSI and USB hard drives and DVD/CD drives and SCSI tapes and scanners.

Plugins provide support of other devices:

- RamDisk.dll - creates RAM disks;
- ImageFile.dll - turns a file, a partition or a volume into a virtual hard drive;
- VirtualDvd.dll - turns ISO or MDS image into a virtual DVD drive;
- CdiImage.dll - the same as VirtualDvd but it works with CDI images.



So in order to share DVD+RW no plugin required. The next string will be enough:

--------
[devices]
add \\.\D: -timeout:108000 -sessions:2 -share:"rw"
--------

To share hard drive add:

add \\.\Physicaldrive0

Change 0 to drive number you want to share. Actualy speaking this is not reccomended method to share hard drives. The preffered method is using ImageFile plugin. Just create image file of required size ("c:\image.img" for example) and share it as a virtual hard drive:

add ImageFile0 -file:"c:\image.img"

Size of the virtual hard drive will be the same as size of the image file. This method has two advantages:

1. Files may be managed much simplier then physical devices.
2. You may not share dynamic disks (there are some issues with them). This limitation is removed already and will be available in the next release.

To share SCSI scanner add (change 0 to right number):

add \\.\Scanner0

Unfortunately you will not be able to share non-SCSI scanner in particular USB scanner since it does not accessible through SPTI.

(Note: USB hard drives and DVD/CDs have no this limitation).

[ibn]

- ImageFile.dll - turns a file, a partition or a volume into a virtual hard drive;


how to turn a partition into a virtual hard drive ?

--
I tried starwind, I thought it can only share a whole disk.
can you guys tell me something about turning a partition into a virtual hard drive ?

[Val (staff)]

- ImageFile.dll - turns a file, a partition or a volume into a virtual hard drive;


how to turn a partition into a virtual hard drive ?

--
I tried starwind, I thought it can only share a whole disk.
can you guys tell me something about turning a partition into a virtual hard drive ?

Sharing of a disk partition/volume is depricated in the recent StarWind versions.
Use file images instead or use the DiskBridge plug-in to share the whole hard drive.

[JW]

Use file images instead or use the DiskBridge plug-in to share the whole hard drive.

I've just installed the personal version and this option is greyed out. When I go to 'Add Device', I can only select 'Image File Device' or 'RAM drive device'. All other options are greyed out. Why would this be?

[anton (staff)]

I guess Personal version limitations.

[JW]

I guess Personal version limitations.

Not according to the website: http://www.starwindsoftware.com/download-free-trial

I should be able to share 2 hard drive of up to 2TB. I'm running the 64bit version of the personal edition installed on Vista 64bit Ultimate.

Any other idea why this is not working?

[anton (staff)]

Yes you can. But with the ImageFile plug-in only. DiskBridge is included into Professional (and up) version only.

[JW]

Yes you can. But with the ImageFile plug-in only. DiskBridge is included into Professional (and up) version only.

Then your website needs updating, as that's not clear anywhere on that page. The whole reason I am looking at Starwind is to share an existing Hard drive. If I can't do this until I spend nearly $1000, then the product is of of no use to me. For a home network with 3 computers the numbers don't stack up. Shame.

[anton (staff)]

This is technical support forum, it's no place to discuss pricing.

== thread closed ==