Ben's Weblog  -

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Design Document

We have finally finished a design document explaining the setup of a fault-tolerant bridge using USB.  Click here to view it.

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Project Proposal

Our Senior Project Proposal.

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶A USB Network

I set up some simple routing by hand using "ip route" commands and I now have a USB network!  The two machines communicate via the usb0 network device and everything, so far, works as expected.

Coming next--
-hotplug support, so everything is configured automatically (maybe make the router a DHCP server, too?)
-put the other usb device card in the machine currently acting as host, and get networking to work with the router as a Usb HOST.
-snag a few more machines and built a more extensive network??

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Update -- We have communication

I have successfully gotten the USB Device PCI card up and running using the net2280.o module from kernel 2.6.8 (the net2280 module from 2.4.26 had some kind of bug involving DMA; instead of patching the module I upgraded the kernel because the USB Gadget framework is more developed in 2.6.x anyway).  Basic tests specified in usb-linux.org's USB Testing page ran successfully by loading the g_zero.o module (a testing module)  on the device box, and  the usbtest.o module on the host with the testusb.c program.

Next, the g_ether.o module was loaded on the Device, and the usbnet.o module was loaded on the USB Host machine.  The USB device successfully registered itself as a CDC Ethernet device.  I am able to configure the network interface usb0 on both machines, but still cannot ping between the machines--we need to setup some routing or ip forwarding.  This will be the next milestone.

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Latest Updates

I have ordered two of these USB-device PCI adapter cards and 4 Belkin 10' USB A-B cables and am awaiting their arrival.

Additionally, I have installed Debian GNU/Linux testing distribution on my two computers in the lab, which should work as a good development and testing environment.

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Links & Info

USB 2.0 PCI Device card, $105

Philips ISP1362, TransDimension OTG243, Cypress OTG, Epson S1R72005
are the "big 4" USB OTG controller chips, as far as I can tell.  Now to find a reseller with friendly pricing.

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Some more links on OTG

Understanding USB On-The-Go

USB Multi-Role Device Design By Example (pdf)

+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Development Board

My friend Jack turned me on to this development board.  Its based on ARM9, which has an established Embedded Linux port and it also has both USB host and slave controllers on it.  This would be a powerful, flexible board.  The only questions--how much does it cost and how the hell do I buy it?  All the resellers seem to want to go through sales reps.