Editing Direct cable connection (section)

==Connection types==
If using the [[serial port]]s of the computer, a [[null modem]] cable (or a null modem adapter connected to a standard serial cable) must be used to connect each of the two computers to communicate properly. Such connection uses [[Point-to-Point Protocol|PPP]] protocol.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tldp.org/LDP/LG/issue41/smyth.html|title=Windows 95 to Linux Direct Cable Connection LG #41|website=tldp.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://howto.gumph.org/content/xp-direct-cable-to-linux/|title=XP Direct Cable to Linux|website=howto.gumph.org}}</ref>

If the [[parallel port]]s are used, Windows supports standard or basic 4-bit cable (commonly known as [[LapLink cable]]), [[IEEE 1284|Enhanced Capabilities Port]] (ECP) cable, or Universal Cable Module (UCM) cable (which was known as DirectParallel cable by Parallel Technologies).

Infrared communication ports, like the ones found on [[laptop computer]]s (such as [[IrDA]]), can also be used.

===USB===
Connecting any two computers using [[USB]] requires a special proprietary '''bridge cable.''' A directly connected pin-to-pin USB type A cable does not work, as USB does not support such a type of communication. In fact, attempting to do so may even damage the connecting computers, as it will effectively short the two computers' power supplies together by connecting their 5V and GND lines. This can possibly destroy one or both machines and cause a fire hazard since the two machines may not have exactly the same USB source voltage.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usb.org/about/faq/ans5/ |title=USB FAQs |access-date=2007-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002085049/http://www.usb.org/about/faq/ans5 |archive-date=2007-10-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Therefore, Direct Cable Connection over [[USB]] is not possible; a USB link cable must be used, as seen in the [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814982/zh-tw Microsoft knowledge base article 814982]. However, with a USB link cable, a program which supports data transfer using that cable must be used. Typically, such a program is supplied with the USB link cable. The DCC wizard or Windows Explorer cannot be used to transfer files over a USB link cable.

====Newer hardware technology with identical functionality====
There are at least 2 known USB-crossover cables capable of bidirectional data-transfer between computers similar to RJ45/Ethernet cables: ProlificUSA.com's TE-C0372 High Speed USB 2.0 Host to Host Bridge Cable (PL25A1 Chipset) and ProlificUSA.com's TE-C0363 Superspeed USB 3.0 Host to Host Bridge Cable (PL27A1 Chipset), and drivers for these seem to have been included in newer versions of the [[Linux]] kernel.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://prolificusa.com/product-category/chips/i-o-products/usb-connectivity/ | title=USB Connectivity Archives }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://prolificusa.com/product-category/cables/usb-connectivity-cables/ | title=USB Connectivity Cables Archives }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://prolificusa.com/products/ | title=Products Archive }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=prolificusa+linux+driver|title=prolificusa linux driver - Google Search|website=www.google.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/drivers/usb/musb/musb_core.c | title=Torvalds/Linux | website=[[GitHub]] | date=9 July 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/drivers/usb/musb/musb_host.c | title=Torvalds/Linux | website=[[GitHub]] | date=9 July 2022 }}</ref>