VMware Communities: Message List - USB redirection with RDP thin client connection to virtual desktop

Re: USB redirection with RDP thin client connection to virtual desktop

jonathanw — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:28:38 GMT

I believe you are correct, the 'basic' Microsoft RDP should give you the ability to share local disks, thumb drives and local CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drives (for read).

If you want to connect anything more advanced then you need a USB redirector (such as the one provided by the VMware connection broker) which has a server component and a client agent inside the virtual desktop to provide a communication channel for scanners, USB audio devices etc.

Re: USB redirection with RDP thin client connection to virtual desktop

whit80 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:35:25 GMT

What we are planning is simple thumbdrive and external CD drive use through the USB ports on a few of our HP 5145 thin clients. We will be connecting to our desktop VM's using RDP and from what I've been able to gather, those simple uses should be supported by RDP alone. No need for connection broker, VDI agent, or third party software solution. If we decide to connect something more complex like a scanner, then we probably will need to use something like third party software like AnywhereUSB that you suggested. Am I on the right track here? Thanks.

Re: USB redirection with RDP thin client connection to virtual desktop

Troy Clavell — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:49:22 GMT

I can't speak directly for HP ThinClients, but the way WYSE does there's is through a license key for the thin client and an app installed onto your VM.

You may also try something like USB over IP

http://www.digi.com/pdf/wp_ESXServer_AnywhereUSB.pdf

Re: USB redirection with RDP thin client connection to virtual desktop

whit80 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:42:36 GMT

Thanks for the quick reply. So without the connection broker being used, does that mean the only method of USB redirection is to use some sort of third party software? Does that kind of software install on the virtual machine or the thin client? I think HP does offer something like this, but I have to check. We are stuck using HP because the thin clients have already been purchased.

Re: USB redirection with RDP thin client connection to virtual desktop

Troy Clavell — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:06:23 GMT

ESX in general does not support USB redirection. Adding the view agent really isn't going to buy you anything because without the connection broker which holds the global settings for the USB support.

You may want to take a look at using different thin clients like WYSE, which has a TCX piece. I don't know much about the HP thin clients, but HP may offer some sort software package for USB redirection

Hope this helps a bit.

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USB redirection with RDP thin client connection to virtual desktop

whit80 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:55:45 GMT

I have a customer that is implementing VMware View for their workstations and will be using RDP (on HP 5145's) to connect to the VM desktops. They are not implementing the VM broker at this time due to some Active Directory issues. Anyway, they will have a few users that will need to use the local USB ports on the thin clients and I was wondering how and if VMware supports USB redirection in this scenario, or do they need to get some third party software installed. Does the VMware View agent need to be installed on the VM desktops? Thanks for any information anyone has concerning this.