This issue can happen due to several reasons. Listed below are the most common causes.
1. A software firewall, such as Windows Firewall, may be blocking port 3422 TCP that the AnywhereUSB uses. Either add this port as an exception or disable the software firewall.
2. Windows may not have presented the AnywhereUSB found new hardware wizard(s).
Look in Device Manager for AnywhereUSB-related components that have yellow (!) or (?) warning icons. If you see any, right-click on them and choose Update Driver, then follow the normal installation procedure, i.e. "Install the software automatically" for Windows XP. Repeat this step as needed for all AnywhereUSB-related components in Device Manager that have yellow warning icons.
3. The AnywhereUSB may already be connected to, or trying to connect to, a different PC.
Note: This one is only applicable to the AnywhereUSB models that connect all of the USB ports to a single host computer, i.e. the legacy AnywhereUSB/5, AnywhereUSB/2, AnywhereUSB/5 G2, and AnywhereUSB TS44.
To rule this out, click "Edit / Connection List" in the AnywhereUSB Configuration Utility, delete the IP address of the AnywhereUSB in question, close the Connection List, then note the "Status" on the right.
If the Status says "Connected to (an IP address)", that means the AnywhereUSB is already connected to a different host computer (whatever that IP address relates to). In that case, you would need to disconnect that other host computer first, by removing the AnywhereUSB's IP address from the Connection List, before this host computer could connect.
On the other hand, if the Status says "Available for Host Connection" then the cause of the issue is not related to another host computer. Instead, it must be due to something else.
4. Static IP address considerations.
If the AnywhereUSB is configured with a static IP address (with the DHCP client disabled), check the following:
A. If the AnywhereUSB's Static IP address is in use by another device on the network, this issue may occur. A simple way to rule this out is to disconnect the network cable from the AnywhereUSB then try to ping that same IP address from the host computer. If you still get a ping reply, then it must be some other device that's using the same IP address. This method isn't completely reliable though because some devices don't respond to pings. Considering this, you may want to instead configure the AnywhereUSB with a different Static IP address and make sure it's outside of the DHCP range if a DHCP server is on the network.
B. Double-check the Subnet Mask for a typographical error.
5: Network configuration of the host computer.
Double-check the network configuration of the host computer for typos, in the chance that it's configured with a static IP address. Make sure it's configured properly so that it should be able to communicate with the AnywhereUSB, based on both of their network configurations, i.e. subnets. The AnywhereUSB should respond to pings, so if that's not working then the actual connection will likely not work.
6. Ensure the AnywhereUSB service that listens on port 3422 TCP is enabled, by opening the AnywhereUSB web UI and navigating to Configuration - Network - Network Services Settings.
7. If none of the above suggestions help, uninstall the AnywhereUSB software, reboot the host computer, re-install the AnywhereUSB software (with Admin privileges), then try Connecting to the AnywhereUSB again.
Last updated:
Feb 14, 2019