My desktop workstation (currently X86-64 SL 7) has only one 802.3 
physical port.  At my university, the IT gestapo will not allow the use 
of a local 802.3 repeater (switch or hub) but requires a valid NIC MAC 
address and will disconnect any changes.  I have no 802.11 WNIC on my 
desktop workstation.  I just have obtained a new HP Zbook to run X86-64 
Linux to replace my old mobile workstation (laptop) that was 
underprovisioned for 64 bit operation, had a worn out keyboard and 
pointing device, etc. (I regret to state that I am experimenting with 
OpenSUSE 13.2 on that machine for reasons beyond the subject matter of 
this post.)  The IT gestapo will not allow my workstation to serve as a 
HTTP server, etc. -- one cannot use scp, sftp, etc., for file transfer 
over the IT network from a desktop workstation (not a designated 
server).  I could attempt to transfer all of the files to the research 
network that has much less IT gestapo control -- but this is as tedious 
as what I am now doing. Hence, a question:

Is there a software application utility that will convert a USB network 
between two machines running standard open systems protocols to allow 
file transfer between the two machines?  I am not referring to the 
methods used with an Android device, but with a regular Linux 
workstation.  A cursory search of such things on the web did not provide 
any insight.  At one time, UUCP would do this over a RS232 
point-to-point link (cable) -- will this approach still work over a USB 
(not RS232) link?  Is there something better than UUCP?

Yasha Karant