Introducing the IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431

The IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431 is a powerful and versatile device that enables users to share up to four USB peripherals between two computers. With its sleek design and easy-to-use interface, the GUB431 is the perfect solution for anyone looking to streamline their workspace and increase productivity. This peripheral sharing switch is estimated to be priced around $50 to $60 and is now available for purchase. 

IOGear Package Contents

GUB231 

• 1 x GUB231- 2-port USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch 
• 1 x 6ft USB Type A to Type B Cable 
• 1 x User Manual 
• 1 x Warranty/Registration Card 

GUB431 

• 1 x GUB431-4-port USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch 
• 1 x 6ft USB Type A to Type B Cable 
• 1 x User Manual 
• 1 x Warranty/Registration Card 

Specifications

GUB231 

GUB231 

Overview of IOGear USB Peripheral

• Enables two (GUB231) or four (GUB431) computers to share one USB peripheral device
• Automatically* switch from one computer to another when connecting to a USB printer or multi-function printer 
• Simply press a button to switch a USB device between computers - No software installation required
• Active-port LED indicators to show which computer has USB access
• Switch lock function to ensure data access consistency
• USB 2.0 support with data transfer rate up to 480Mbps and USB 1.1 backward compatible 
• Eliminates cable clutter and no external power supply needed

GUB231

1. Sound effect on/off
2. Console port 2
3. USB device port
4. Console port 1
5. Port Selection button

GUB431

1. Port Selection button 4 
2. Port Selection button 3
3. Port Selection button 2
4. Port Selection button 1
5. Console port 1 
6. Console port 2
7. USB device port 
8. Console port 3 
9. Console port 4
10. Sound effect on/off 

IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431 Specifications

The IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431 boasts several key features, including: 

• Supports up to four USB 2.0 peripherals 
• Compatible with both PC and Mac computers 
• Hot-key controlled with LED status indicators 
• Backwards compatible with USB 1.1 devices 
• Plug-and-play functionality with no drivers required 

System Requirements

• Hardware Requirement
  • Computer with a USB-A port
• Supported Operating Systems
  • Windows Windows 7/8.1/10
  • Mac OS X 10.6 and above

Hardware Installation 

Note: Make sure that the power to any device that you are connecting to is turned off.

1. Use the included USB cable and connect the  Type A connector to any available Type A port on the GUB231 or GUB431, and connect the other end of the cable to any available USB port on your computer.

2. If you want to connect more than one computer to GUB231 or GUB431, you will need to purchase additional USB Type A to Type B cables and repeat Step 1.

   

3. Connect the USB Type A connector of the USB cable from your USB device to the Type A port on the  GUB231 or GUB431.

   

Lock
To lock the USB device connection with specific computer, press and hold the port selection button for two seconds, or until the orange LED lights up. 
Unlock
To unlock the USB device connection with specific computer, press and hold the port selection button for one second, or until the orange LED turns off.  

Operation Manual Switch

Note: Software installation is not mandatory for the USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch to function.  The device supports manual operation.  Manual operation and software-based operation operate independently; commands from one will not override the other.  
For GUB231
To switch the connection to the USB device between the two computers, press the port selection button located on the top center of  the Sharing Switch.  The selected port LED will flash and the Sharing Switch will beep.  After four seconds, the flashing will stop and the LED will become steady, the port switch is completed successfully.  

For GUB431
To switch the connection to the USB device between the four computers, press the corresponding port button located on the top of the Sharing Switch.  The selected port button LED will flash and the Sharing Switch will beep.  After four seconds, the flashing will stop and the LED will become steady, then port switch is completed successfully.  

Automatic Switch Windows OS

1. Please go to www.IOGEAR.com/support/dm/driver/GUB231 and download the latest driver 

   

2. Run the downloaded zip drive to begin loading the software

   

3. Double click on Setup

4. The software will start loading, click on Next to  continue.

   

5. You can install the software into a specific folder of your choice, or just use the default folder and click on Next to continue.

   

6. Click on Install to continue. 

   

7. Click on Finish to restart your computer when the installation is completed.

   

Once software installation completes, you will find the utility icon located on your desktop

This icon on your taskbar will display in four different colors to indicate different status of your GUB231/431, below table is the definition on the various color. 

Lock / Unlock Connection

1. Click on the utility icon on the taskbar and a menu will appear.  If your computer is the one that’s currently connecting to the USB device, then you can choose to lock the connection by selecting Lock Connection from the menu. 

   

2. If you want to unlock the connection so other computers can connect to the USB device, then click on the utility icon on the taskbar of the computer that’s currently connected to the USB device, and select Unlock Connection.

   

Switch to Local Computer

Note: In order to switch the connection of the USB device to another computer, you must unlock any active connection to the USB device from the com-puter that is currently connected to the USB device.  

If you want to switch the connection of the USB device from one computer to another, you can click on the utility icon on the taskbar and select Switch to Local Computer.  

Cancel Switch Request

If you have sent a request to switch the connection of the USB device and the USB device appears to be busy, your request is queued.  To cancel the request, click on the utility icon on the taskbar and select Cancel Switch Request. 

Auto Printer Sharing

Note: In order for the auto printer sharing function to work, you must unlock any connection that is currently locked by manual or software operation.  Refer to P.12 for instructions on how to unlock the connection by manual operation, and P.16 for software operation. 

1. Click on the utility icon located on the taskbar and select Settings.

   

2. Check the box Print function only, and select  the correct printer from the drop-down menu. Click OK when finished. 

   

Note: If your printer does not show up on the drop-down menu, try to reinstall your printer driver.  If your printer is a multifunction printer and you want to use its scan function, you must also enable the Other devices / applications and click on Add.

Other devices / applications 
If you want to enable the auto switch function on your scanner or the scanning function on your multifunction printer, check the box for Other devices / applications then click on Add.  Then you will need to browse through your computer’s system files and find the applicable application program.  Click on OK when finished. 

Note: Be sure to search and select the full ap-plication path.  A desktop shortcut will not work.  Once a USB device and its application have been associated with the Auto Switch function, the USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch will automatically take control of the attached USB device when the utility application is opened.  USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch will release the control when the utility ap-plication is closed. 

Automatic Switch Mac OS X

1. Please go to  https://www.iogear.com/support/dm/driver/GUB231  and download the latest driver. 
2. Run the downloaded zip drive to begin loading the software. 

3. You will see two installation package files in the Mac folder.  US221A_SETUP.mpkg is the setup file for GUB231, and US421A_SETUP.mpkg is the setup file for GUB431.  Double click on the one that is for the product you purchased. 

   

4. Click on Continue to begin the installation.

   

5. Select your destination volume to install the driver and click on Continue to proceed with installation.

   

6. Click on Install to continue.

   

7. You will be prompted by the Authenticate window, please type in the correct user name and password of the administrator account and click on OK to continue.

   

   

8. Click on Restart to restart your computer after the installation completes

   

Once the software installation completed, you will find the utility icon located on the top taskbar and also available in your application list.   This icon on your taskbar will display in four different colors to indicate different status of your GUB231/431, below table is the definition on the various color.  

Lock / Unlock Connection of IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431

1. Click on the utility icon on the taskbar and a menu will appear.  If your computer is the one that’s currently connecting to the USB device, then you can choose to lock the connection by selecting Lock Connection from the menu. 

   

2. If you want to unlock the connection so other computers can connect to the USB device, then click on the utility icon on the taskbar of the computer that’s currently connected to the USB device, and select Unlock Connection. 

   

Switch to Local Computer
Note: In order to switch the connection of the USB device to another computer, you must unlock any active connection to the USB device from the computer that is currently connected to the USB device.   If you want to switch the connection of the USB device from one computer to another, you can click on the utility icon on the taskbar and select Switch to Local Computer.  

Cancel Switch Request
If you have sent a request to switch the connection of the USB device and the USB device appears to be busy, your request is queued.  To cancel the request, click on the utility icon on the taskbar and select Cancel Switch Request.  

Auto Printer Sharing
Note: In order for the auto printer sharing function to work, you must unlock any connection that is currently locked by manual or software operation.  Refer to P.12 for instructions on how to unlock the connection by manual operation, and P.24 for software operation.  

1. Click on the utility icon located on the top taskbar and select Settings.

2. Check the box Print function only, and select the correct printer from the drop-down menu. Close window when finished.

   

Note: If your printer does not show up on the drop-down menu, try to reinstall your printer driver.  If your printer is a multifunction printer and you want to use its scan function, you must also enable the Other devices / applications and click on Add.  For detail information, please see Trouble-Shooting Guide section of this user manual. 

Other devices / applications
If you want to enable the auto switch function on your scanner or the scanning function on your multifunction printer, check the box for Other devices / applications then click on Add.  Then you will need to browse through your computer’s system files and find the applicable application program.  Close window when finished.

IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431 Description 

The IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431 allows users to easily switch between two computers while using the same set of USB peripherals. With its hot-key controlled interface, switching between computers is as simple as pressing a button. The device also features LED status indicators, so users can easily see which computer is currently in use. Additionally, the GUB431 is compatible with both PC and Mac computers, making it a versatile solution for any workspace. 

Note: Be sure to search and select the full ap-plication path.  A desktop shortcut will not work.  Once a USB device and its application have been associated with the Auto Switch function, the USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch will automatically take control of the attached USB device when the utility application is opened.  USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch will release the control when the utility ap-plication is closed. 

Trouble-Shooting Guide

• The USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch behaves erratically, what can I do to correct this?
  Disconnect all USB cables from the USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch then reconnect them.  
• My printer does not appear in the drop-down menu, what should I do?
  If your printer does not show up in the drop-down menu after you install the software, try to reinstall  your printer drive again following the procedures provided by your printer’s user manual. After you finish reinstalling the printer driver, restart the software and your printer should be listed in the drop-down menu.  
• My printer’s print monitoring program does not load up or respond and there is an error message about the print job can not be completed.  What should I do to complete the print  job?
  Disable the “Print function only” in the software, and operates the USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch by pressing the buttons to switch between different computers.  
• The Lock / Unlock function does not work.  What should I do?  
  Try to disconnect all USB cables and reconnect them.  This will reset the USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch.  
• The “Print function only” feature does not work.  What should I do?  
  Try to restart your computer, disconnect all USB cables and reconnect them.  If it still does not work, then try to reinstall the USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch utility software.  
• The USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch does not release control of other devices that are configured in the Other devices / applications, what should I do?
  Try to manually close the utility software by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete.  

IOGear Warranty 

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE DIRECT VENDOR’S LIABILITY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, DISK, OR ITS DOCUMENTATION EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT.
The direct vendor makes no warranty or representation, expressed, implied, or statutory with respect to the contents or use of this documentation, and especially disclaims its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.The direct vendor also reserves the right to revise or update the device or documentation without obligation to notify any individual or entity of such revisions, or updates. For further inquiries please contact IOGEAR.

Pros & Cons

Pros 

• Allows for easy sharing of USB peripherals between two computers 
• Hot-key controlled interface is simple and easy to use 
• Compatible with both PC and Mac computers 
• Plug-and-play functionality requires no drivers 

Cons 

• Only supports up to four USB peripherals 
• Does not support USB 3.0 devices 
• No built-in cable management system

Customer Reviews about GUB431

Customers have praised the IOGear USB Peripheral Sharing Switch GUB431 for its ease of use and versatility. However, some customers have noted that the device only supports up to four USB peripherals, which may not be sufficient for some users. The most common complaint is that the device does not support USB 3.0 devices, which can result in slower transfer speeds.