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Ask HN: Advice for creating a USB device linking 2 computers

20 points WorldDev | 1 comments | 25 Oct 25 19:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.271s | source

I want to build a little device that connects two computers together via usb, and send keystrokes from one to the other.

(I would use it to use a laptop keyboard on a headless computers).

I am looking for an easy solution, it does not have to be the cheapest.

ChatGPT points me to Arduino, but as far as I can see, there's no arduino with 2 usb ports. It also points me to Raspery pi zero, but that's a computer, not a microcontroller, so not sure if it's suitable.

If anyone with experience can give me some pointers, it would be greatly appreciated!

1. turtleyacht ◴[25 Oct 25 21:42 UTC] No.45707225[source]▶
The destination computer reads a file (of keystrokes) on a USB at a mount point, like every few seconds. The source computer writes to the same file.

After each newline, you are the "device" in the middle that unplugs the USB from the source computer and plugs it in to the destination computer.

Now we want to automate the middle, but without networking. How to do that?

See also Logitech Flow keyboard (and mouse). After each batch of commands, communicate via the shared clipboard.