Introduction
In the increasingly complex ecosystem of virtualization, the ability to integrate USB devices directly into a VMware vSphere environment holds significant importance for administrators and engineers alike. As businesses evolve, the need for seamless connectivity and integration of a wide range of USB peripherals—from storage devices to security dongles—within virtualized infrastructures becomes more critical. The vSphere platform, particularly through the ESXi and USB passthrough capabilities, offers a sophisticated solution for these challenges, underscoring the vital role of efficient USB device management in maintaining operational flexibility and enhancing system functionality.
This article delves into the intricacies of adding USB devices to your VMware vSphere environment, covering essential topics such as understanding USB passthrough in vSphere, meeting all requirements and prerequisites, and a detailed step-by-step guide to ensuring successful implementation. By exploring pre-configuration checklists, offering guidance on adding USB devices directly to a virtual machine, and providing advanced configuration tips, the content aims to equip readers with the know-how to efficiently integrate USB peripherals. Emphasizing hardware and software requirements to ensure compatibility, this comprehensive guide serves as a roadmap for professionals seeking to leverage the full capabilities of vSphere 8, ESXi, and VMWare USB passthrough features within their virtualization infrastructure.
Understanding USB Passthrough in vSphere
What Is USB Passthrough?
USB passthrough in VMware allows a virtual machine (VM) to access a physical USB device connected to the host system as if it were directly connected to the VM. This feature, available from ESXi 4.1, enables the VM’s operating system to manage the device drivers and handle the USB device as it would on a non-virtualized hardware platform 1 2.
Components of USB Passthrough
The key components required for the functioning of USB passthrough include the arbitrator, USB controller, and the physical USB device itself. The arbitrator is a dedicated service on the ESXi server that manages the routing of USB device traffic between the host and the VM. It ensures that only one VM can access a USB device at a time, supporting up to 15 USB controllers 1. The USB controller connects physical USB ports on the server to the VM, facilitating the interaction between the physical and virtual components. A virtual USB controller is also necessary within the VM’s configuration to utilize the passthrough feature 1.
Benefits of Using USB Passthrough
Employing USB passthrough provides several advantages, especially in environments requiring direct access to hardware. It is ideal for scenarios such as software development and testing, where developers might need to test applications that interact with USB hardware like dongles or development kits. Additionally, it supports security applications that use USB tokens or keys, and facilitates data storage and backup by allowing direct data transfers between the VM and external USB storage devices. This feature also enables the use of specialized USB-dependent hardware within a virtualized environment, thus broadening the operational scope and flexibility of VMs 2.
Requirements and Prerequisites
To ensure successful integration of USB devices into your VMware vSphere environment, it is crucial to meet specific requirements and prerequisites. These include compatibility checks, hardware setups, and software configurations.
Supported ESXi Versions
The virtual machine must be compatible with ESX/ESXi versions 4.0 and later to utilize USB passthrough capabilities. ESXi versions 4.1, 5.x, and 6.x support USB device passthrough from the host to the virtual machine. For enhanced USB functionality, such as USB 3.0, ESXi servers starting from VMware vSphere 5.5 patch 3 are required, and the virtual machine must be of hardware version 7 or higher.
Hardware Requirements
A physical USB controller must be present on the ESXi host. If only one USB controller is available, it is advisable to attach an additional USB controller to prevent losing connections to USB devices used by the ESXi server. The virtual machine can have up to 20 USB devices attached, but each device can only be connected to one virtual machine at a time. For USB 3.0 devices, an xHCI USB controller is necessary in the virtual machine configuration.
Software Requirements
The operating system requirements for using USB 3.0 passthrough include Windows 8.1 or higher, Windows Server 2012 R2 or higher, or Linux with a Linux kernel version 2.6.35 or higher 1. For USB devices that require high-speed data transfers, such as USB 3.1 devices, the virtual machine should run on VMware vSphere 7.0 or later to support their maximum speed. Additionally, Intel Directed I/O or AMD I/O Virtualization Technology must be enabled in the UEFI/BIOS settings 1.
Step-by-Step Guide to Add a USB Device to vSphere
Inserting USB Device into ESXi Server
First, insert the USB device into a USB port on the ESXi server. Ensure the USB arbitrator service is running, which can be verified using the command chkconfig usbarbitrator –list. If the service is stopped, start it with /etc/init.d/usbarbitrator start.
Checking Connection Status
Next, open the VMware vSphere Client and navigate to Hosts and Clusters. In the Navigator pane, select the virtual machine to which the USB device will be connected using the passthrough feature. It is crucial that the VM is in the powered-off state during this setup 1.
Configuring VM Settings
Once the virtual machine is selected, click Actions > Edit settings. In the Edit Settings window, check if a USB controller is present in the VM configuration. If absent, proceed to add a new USB controller 1.
Adding USB Controller
If the USB controller is missing from the VM configuration, click Add New Device > USB Controller. Choose the appropriate USB controller type, either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0, depending on the requirements 1.
Connecting USB Device to VM
After ensuring the presence of a USB controller, add the USB device attached to the ESXi server to your VM by selecting Add New Device > Host USB Device. A new configuration string will appear. Select the desired USB device to connect to the VM. If vMotion support is needed, expand the New Host USB Device options and check the Support vMotion while device is connected box 1. Finally, start the virtual machine and once the guest OS is loaded, the USB device should be initialized and ready for use.
Pre-Configuration Checklist
Checking USB Device Compatibility
Before proceeding with the integration of USB devices into the VMware vSphere environment, it is essential to verify the compatibility of the USB devices with the ESXi version. Not all USB devices are supported for passthrough; devices requiring isochronous transfer modes, such as webcams and audio interfaces, may encounter functionality issues or cause stability concerns. Always consult the VMware Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) to ensure that both the USB device and the ESXi version support passthrough.
Ensuring ESXi Server Requirements
The ESXi server must meet specific hardware and software requirements to facilitate USB passthrough effectively. Ensure that the server supports USB 3.0, which is available from VMware vSphere 5.5 patch 3 onwards, and that an xHCI USB controller is included in the VM configuration. Additionally, verify that the ESXi host has physical USB ports and that BIOS settings do not restrict USB access 2. For servers with only one USB controller, consider attaching an additional USB controller to prevent loss of connectivity.
Verifying Network Settings
In environments where the Dynamic Power Management (DPM) feature is activated within a DRS cluster, and the host has USB devices attached, it is crucial to deactivate DPM for that specific host. This adjustment prevents potential disruptions in USB functionality due to power management policies. Also, ensure network configurations support the migration of VMs with multiple USB devices using vMotion, which requires all attached USB devices to be enabled for vMotion.
Guide to Adding USB Device to Virtual Machine
Step 1: Insert USB Device
To begin, insert the USB device into a USB port on the host system. For Windows hosts, Workstation Pro may prompt the user to select a connection destination for the USB device unless a previous connection rule is remembered 7. For Linux hosts, the device typically connects to the virtual machine by default if the virtual machine’s window is active.
Step 2: Verify Connection
Once the USB device is connected, verify the connection by checking the host system or using the VMware Host Client to ensure the device is recognized by the ESXi host 8. If the device is not automatically connected to the desired virtual machine, manual connection might be necessary 7.
Step 3: Configure VM USB Settings
In the virtual machine settings, confirm the presence of a USB controller. If absent, add a new USB controller through the VMware Host Client settings under “Add a USB Controller to a Virtual Machine” 8. Set the appropriate USB connection rules in the virtual machine’s configuration to define how USB devices are handled upon connection 7.
Step 4: Connect USB Device
Finally, connect the USB device to the virtual machine. Select the USB device from the list of available devices and configure it to connect either automatically or manually based on the user’s preference 7. For devices that require frequent disconnection and reconnection, ensure that the connection settings allow for easy management and reconnection 7.
Advanced Configuration and Tips
Enabling vMotion Support
To facilitate the migration of virtual machines with USB passthrough, it’s crucial to enable vMotion support for all USB devices connected to the virtual machine. This configuration ensures that USB devices remain connected and functional even after the VM is migrated to another ESXi host. Notably, when configuring USB devices for vMotion, the entire set of connected devices must be enabled; individual USB device migration is not supported.
Hot-Adding USB Devices
USB devices can be dynamically added to a running VM without the need for a reboot. However, it’s important to disconnect any USB devices before utilizing the hot-add feature for adding CPU, memory, or PCI devices. This precaution helps prevent data loss as USB devices might disconnect automatically during the hot-add process 1.
Optimizing Performance
When USB devices are connected through a network, especially in configurations where a VM accesses USB devices from a host different than the one it is currently running on, a performance penalty may occur. This is often due to the additional latency introduced by network relays. To minimize this impact, ensure that the ESXi hosts involved can communicate effectively over the management network using TCP port 902. This setup is essential for maintaining a reliable performance level when USB commands are relayed between hosts.
Hardware and Software Requirements
ESXi Server Requirements
For the integration of USB devices into a VMware environment, the ESXi server must meet specific hardware and software criteria. It is essential that a physical USB controller is present on the ESXi host. If the host does not have available USB ports, adding a USB device to the virtual machine becomes impossible 8. Additionally, for effective USB passthrough, the ESXi versions should ideally be 4.1 or newer, as these versions support the necessary passthrough capabilities 1.
USB Device Compatibility
Compatibility of USB devices with the ESXi host is crucial for successful passthrough. Not all USB devices are supported; for instance, devices requiring asynchronous data transfers such as audio interfaces and video cameras may face functionality issues. It is recommended to check the VMware Compatibility Guide to confirm if the specific USB devices, along with their driver and firmware versions, are supported. The guide also lists the firmware versions used at the time of certification, which can be helpful for ensuring compatibility.
Required VMware Software
To utilize USB passthrough effectively, certain VMware software requirements must be met. The operating system on the virtual machine should be Windows 8.1 or higher, Windows Server 2012 R2 or higher, or a Linux version with a kernel of 2.6.35 or higher for USB 3.0 passthrough. For USB 3.1 devices, VMware vSphere 7.0 or later is required to support their maximum speed. Additionally, it is imperative to ensure that all attached USB devices are enabled for vMotion to migrate a virtual machine with multiple USB devices.
Conclusion
Throughout this article, we’ve explored the comprehensive process of integrating USB devices into a VMware vSphere environment, highlighting the critical aspects such as understanding USB passthrough, ensuring compatibility with essential requirements, and executing a structured step-by-step guide for implementation. The intricacies of prerequisites, ranging from hardware and software compatibility to optimizing performance, showcase the importance of a well-prepared approach. This guide serves not only as an instructional roadmap but also emphasizes the role of efficient USB device management in enhancing system functionality and maintaining operational flexibility within virtualized infrastructures.
Reflecting on the broader implications, the ability to seamlessly integrate USB devices into VMware vSphere environments marks a significant advancement in virtualization technology, offering administrators and engineers the tools to expand the functionality and efficiency of their systems. As businesses continue to evolve in an increasingly digital landscape, the importance of such capabilities cannot be overstated, presenting both challenges and opportunities for future research and development. Encouraging further exploration into advanced configurations and the potential for innovation in USB passthrough technology, this discussion underscores the ongoing journey towards more integrated and versatile virtualization solutions.
FAQs
1. How can I connect a USB device to a virtual machine using the vSphere Client? To connect a Client-Connected USB device in vSphere Client (version 5.0 or newer), open the console of the virtual machine you wish to connect the USB device to. In the vSphere Client toolbar, there is an icon resembling a USB device with a wrench. Click this icon to toggle the connection or disconnection of the USB devices to the virtual machine.
2. What are the steps to enable USB devices in VMware? To enable a USB device within VMware, follow these steps:
- Connect the USB device to the local client system.
- Open the VMware Horizon Client menu bar within the remote desktop and select “USB Devices.”
- Turn on the toggle for the USB device to enable it.
3. How can I make VMware Workstation Pro recognize a USB device? To connect a USB drive to VMware Workstation Pro, follow these instructions:
- On the VMware Workstation Pro home page, navigate to “VM” then “Removable devices,” choose your USB device, and select “Connect (Disconnect from host).”
- Confirm the action by clicking “OK.”
4. How do I grant a virtual machine access to a USB device using VirtualBox? To connect a USB device to a VirtualBox VM, you must first install the VirtualBox Extension Pack. Once installed, launch your virtual machine with the guest OS of your choice. Connect the USB device to an available USB port on the host computer. Then, go to “Devices” -> “USB” in the VirtualBox interface, and select the “USB device to share.”
