in the thread http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=489589
we've learned that it will be almost impossible to connect USB devices directly
to the N900 USB port.

An alternative idea came up: USB over IP,
which uses an external computer or special hub in which the devices
are plugged in. The hub forwards all USB IO to the N900.
This solution does already work for Linux and Windows desktops
http://usbip.sourceforge.net/

the relevant posts in the other thread are
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...&postcount=573
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...&postcount=575
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...&postcount=578
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...&postcount=579
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...&postcount=583

the microcontroller idea was discussed independently in http://www.mail-archive.com/maemo-de.../msg20603.html
USB/IP was not mentioned

I came accross a view more posts about a USB over IP solution.

http://www.virtualinsanity.com/index...g/usb-over-ip/
http://www.incentivespro.com/

Do not have a N900 but usbip will be very useful am sure.
I had compiled in scratchbox and installed the modules on my N800(needed libwrap and libsysfs also), with my Linux desktop serving as the USBIP Server. Am able to list and attach the remote usb device on my N800. Havent played around with it much more though or checked the error with the usb.ids.

server:~# usbip_bind_driver --list
List USB devices
- busid 4-1 (045e:008a)
4-1:1.0 -> usbhid
4-1:1.1 -> usbhid

- busid 5-8 (058f:6335)
5-8:1.0 -> usbip

Client side(N800)
./usbip --list 1xx.xx.xxx.xx(server ip)
usbip err: vhci_attach.c: 586 (main ) open usb.ids
- 1xx.1xx.xx.xxx
5-8: unknown vendor : unknown product (058f:6335)
: /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb5/5-8
: (Defined at Interface level) (00/00/00)
: 0 - unknown class / unknown subclass / unknown protocol (08/06/50)

./usbip --port
usbip err: vhci_attach.c: 586 (main ) open usb.ids
8 ports available

Port 00: <Port in Use> at High Speed(480Mbps)
unknown vendor : unknown product (058f:6335)
2-1 -> usbip://1xx.xxx.xx.xxx:3240/5-8 (remote devid 0005001d (bus/dev 005/029))
2-1:1.0 used by usb-storage
/sys/class/scsi_device/0:0:0:0/device
.........................

netstat -tapn (on server)
tcp6 0 0 1xx.1xx.xx.xxx:3240 1xx.xxx.xxx.xx:58989 ESTABLISHED

This makes my "N8x0 as USB server" even more attractive to me. If someone can get the usbip server working on the N8x0 tablets and the client working on the N900, the n8x0 could easily share usb ports over wifi with the n900...

I know... N8x0 is a big bulky extra thing to lug around... and not super-cheap, either... but still way smaller than a laptop, and with that big bright screen it has lots of other uses besides USB host.

thanks a lot! this looks very promising.
Now we only need to compile the USB modules for the N900...

a nice idea for people who already own a N8x0!

If would be very cool if nokia would make these and combine them with a quickcharger too
-but small, I think one USB port would suffice.

We should somehow suggest that.

IMO Nokia should do their homework and implement a real USB host on the device
(maybe 1x USB OTG and 1x USB device+charge)

That's true, but if they made such a gadget they would have the upper hand over let's say other "mobile" charger manufacturers like Energizer for example that provide one charger for multiple devices - especially because this would bring USB OTG for Symbian as well (provided they offer an app for that)

Example based on: Nokia Extra Power DC-8

USB host on the N900 would be a preferred solution in a lot of cases, but using a USB over IP solution could have a lot of other possibilities. It is definitely a super cool feature to have on the N900.

I have been thinking about using my N800 as a USB server also, but I am afraid that transfer speeds would be too low. The wifi and USB throughput speeds of the N900 are much much higher than my old N800.