Perhaps I'm just saying what you thought I'd say, but NI-488.2 v2.4 (the most recent as of this writing) does work with ibfind(devN) and isn't broken. Try using Interactive Control (IBIC) to verify that it does work with your system. Open it up, then type "ibfind dev0". You should get a dev0: prompt if it works, or an error if it doesn't. One thing that could've happened is you renamed your device templates from dev0...devN to something else.
There is always 1.7, but it is unnecessary in most cases.
Scott B.
GPIB Software
National Instruments
