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USB Dongle Server Software: What is it and How it Works?

Olga Weis Olga Weis Aug 17, 2023

By the dongle server definition, it’s a very handy tool you can use for accessing remote USB license dongles. There are two available options: the software and the hardware one. Keep on reading to find out more about both of them.

  1. USB dongle server software

The software option involves the use of a dongle server that makes a USB dongle accessible across your network. When using a dongle server, it is not required to have the license dongle connected to the client’s machine for the client to access the protected data directly.

Hardware dongle servers have a substantive limitation on the number of users that can access the dongle in a typical point-to-point network connection: only one at a time. Luckily, there is a more versatile and user-friendly software alternative called Donglify. With its help, you can even redirect USB security keys over the Internet!

USB dongle server software

Donglify doesn’t have the connectivity limits of a hardware dongle server. Using the advanced port redirection technology, Donglify allows you to connect a slew of USB dongles to a computer, and then share the license keys with multiple users over the Network. No additional hardware is required.
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Available on Windows 7/8/10/11, Server 2008 R2/2012/2016/2019/2022, Windows 10/11 on ARM, macOS 10.14+
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How to make a dongle server using Donglify

Check out this video guide if you want to know how Donglify can help you with setting up a USB dongle network server

Share dongles

Dongle server software: step-by-step instructions

Before you can use Donglify, you’ll need to sign up for an account on the Donglify website. Once you have successfully created your account, you will be able to download the dongle server software.
1
Install the application on the server (the device where the physical dongle will be attached) and then on all the client machines requiring remote access to the USB dongle. Start Donglify and log in to your account, when prompted.
 Log in for Donglify
2
In the window that appears after login, click on the "PLUS" icon to reveal a list of USB dongles that can be shared with the client machines.

Take note of the "Multi-connect" and the "Single-connect" text boxes next to the USB dongles’ names. The "Multi-connect" means that you can have multiple concurrent connections to that USB key dongle, and the "Single-connect" indicates that the device allows for only one client connection at a time.
 list of USB dongles
3
Select the USB dongle you want to share by clicking the radio button next to it, and then click "Share".
 Select the device
4
On all the client machines, launch Donglify and sign in to your account. After that, you’ll see a list of available devices. Select the one you want to connect to and click "Connect".
 Donglify as dongle server
5
Yes, it’s really all that it takes. Donglify becomes a reliable USB key server in just five simple steps, and now your software dongle can be accessed from anywhere on your network.

The pros and cons of using Donglify

Donglify USB dongle server (software)

icon pros Pros:

  • The multi-connect option;
  • One-click connection with no change to firewall or router settings;
  • Intuitive interface;
  • Flexible pricing policy;
  • A cheap USB hub is enough to add more physical ports.

icon cons Cons:

  • Requires Internet connection.

Who uses a USB dongle server?

You’re going to all the way benefit from using Donglify if you are:

  • A service provider that has to do with licensed product maintenance for various customers. Using Donglify, you’ll be able to deal with all your hardware license keys remotely and practice an individual approach to each client.
  • A developer of a licensed software looking for an easy way to give a product trial to potential customers without having to mail them hardware dongles. With Donglify, you can make a dongle available for remote access through the Internet for as long as you need. No mailing cost, no dongles lost.
  • A large or medium business with numerous field staff and/or extensive branching network. Utilize Donglify to share dongles through your network and every employee will be able to access those as needed whenever they go. This way, you’ll have no stress over damaging or losing any of your keys as they’ll be all safe in your main office.

The finite number of ports and lack of a multi-connect feature on a hardware dongle server can limit the viability of this solution. If you want to know how to build a dongle server without these limitations, you should consider using dongle server software.

This type of specialized application enables a physical USB security dongle to be shared across the network through virtualization techniques. Dongle server software eliminates the need for additional hardware and enables any number of network-attached dongles to be shared remotely.

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