Belkin Network USB hub F5L009

[Digger]

Just thought i would post a workaround, fix, solution for this until ms does possibly.... although it may be a belkin problem to fix

Hardware affected: Belkin Network USB Hub F5l009

Situation: Installing and getting usb network hub to communicate

Problem: Constant disconnecting of drives and Control Center crash/hang on exit. Under win7 the drives/printer would connect, but then upon initial scan of a device it would close the connection, losing it completely, but still showing the device and devices attached to hub available on the network, not disabled like i have seen it show before when a problem with a device on the hub would occur.

Resolution(s): First running both the install software under vista comp and the actual connect.exe (Control Center) under vista comp after install before initial run. Secondly, under XP this device worked fine without having to manually port forward the hub thru the router. Whether a flaw with the software under XP or the utilization of Upnp under XP (which i use on xp and network).

Quick solve: Make sure to forward the ports manually, both tcp and udp. Also putting the device on DMZ will not work... tried and tested all i could think of

 

[skypearce69]

Thanks

How do you forward the ports manually?

 

[Digger]

How do you forward the ports manually?

well if you notice after install, it creates a firewall exception for windows firewall... take the same ports and enter the information into the router's configuration thru your browser. like http://192.168.1.1 . The hub has its own address as well and software, btw there is a firmware update for this device, but this isnt where to forward ports, just in the router like i stated.

Reason I had to do this was because of my setup, i was "piggybacking" another 4 port wired router onto the main router, and running the belkin usb network hub thru the 4port wired-only router. If just connected to your ONLY router, or atleast the same router from which you are connected to, there shouldnt be a need to enter the information in the router and forward the listed ports.


ALso, if you have your router setup as upnp enabled, then this wouldnt be needed. I have switched my thinking on upnp since i noticed some ports wouldnt release and/or refresh along with the changing of an IP, tho this may have been program/device/adapter dependant. So i have upnp disabled on the network, and hence the reason why i had to forward the ports from the second router that was hosting the belkin net usb hub

 

[skypearce69]

OK

We have just one Netgear router and the Belkin usb hub installed. Windows 7 recognizes our printer and external hard drive in the belkin software but will not connect to them. The belkin software tries to connect then basically times out. Do you have any other suggestions?

 

[Digger]

We have just one Netgear router and the Belkin usb hub installed. Windows 7 recognizes our printer and external hard drive in the belkin software but will not connect to them. The belkin software tries to connect then basically times out. Do you have any other suggestions?

hmmm.... well as i dont have this setup like i did before, had a move in between originally posting this and now. Waiting to run some wire to get it all back together again. From memory, it was really key to install under vista and then use vista mode for the connect.exe. If you notice in action center, maybe not now but eventually you will, see a msg sent from MS concerning this software as well. From memory it only reguarded the startup of the connect.exe original problem. Recommends for you to manually start it each time, but after i first seen that msg, a few weeks later when i hopped on laptop the startup of connect.exe at logon worked just fine now.

Like i said, remember vista compatibility mode for install of and use of connect.exe .

I hope to get around to wiring up the house this week and hooking everything back up again, then maybe i can be of more help to you then.

 

[skypearce69]

One more question

One more question. How do I install the software in Vista Compatibility mode? Thank for all your help on this, I really appreciate it.

 

[Digger]

right click setup.exe, properties, compatibility tab, checkmark and choose Vista... you can try vista sp1 or sp2, but in beta i only chose regular vista. Then after you install the program, go to the program files/belkin and right click connect.exe and run in Vista comp mode also.

 

[skypearce69]

Hello Again

I have tried everything and I still can not get this to work in Windows 7. Do you think it is a driver issue? I even tried turning off all firewalls.

 

[Digger]

I have tried everything and I still can not get this to work in Windows 7. Do you think it is a driver issue? I even tried turning off all firewalls.

no, as there isnt a driver being used. Are you positively sure you installed under compatibility mode Vista (or Vista SP2 in RC) for the f5l009v140.exe ? And after install you went to programs files / belkin and ran the connect.exe in compatibility mode also?

 

[Digger]

I am drilling holes today, and if possible running cable. I've had a problem finding the correct power cable for the hub right now, lost in moving. That shouldnt be too big of a problem, hopefully, it shall be found. After i run some wire i will then hook up the hub and start from scratch on the configuration, so i will be able to diagnose any problems that may mirror yours. I would hope this wouldnt be an RC issue with the install of the software, but... one can never tell these days.

ALso, in the meantime... hopefully you have played around and gotten somewhat familiar with your router and the settings. Try and uninstall, reboot, re-install the network hub software. write down the ports its tells you that it uses ( i forget ), and then find port forwarding in your router and forward those ports both udp and tcp to the ip of the network hub... i believe the default is 192.168.1.200... its either that, or thats what i configured and remember it to be. A way you can tell is thru the router browswer config, and somewhere there's info on the dhcp table if enabled... by process of elimination you can figure out who is who on the network. Either by name resolution or by mac address, the funky looking bi:na:ry:nu:mb:er ..... which by going to start, typing in cmd, enter, then typing in ipconfig /all will display the adapter's mac address.

 

[foreversilent004]

I have no problems connecting to the hub or my 1TB external drive. The problem is streaming media for more than a minute or two. Everything seems fine, but then whatever player is being used locks up and the drive can't be acessed anymore. Only way to get back it to force a restart.

I sent an email to Belkin, but I doubt they will know how to help.

 

[foreversilent004]

I have no problems connecting to the hub or my 1TB external drive. The problem is streaming media for more than a minute or two. Everything seems fine, but then whatever player is being used locks up and the drive can't be acessed anymore. Only way to get back it to force a restart.

I sent an email to Belkin, but I doubt they will know how to help.

yep....



Thank you for contacting Belkin Technical Support.

We understand that you have an issue with the Belkin Network USB Hub. We apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Please follow the steps given below to update the firmware on the NUH (Network USB Hub):

We recommend that you update the firmware from a computer that is connected to the NUH with an Ethernet cable.

Please download only the relevant firmware on the NUH from the link given below. The firmware file would be "1.2.0", dated "4/17/08":

Belkin : Support : F5L009 Firmware and save it to the computer.

To update the firmware, we need to log on to the NUH`s web interface. Please follow the steps given below to open the interface of the NUH:

- In the NUH Control Center window, click on "General" towards the left of the screen.

- "Network USB Hub Settings" window comes up. Click on the "Connected Hubs" tab.

- We would find the line highlighted with the Mac Address and IP Address of the hub.

- Click on "Properties".

- This would bring up the interface of the NUH. Click on "System Information" towards the left.

- In the "System Information", click on "Update" on the top right of the screen.

- Click on “Browse” and select the file that you have downloaded.

- Click on “update” and follow the wizard.

Note: By default, the password is blank. Click the "Submit" button.

After updating the firmware, please follow the steps given below:

- Uninstall the software for the Hub.
- Disable all the security and firewall on the computer.
- Take a paper clip, insert the paper clip in the reset hole of the Hub and hold it for 25 seconds.
- Power cycle the Hub.
- Reinstall the software from the link given below:

Belkin : Support : F5L009 - Software and Drivers for Windows and Mac OS

If the problem persists, please get back to us with the following information:

1. The USB devices connected to the hub? If the USB devices work fine with the computers?

2. If the USB devices work fine with other computers in the network, except for the Mac 10.5?

3. Operating system on the computers in the network?

4. If the installation procedure was smooth in other computers, without any errors?

Kris, if you need further assistance please feel free to write back to us and we will be happy to assist you.

Regards,

Shiven.
Belkin Technical Support.

 

[Digger]

thanks for the heads up there... I installed a firmware previous to this one right around the holidays. I hadnt had any problems tho with my 1TB drives connected, streaming transfer or otherwise while i had mine setup under the 7000.

Tis why i hadnt responded yet. That and i need either a new hub or a new power adapter. Mine wont power up now. hadnt had time to send it in yet.

 

[foreversilent004]

Well, my firmware is up to date, so I'm not sure what the issue is.

It works fine for me initally, for a minute or two, then craps out. My roommate (networking major) said something about buffer, but I dunno....

 

[Digger]

grab yourself a network meter, and see how fast the transfer is. The drive will not funtion near as fast compared to being attached locally. Not too mention if you have other traffic going on the network at the same time. Best setup scenario would be to try out QOS on the network/router. depending on if gigabit router and if having gigabit adapter, along with some good 550mhz wiring would help/ease the network situation. I found it troublesome transferring large amounts of data as its not near as fast as locally of course. That hub will support up to 16 devices, if you join another hub to it, make sure its also a 2.0 compliant hub for in the future. best thing i like this for is i can stick my old printers on the hub and put it anywhere just about, out of the way if needed, or in a centralized location. Was still kinda pricey, but i'm a tech toy geek, so, had to have it. It did help take the "weight" off other pc's when hooking up the usb drives to it. I just wish that more than one user could access it one time, thats the big bummer IMO. I setup the printers for automatic sharing, i think is the term it uses.... So there was no need to manually connnect to the attached printer everytime you go to print.

Do you have the connect.exe loading at startup by the way, am curious.

 

[foreversilent004]

Belkin Response May 29 2009 15:00

Hi Kris,

We understand that the hub does not work with Windows 7. Please find the list of operating system supported by the hub:

Windows XP, Windows Vista (32- and 64 bit); Mac OS 10.3 and 10.4. For 64-bit OS and Mac OS support, at least version 1.4.0 of the software is needed.

Thus, it is a compatibility issue. If the software is released for Windows 7, it would be listed on the link given below:

Belkin : Support : F5L009 - Software and Drivers for Windows and Mac OS

Kris, if you need further assistance please feel free to write back to us and we will be happy to assist you.

Regards,

Cliff Wayne.
Belkin Technical Support.

 

[NigelJP]

Windows 7 and Belkin USB Network Hub

Hi

I am using Windows 7 RTM x64 and can confirm that the software does not work with Windows 7 RTM x64.

When will Belkin release an update so that the software works with Windows 7 which is reckoned to be the most eargerly awaited operating system for a while ?

I run Windows 7 as a Virtual Machine within Windows 2008 Hyper-V and this Network USB hub is the only way I can get USB devices work within a Virtual machine. So I am stuck (and I suspect there will be many like me) until Belkin fix this issue.

Nigel

 

[NigelJP]

Hi

I have just updated the Belkin Network USB software to version 1.4.0 (I was on Version 1.2.0) using Cliff's link and it now appears to work for my printer and my iPOD.

Apologies Cliff.

Nigel

 

[foreversilent004]

Not for me....

My laptop does not see the Hub.. ugh

Maybe I should upgrade to the RTM.......

 

[foreversilent004]

Not for me....

My laptop does not see the Hub.. ugh

Maybe I should upgrade to the RTM.......

OK, so I tried the Belkin software on my girlfriends 2008 Lenovo S10 (whoich has the RTM Ultimate), and the software installed fine, and I was able to see the Hub. I fired up my external 1TB drive and played an XviD movie. Everything seemed fine, but once again... a few minutes in, playback pauses and WMP locks up.