On Thu, Jun 04, 2020 at 08:53:26PM +0200, Sven Hartge wrote: > rhkramer@gmail.com wrote: > > > In a way, the subject covers most of it: " Using a USB hub with 3 computers, 1 > > printer, 1 external drive (for backup for any of the three PCs)". > > > I don't know much about USB hubs, I guess all of the ports are two way. > > No. This is even enforced in the way the cables and connectors are > designed. > > > To clarify, if needed, I'd like to buy a 5 (or more) port USB (3.0) hub to > > connect 3 PCs, 1 printer, and 1 external drive such that I can print or backup > > from any of the 3 pcs. > > No. > > USB is a tree, there can only be ever one root. You can't connect three > PCs to a USB hub and expect this to work. > > > I suppose there are two questions: > > > 1. Should I expect any problem "hardware wise"? > > Yes, because it will not work. > > There are very special USB sharing devices which allow more than one > computer use connected devices, but those are a) rate and b) expensive. Right. An USB tree has one "host" (aka "master") and several "devices" (aka "slaves"). The latter can only talk to the "host". Some can switch roles (as specified by the USB "on the go" (OTG) [1] spec. Typically tablets and smartphones can do this. Linux seems to support that, but the USB hardware has to play along [2]. Note that I haven't tried it. Cheers [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_On-The-Go [2] https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/386945/configure-linux-system-as-an-otg-device -- t
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