Remote programming via USB extender over IP?

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

Is this possible?

I'm referring to the ones that are true USB over IP not just USB over cat5/6 to give an extra 45 meters range.
Is a USB print server anything more than just a USB extender?
Would I be correct in saying that you need a driver on the PC (Windows 7) to see the USB ports?

I would like to use one for remote programming of an Arduino which has a USB interface and hence the USB cable length limitation. The current range of Arduinos don't have an Ethernet stack in the bootloader, so USB is the only realistic option.

2

I was doing shopping the other day and came across this thing, bookmarked it as it looks promising. Give it a try

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-RS232-TTL-UART-Ethernet-TCP-IP-Converter-Module-/260947902733?_trksid=m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7164784537693166654#ht_3240wt_1037

3

martin_bg:
I was doing shopping the other day and came across this thing, bookmarked it as it looks promising. Give it a try

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-RS232-TTL-UART-Ethernet-TCP-IP-Converter-Module-/260947902733?_trksid=m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7164784537693166654#ht_3240wt_1037

Unfortunately Google translate wasn't able to decipher the Chinese download page for the datasheet.
I was hoping for a drop in replacement that would present a real or simulated serial port to the PC so the Arduino programming IDE would be able to talk directly to the Arduino.
The picture on Ebay only shows a single device, rather than two connected back to back. That isn't to say that it won't work, but it doesn't say that it will either.

I did some more research and found some 'industrial' style RS232 extenders but these cost $150+ each.
Ironically the cheapest netbook computers are about $330, so it's almost cheaper to buy one and co-locate it with the Arduino, then use 'remote desktop' from my desktop PC to the netbook and run the Arduino IDE on that. Not very elegant.