If you share a USB security dongle on the server computer, the device will appear in the Donglify device list window with the status Shared:

In case the shared USB dongle is supported by the “Multi-connect” feature, the corresponding icons will be shown in the device status string:

If not, the device status string will contain the “Single-connect” icon:

When you connect to the shared USB dongle from a remote computer, the device will appear in the device list window on the remote machine with the status Connected:

Available connection modes

Depending on the current network configuration, Donglify may use different connection modes in order to provide the best performance possible. The connection mode used determines the speed of data exchange with the connected remote devices. 

There are three connection modes supported by Donglify:

• Direct connection, which is possible when:
  
  

- The server and client computers are connected to the same local network (Ethernet, Wi-Fi);

- One of the computers participating in the connection has a public IP address;

- The router on one of the computers is configured for automatic port forwarding;*

- The computers are connected via a VPN. 

• UDP connection:

- The server and client computers are not in the same network, neither has a public IP address and both are connected to the Internet through a router/NAT. 

- The software is able to get through NATs and let the two computers connect using the UDP hole punching method.

• Connection through the Tunnel Server (an intermediate server located on Electronic Team’s side and used as a proxy between two computers):

- The server and client computers are not in the same network, neither has a public IP address and both are connected to the Internet through a router/NAT.

The optimal connection mode is always selected automatically, with the following precedence: direct connection → UDP connection → connection through the Tunnel Server.

In terms of speed, a direct connection is always the fastest. UDP connection and connection through the Tunnel Server are markedly slower but come to the rescue when direct connection is not possible, for instance when both computers are behind NAT.

Connection mode icons 

Opening Donglify, you see the list of USB dongles currently shared on and connected to your computer. 

Below every dongle’s name there is a status string by which you can tell the mode of the connection currently established to the device:

• no icon denotes direct connection:

• [U] stands for UDP connection: 

• [R] means connection through the Tunnel Server: