USB3 hub and device, and USB2 PC port question

Stylex

Junior Member
May 18, 2002
13
0
0
Hi, I need to duplicate a 4tb WD mybook 10 times for a project we are working on, and I had a question.

USB2 pc > usb3 hub > usb 3 devices

will transferring from device to device run at usb2 or usb3 speeds?

Does it have to go through the pc, or can it work as a 'switch' and go from device to device?

Thanks!
 

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
USB is not a networking protocol, so you'll get USB 2 speeds, and everything will act like it's plugged into one USB port. Do not bother connecting more than one bandwidth hog per USB port from the root hub (IE, a port on your PC or from a card).

<$20 will get you an Asmedia or Renesas USB 3.0 card.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
10,200
126
You can't go USB to USB. USB is designed to have a "Host" system, to control the USB bus. So you would have to plug two HDDs into a PC, and copy from one to the other, with the PC as the intermediary.

Mixing USB2 and USB3 connections, results in USB2 speeds.
 

Stylex

Junior Member
May 18, 2002
13
0
0
Thanks everyone, I assumed it went through the controller, but never hurts to ask! I'll probably have to go the PCIe way, or this will take forever :)