An apparatus includes a processor and a machine-readable medium coupled to the processor and comprising instructions. The instructions, when loaded into the processor and executed, configure the processor to identify that a USB element has attached to a USB hub at a port, classify the USB element according to power operations of the USB element, and assign an upstream or downstream setting of the port based upon the classification of the USB element based on power operations of the USB element. The instructions may further configure the processor to classify the USB element as only a producer of power, evaluate whether an enumeration process is initiated within a timeout period, and if so, assign the USB element as a USB host.