ATEN US424 4-Port USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Hub
Overview
The ATEN US424 is a 4-port USB 2.0 sharing hub that lets four computers take turns accessing a single USB peripheral — a scanner, label printer, or signature pad — without physically swapping cables or deploying a full KVM switch. In security integrator and warehouse environments where a shared USB device (barcode reader, receipt printer, or USB-attached access control enrollment station) needs to rotate among nearby workstations, the US424 eliminates the cable-swap workflow. The US424 ships with a 1.8 m remote port selector, so the operator switching between host computers doesn't need to reach the hub itself — a practical detail in rack-mounted or under-desk installs.
Compatibility
The US424 works with any host computer exposing a standard USB 2.0 Type-A port — Windows, macOS, and Linux workstations are all viable depending on peripheral driver support. It is compatible with ATEN KVM and peripheral sharing products in mixed-desk deployments and pairs naturally alongside USB sharing switches where additional port expansion is needed. The hub accommodates up to four simultaneous host connections; only one host has active control of the downstream peripheral at any given time. Optional bus power is supplied via a USB Mini-B female port (black), allowing an external 5V USB source to supplement power if the peripheral demands more current than a single upstream host port supplies — relevant for powered label printers or USB-connected card enrollment readers that draw near the 500mA USB 2.0 ceiling.
Installation Notes
Operating humidity is rated 0–80% RH, non-condensing — suitable for standard indoor commercial environments but not uncontrolled warehouse spaces with condensation risk. The remote port selector cable runs 1.8 m; plan the hub placement so the selector reaches the operator's position without extension. ATEN notes that rack-mount products in this line express physical dimensions in L×W×H order rather than the conventional W×D×H — confirm orientation before ordering rack hardware. No drivers are required for the switching function itself; peripheral compatibility depends on the attached device's own driver stack on each host.
