Learn more about USB Passthrough vMotion from our experts. Our VMware Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

USB Passthrough vMotion

VMware is a powerful virtualization platform. It offers different features to boost the functionality and flexibility of virtual machines. One such feature is USB passthrough. It lets users connect physical USB devices directly to VMs.

Today we are going to take a close look at the USB passthrough feature in VMware, its benefits, limitations, and the steps involved in setting it up.

Benefits of USB Passthrough

USB passthrough offers several advantages for users working with Vms as seen here:

• High-speed file transfer:

  USB passthrough lets users copy files quickly between a USB hard disk drive and a VM. This eliminates the need for intermediate steps.
• Legacy device support:

  It lets users connect older devices like scanners or printers, to VMs that do not have drivers for the latest operating systems.
• USB license key support:

  It lets users utilize software protected by hardware USB license keys on Vms. This ensures proper licensing and software functionality.

We can ensure a smooth experience with USB passthrough, by following these best practices:

• Disconnect USB devices before using hot-add:
  We have to ensure that USB devices are disconnected to prevent data loss while adding CPU, memory, or PCI devices to a VM using the hot-add feature.
• Consider suspending VMs:

  Did you know that suspending a VM pushes USB devices to disconnect, but they automatically reconnect when the VM is resumed? In fact, this can be useful for managing USB passthrough during VM operations.

How to Connect a USB Device to a VM

1. First, we have to insert the USB device into a USB port on the ESXi server and verify its connection with this command in the ESXi CLI:

   Isusb
2. Next, make sure the USB arbitrator service is running. If not, we have to start it.
3. Then, head to VM settings via the VMware vSphere Client and choose the desired VM.
4. Now, we have to click Edit Settings under Actions.
5. At this point, we have to check if the USB controller is present in the VM settings. If not, we can add a new USB controller.
6. In case the USB controller is present, we have to add the USB device attached to the ESXi server by choosing Add New Device and then click Host USB Device.
7. Then, we must configure the USB device by choosing the desired device and enabling vMotion support if necessary.
8. Finally, we can verify the USB installation by starting the VM and ensuring that the USB device is initialized and installed correctly.

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Conclusion

In summary, our Support Techs introduced us to USB Passthrough vMotion and how to connect a USB Device to a VM.