A dual-host, USB system comprising a USB hub, a multiplexor (MUX) configured to couple a first host computing device or a second host computing device to a USB hub where each of the first and second host computing device have host-level control of a plurality of USB ports coupled to the USB hub based on which of a first or second input of the MUX is selected. The system further includes a processor communicatively coupled to the second host computing device and the USB hub, the processor providing a non-USB communication path from the second host computing device to the first host computing device to facilitate the sending of commands from the second host computing device to the first host computing device in the USB system.