Use Linux to control power outlet via USB

Much of information on this page is based the web page at here

1. buy EcoStrip , and Linksys USB2HUB4 USB 2.0 hub. This hub supports power control. Internally it uses NEC chipset.

2. Download hub-ctrl.c, OR download it at this site

3. Use lsusb utilities with -v option, you can inspect 'Hub Descriptor', such like:

Hub Descriptor:
   [...]
     wHubCharacteristic 0x0089
       Per-port power switching
       Per-port overcurrent protection
       Port indicators
   [...]

4.compile hub-ctrl.c with -lusb (you need to install libusb-dev if you don't have it)

5. run "sudo ./hub-ctrl" to list the possible hub that supports power control

Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0409:0058 NEC Corp. HighSpeed Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub 

6.From above, you can see that my Linksys hub is located at Bus 2 Device 3. So I use the following command to turn the ecoStrip (which is plugged into the Linksys Hub port 1) power off:

sudo ./hub-ctrl -b 2 -d 3 -P 1 

And the following command to turn it on

sudo ./hub-ctrl -b 2 -d 3 -P 1 -p 1