USB Bridge cable - network adapter how to ?

**goxi** · May 21st, 2009

I have USB to USB bridge cable attached to my pc with ubuntu 9.04 and another with WinXP pro. How can I configure to connect them. I have only win driver for USB to USB bridge cable ?

**goxi** · June 23rd, 2009

Really, nobody knows something about how to use USB bridge cabel to connect two PC under LINUX (Ubuntu). I have found something here : http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/ and I`ll try to fix this. I`ll post results here.
I believe somebody uses USB bridge cabel and Linux together....

**goxi** · June 23rd, 2009

This is my device: PL-2501 Hi-Speed USB Host to Host Bridge Controller The PL-2501 is a single chip Hi-Speed USB Host-to-Host Bridge Controller. With PL-2501 embedded cable, users can quickly transfer large amount and large size of files directly from one PC to another. ...

**goxi** · June 23rd, 2009

Originally Posted by goxi

This is my device: PL-2501 Hi-Speed USB Host to Host Bridge Controller The PL-2501 is a single chip Hi-Speed USB Host-to-Host Bridge Controller. With PL-2501 embedded cable, users can quickly transfer large amount and large size of files directly from one PC to another. ...

And these are details:
PL-2501 Hi-Speed USB Host to Host Bridge Controller

The PL-2501 is a single chip Hi-Speed USB Host-to-Host Bridge Controller. With PL-2501 embedded cable, users can quickly transfer large amount and large size of files directly from one PC to another. Also it’s useful for computer data backup/restore, synchronization or file sharing. Additionally, the chip enables two or more Hi-Speed USB or USB1.1 equipped PCs to connect to each other using USB ports as a network. Since Hi-Speed USB extends the speed up to 480 Mbps – 40 times more than previous USB, the network constructed by PL-2501 has data rates almost 5 times faster than a conventional 100BT Ethernet network. Implemented with remote NDIS, users can easily build up this network at a turbo speed without the troubled installation of drivers and add-on network interface cards.

Full compliance with the USB Specification v2.0
On-chip USB2.0 Phy
Support both Peer to Peer and Network functions
Transfer data and share resources between two or more PCs with speed up to 480Mbps.
Remote NDIS specification compliant (For network function only)
Embedded Turbo 8032 micro-controller
Supports USB Full/High Speed Control/Interrupt/Bulk Endpoints Transfer
On-Chip 3.3V-2.5V regulator for internal circuit
Dual data buffer supporting two-way data transfer
Supports Suspend, Resume and Remote wake-up power management features
Supports external serial EEPROM to customize vender/product related information
Supports LED indicator for connection and transfer status
Support external customized program ROM via 100-pin LQFP package
Bus powered from either USB port
No glue logic needed – can be embedded in small spaces
64/100 Pins LQFP packages

**goxi** · June 23rd, 2009

HERE I`V FOUND WHAT I NEED http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/Net:Bridge BUT STILL CAN`T BRIDGE MY PCs. SOMBODY HAVE SOLUTION ?

**ricojonah** · October 18th, 2009

I just stumbled across this idea myself recently. A USB bridge cable would me the perfect solution for my small, first-time linux cluster project.

Unfortunately, I've been searching around quite a lot and haven't found much more beyond one possibility, but this might be what you're looking for:http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/. (Search for "modprobe usbnet" in the page, and read that section.) It's probably a long shot, but from what I understood, it might be as simple as including a kernel module, then finding & assigning an IP address to the new USB interface:

1) Adding the required kernel module:

Code:

sudo modprobe usbnet

2) use

Code:

ifconfig | grep usb

to see if there is a new interface called usb0 (or some other usb#).

3) Assign your ip address configuration however you prefer (using ifconfig or the network manager).

The page I linked to above also has a list of different USB bridge cables that are definitely supported.

I don't have a USB bridge cable yet, but I've been VERY tempted to get one. *Please* post back and let me know if this works for you. If it does, I'm ordering several of those cables, stat!

**nzo** · October 19th, 2009

Coincidentally, I decided to try this very same thing this morning. I discovered this thread and had high hopes. No luck. Device still not recognised after modprobe. Link does specify that PL2301/2302 are supported. It may just not support PL2501.

**ricojonah** · October 27th, 2009

Oh, FYI for anyone considering this idea (connecting to systems via USB): Do not try to do this with a regular USB-A to USB-A cable. The type of cables mentioned on this thread are known as 'USB link cables' or 'USB network cables'.

Using a standard USB cable could potentially damage your USB ports, if not your motherboard or power supply as well.

I just wanted to mention this because I almost did the same dumb thing myself before I decided to do a little research first.

From the USB FAQ on USB.org:

"You mean I can't make a direct cable connection like a null modem?"

"Correct. In fact, if you try this with an illegal A to A USB cable, you'll short the two PCs' power supplies together, possibly destroying one or both machines or causing a fire hazard. Even there were no danger to the machines from the problem with two power supplies, there still wouldn't be any way to get the two PCs talking to each other, since USB doesn't support that particular kind of communication. A reasonably priced solution to handle this need is the USB bridge."

Most notably, the cable you would has a component in between the two connectors. Here is an example: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/b...s-7-migration/

Just a heads up!

**2hot6ft2** · January 31st, 2010

Here's one that got it working on Intrepid 8.10
Using USB-USB bridge cable on Ubuntu
As for Ubuntu to WinXP pro I don't know but the newer driver for xp can be found here: Prolifics website if it's the PC-Linq.

Once the drivers are installed a FTP program should be able to do the transfers if the windows and ubuntu systems will talk over it.

I have one buried in my stuff somewhere and if I come across it I'll try getting it to work Ubuntu 9.10 to Ubuntu 9.10.

**kkfok1** · September 7th, 2010

HI,

I am looking for a usb-to-usb cable to transfer data between Ubuntu 10.04 and MacBook pro OSX 10.6.3.

There is one on startech.com which can only support PC-Mac, not Ubuntu

Can anyone please help ?

Thanks