One USB hub to two computers

[pete_c]

Is there a device or mechanism to connect one USB hub to two computers with one managing hub but having the ability to switch to failover computer?

Like a remote control AB switch for USB ports.

Real life example of what I want to do:

I am building a failover HA box which is a duplicate of the primary HA box. My automation is mostly via one USB port to a USB hub to two USB to serial devices.

In a "real life" scenaria of a failover would it be possible to fail over to the second HA box and having this box take control of a single USB hub?

Found this and wouldn't mind hacking it a bit....

USB AB switch

Found another one which is even nicer. This one has RS-232 control which would work even better.

USB switch 2

 

[electron]

That switch is actually pretty interesting, something I will have to keep in mind. That said, I would also take a look at USB-over-IP adapters, they tend to come with client software, which you can probably automated with applications such as EventGhost or Auto It.

 

[pete_c]

Hello Dan,

Yes played with USB to network boxes (a variety) when I tested VM-USB and Serial connectivity. Looking for a first step cuz of my 16-18 serial connections plugged into my Digi 7 port hub. Topology looking like:

HA server ==> USB ==> USB 7 port HUB ==>
=============================> 2-3 HA USB devices
=============================> USB to 8 port serial Digi Box #1
=============================> USB to 8 port serial Digi Box #2

in addition but only testing with HA server is:
HA server ==> Networked 4 port serial box (1 IP and 4 serial connections)

Digi software for the USB to 8 port digi boxes resides on HA box. I have tested unplugging and plugging in USB to 8 port serial box connections and there are no ill effects from doing so. This means that I can leave the Digi software on two HA boxes.

Theortically if I had two identical HA boxes each with one USB connection going to same USB hub topology as above - using a 3rd computer to manually or automatically control AB switch this would allow failover of the HA box. Remotely the failover box would not be running the HA application (and associated applications)...so failover would disable primary HA application, disable USB port, enable USB port on secondary failover, enable HA application on secondary box. This would take about 15 minutes or so to happen.