USB 3.0 crossover cable

[tonyv]

Hi All
In the USB 3.0 faq on this site (http://www.lvr.com/usb3faq.htm#ca_direct) in mentions a cross over cable for host to host communications i can find very few  reference to this on net .
Have had a quick search of the spec pdf  to no avail.Can anybody tell me more about it. I have found these refs to it so far.

referred to on Microsoft's site
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh439372%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
These people sell one.
http://www.datapro.net/products/usb-3-0-super-speed-a-a-cable-crossover-strict.html
and also dell
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=k12&cs=26&sku=a3875053#Overv

Intels patent about usb 3.0 pc to pc communications
http://www.google.com/patents?id=lw3SAAAAEBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=20100169511&hl=en&sa=X&ei=f4MZT47ROpOIhQetkLnHDA&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA

If this crossover cable really works i could be great way to link two motherboards together at high speed.

Cheers
Tony

[Jan Axelson]

I haven't used the cable, but the MS writeup is for debugging. Other uses are likely to require additional low-level drivers not included in the OS.

Jan

[tonyv]

Hi Jan
Thanks for reply .Could you tell me where you found out about this crossover cable any clues about finding more i was hoping to use this in linux . If the specs are available maybe i could get Sarah Sharp http://sarah.thesharps.us/  who wrote the linux xHCI  driver interested in writing a driver or have bash myself.
Thanks
Tony

[Jan Axelson]

The USB 3.0 spec (5.5.2) describes the cable. It's a basic crossover cable for the USB 3.0 signal wires.

Jan

[mtchang]

Dear Tony,

I am looking for this solution, too. So far, MS posts the following methods to setup the link using the crossover cable.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh439370(v=vs.85).aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh439372(v=vs.85).aspx

However, it's not the right methods for a commercial product. Is there any driver available for this cable at this moment?

Regards, MT

[Jan Axelson]

I"m not aware of any driver for the cable.

Jan