Using an rPi for a wireless/remote USB port

I ran across a post about using a commercial remote USB software and remembered I’d done this some years ago so searched for other solutions and found usbip is part of the Linux repo these days so I thought I’d give it a try since I had some coasters to making with my little Ortur laser engraver. There is a Windows client too for those interested.

It worked great on a dozen coasters over 4+ hours and a couple of days.
I made a little script for the rPi which I run when I want to use this. I’ve also added an “install” option which takes care of setting up the usbip software on the rPi.

#!/bin/bash

echo "Usage: run-usbip [install]"
# using lsusb find your device USB id. Mine is 0483:5740
## Bus 001 Device 006: ID 0483:5740 STMicroelectronics Virtual COM Port
# using usbip list -p -l find your USB Bus ID for that device. Mine is 1-1.5 
## busid=1-1.5#usbid=0483:5740#
# set you busID here:
myUSBBusID="1-1.5"

if [ "$1" == "install" ] ; then
  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install usbip
  sudo apt clean
  sudo modprobe usbip_host
  echo 'usbip_host' | sudo tee -a /etc/modules
  usbip list -p -l
else
  usbip list -p -l
  sudo usbip bind --busid=$myUSBBusID
  sudo usbipd
fi

On my Linux desktop( Ubuntu ) I just run these commands to load the driver and create a USB device then detach when I’m done. Use your own rPi IP address and set the busID you used on your rPi side.
sudo modprobe vhci-hcd
sudo usbip attach -r x.x.x.x -b 1-1.5
sudo usbip detach -p 00

Source: http://usbip.sourceforge.net/

If you try the Windows client please post your results.