W&T: M2M & Wireless
The USB-Server Industry includes everything you need for relocating your local USB ports into a network, and in the smallest possible space.
Connected USB ports behave just as they would if connected locally to your Windows PC. The associated driver for Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/7 with user interface automatically searches the network for USB-Servers and connected USB devices.
Clicking on them assigns them to the computer, after which they are treated like local devices. Not only the traditional devices such as mice and memory sticks, but also measuring devices, scales, barcode readers etc. are increasingly equipped with USB interfaces.
Especially in industrial environments the often short permissible cable lengths, the absence of galvanic isolation and lack of flexibility makes their use problematic. Redirecting the USB ports to a USB-Server in the network solves all three objections at once: Computer and USB-Server can be virtually as far apart as desired, and every Ethernet connection is inherently equipped with galvanic isolation. If you will be accessing the USB device from another computer, this switch can be made with the click of a mouse and without replugging the device.
More info: Datasheet