David,

This sounds like a job for a terminal server (RS232 over IP).  They are 
very common and easy to work with.  In fact, I'll be on your campus for 
the next 2 weeks (flying in Sunday) to help install an accelerator that 
is being moved.  Part of the installation includes such a device.  I'd 
be happy to meet up and show it to you along with code.  Our control 
system software is written so that you can open a direct device (serial) 
connection or a TCP/IP connection with a simple command line argument.  
This results in minimal code changes.

If you are interested in meeting or want more detailed information, we 
can take it off-list.  My contact at Vanderbilt is Mike McCurdy, 410 
24th Ave S.

Cheers,
Mark

David McLean wrote:
> Hi,
> This is a two-part question: Firstly, has anyone worked with any of 
> the USB over IP devices in a Linux environment? Secondly, if so, has 
> anyone had any experience developing software to communicate with 
> these devices.
>
> I'm looking at trying to control various RS-232 devices over a 
> network. I currently have developed software that controls these 
> devices though a basic USB to RS-232 adapter but I would like to place 
> a networkable IP-based hub with these adapters connected to it. From 
> what I've seen so far, many USB over IP devices do not support Linux. 
> Does anyone have any experience or insight with USB over IP?
>
> Thanks for your attention!
>
> -- 
>
> / David L. McLean
> Research Automation Engineer
>
> VIIBRE -Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and 
> Education
>
> 6805.4 Stevenson Center
> VU Station B 351807
> Nashville, TN 37235-1807
>
> Ph: 615.343.4124
> Fx: 615.322.4977
> www.vanderbilt.edu/viibre
>
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> /
>


-- 
Mr. Mark V. Stodola
Digital Systems Engineer

National Electrostatics Corp.
P.O. Box 620310
Middleton, WI 53562-0310 USA
Phone: (608) 831-7600
Fax: (608) 831-9591