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

20 points WorldDev | 3 comments | 25 Oct 25 19:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.199s | 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. ruslan ◴[26 Oct 25 02:01 UTC] No.45708522[source]▶
Get two FTDI FT232RL chips, connect them together on serial side (RXD->TXD, TXD->RXD, GND<->GND). Plug into USB ports of your computers, run terminals (or any other software that supports serial I/O), send/receive data. Can use XYZModem to send files, PPP for TCP/IP networking, etc. No programming involved. Cheap as hell.
replies(2): >>45709619 #>>45723925 #
2. jxbdbdb ◴[26 Oct 25 06:38 UTC] No.45709619[source]▶
I wonder why I had to scroll so far down to find this comment

People even suggesting using two Ardinos which each have a USB serial chip on board

3. eimrine ◴[27 Oct 25 17:34 UTC] No.45723925[source]▶
Are there any options to connect more than 2 computers via USB using hub topology?