VMware USB Passthrough Configuration

Software method of organizing VMware USB passthrough

Failed to attach a USB device to a virtual machine with native methods?

With USB Network Gate, you won’t have to face this issue ever again! USB Network Gate will provide you with safe and easy access to any USB device attached to your host PC (or to any other PC in the network) while operating a virtual machine.

During a VMware session, you won’t be able to use USB devices attached to your real PC unless you redirect USB traffic to your virtual machine. But then again, there can be a problem if all of the virtual machine’s USB ports are already in use because a standard VM has a very limited amount of those. USB Network Gate offers unique USB redirection technology that gained full access to USB devices in a virtual environment.

Read on and find out how to use USB Network Gate for ESXi USB passthrough to your virtual machine.

A quick and easy step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Download USB Network Gate for Windows from the official webpage.

Step 2: Install the app both on your real machine and on a virtual one, then use it to share the USB device. If you plan to access a USB device attached to another PC in your network, install USB Network Gate on that remote PC as well.

Step 3: Run the app on a virtual machine and with its help, connect to the shared USB device.

Done! From that point on, you’ll see the shared USB device in the VM’s Device Manager as if it was connected directly to it. Hence, you'll be able to make the most of its functionality.

For more detailed installation instructions, see our awesome video guide

Native methods of organizing VMware USB passthrough

The main downside of using a native method is a very limited list of supported devices. So, before you try using this method, check the official webpage to make sure that your device is even available for passthrough. More often than not, you’ll have no trouble with redirecting USB storage devices (i.a. Memory sticks) and hardware keys (aka USB dongles).

For all the other USB devices, such as chip/smart card readers, video cameras, isochronous audio devices, hubs, and bootable HID (like keyboards and mice), it is best to use a dedicated software solution (USB Network Gate).

What is USB passthrough in VMware?

VMware ESXi host can redirect traffic from some devices from the real (host) computer to the guest OS of the virtual machine.

To make this work, there must be three components:

1. Arbitrator: a default ESXi host component that deals with connection requests and routes USB device traffic. Can monitor up to 15 controllers.
2. Controller: a USB hardware controller that must be added to a virtual machine before you can add any USB devices. If you don’t have any and not sure how to add one, please see the related article. To remove a controller, you’ll have to remove every USB device connected to a VM.
   

   Note: Each VM can only have one controller of each type added at a time.

3. Physical USB device: is self-explanatory. You can attach up to 20 devices to each VM and that's exactly the number of devices supported by a single ESXi host. The attached USB device can't be used to boot a VM from it.

A step-by-step guide on organizing ESXi USB passthrough to your virtual machine:

Step 1: Go to the Inventory, right-click on the VM you want to redirect USB traffic to, and click on the Edit Settings.

Step 2: Proceed to the Virtual Hardware tab, click the Add New Device button, and pick the Host USB Device option from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Select your device from the list next to the New Host USB Device line.

Note: If you’re not going to migrate a VM connected to your USB device, untick the box next to the Support vMotion while device is connected option for better performance and added stability.

Step 4: Click the OK button.