Connecting Two PCs Using a USB-USB Cable

**Hardware Secrets Team** · 11-16-2005, 07:45 AM

There has been a new article posted.

Title: Connecting Two PCs Using an USB-USB Cable
URL: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/248

Here is a snippet:
"A very easy way to connect two PCs is using an USB-USB cable. Connecting two PCs with a cable like this you can transfer files from one PC to another, and even build a small network and share your Int..."

Comments on this article are welcome.

Best regards,
Hardware Secrets Team
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com

Minotaur · 09-09-2008, 09:09 AM

I get why an A and A cable will not work after I bought one, but why can you not plug it into a usb hub?

Seems really simple thing(for someone who knows what they are doing), to put software on both pcs and the other pc sees an external hard drive.

**Gabriel Torres** · 09-09-2008, 11:15 AM

Hello,

Because you need to reverse the signals, i.e. the input signal on computer "A" should be connected to the output signal on computer "B" and the output signal on computer "B" should be connected to the input signal on computer "A". This can't be accomplished with regular cables or USB hubs.

It is similar to what happens with network cables. You can use a regular pin-to-pin cable to connect 2 PCs; you need a cross-over cable.

Cheers,
Gabriel.

Dinesh Gadewal · 05-22-2009, 10:11 AM

Hi,

Suppose i do not wish to connect to Internet but i wish to form connection between 2 computers in "Network mode". So in this case, is network card (NIC) required to be present in either pc?

If not then is it so that the software simulates as a NIC?

Please provide me details and any relevant links that can give more such information. I am creating white paper on this article and i found this article worth.

Thank you in advance.

Olle P · 05-23-2009, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minotaur

... why can you not plug it into a usb hub?

Because a USB hub, as opposed to Ethernet hubs, principally work like a fork splitter. The signals coming in on one port aren't transferred to the other ports, just to the one computer connection.

Edit: Ooops, didn't notice that post was a year old. At least I hope it will help somebody...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinesh Gadewal

... i wish to form connection between 2 computers in "Network mode". So in this case, is network card (NIC) required to be present in either pc?

Welcome to the forum!
As I understand it: No it isn't. The USB cable electronic drivers will create a virtual NIC on both computers when properly installed.

Cheers
Olle

11-16-2005, 07:45 AM	#1
Hardware Secrets Team Administrator Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,952	Connecting Two PCs Using a USB-USB Cable There has been a new article posted. Title: Connecting Two PCs Using an USB-USB Cable URL: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/248 Here is a snippet: "A very easy way to connect two PCs is using an USB-USB cable. Connecting two PCs with a cable like this you can transfer files from one PC to another, and even build a small network and share your Int..." Comments on this article are welcome. Best regards, Hardware Secrets Team http://www.hardwaresecrets.com

05-22-2009, 10:11 AM	#4
Dinesh Gadewal Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1	Is Network interface card required? Hi, Suppose i do not wish to connect to Internet but i wish to form connection between 2 computers in "Network mode". So in this case, is network card (NIC) required to be present in either pc? If not then is it so that the software simulates as a NIC? Please provide me details and any relevant links that can give more such information. I am creating white paper on this article and i found this article worth. Thank you in advance.

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09-09-2008, 09:09 AM	#2
Minotaur Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1	I get why an A and A cable will not work after I bought one, but why can you not plug it into a usb hub? Seems really simple thing(for someone who knows what they are doing), to put software on both pcs and the other pc sees an external hard drive.

09-09-2008, 11:15 AM	#3
Gabriel Torres Administrator Join Date: Oct 2004 USA Posts: 2,553	Hello, Because you need to reverse the signals, i.e. the input signal on computer "A" should be connected to the output signal on computer "B" and the output signal on computer "B" should be connected to the input signal on computer "A". This can't be accomplished with regular cables or USB hubs. It is similar to what happens with network cables. You can use a regular pin-to-pin cable to connect 2 PCs; you need a cross-over cable. Cheers, Gabriel.