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6,668 Views 14 Replies Last post: Jan 5, 2007 11:35 AM by MorganCo RSS
dwchan Expert
dwchan
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Mar 25, 2006
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Jan 4, 2007 6:24 PM

Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

We have a piece of software that use a USB style hardware doogle.  Can ESX VI3 server support USB?

 

dwc

Jasemccarty Champion vExpert
Jasemccarty
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1. Jan 4, 2007 6:30 PM in response to: dwchan
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

I don't believe it will, but if it did, it would interfere with Vmotion, HA, and DRS.

 

You might want to look at these USB solutions:

 

Anywhere USB:

http://www.digi.com/products/usb/anywhereusb.jsp

 

and Keyspan's USB Server:

http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/server/homepage.spml

 

Here's some software based solutions

 

USB@nywhere:

http://www.intellidriver.com/products_1.16.html

 

USB over Network:

http://www.usb-over-network.com/

Jase McCarty - http://www.jasemccarty.com/blog/
kix1979 Champion
kix1979
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2. Jan 4, 2007 7:20 PM in response to: Jasemccarty
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

Jase's list is pretty complete.  The only thing to add is that I have heard people can get USB to work on an ESX host, but with mixed results.  Your best bet is to use a network device so if you vMotion you don't lose your USB key.

Thomas H. Bryant III Director, Advanced Technology & Products [Vizioncore, Inc.|http://www.vizioncore.com] VMware Communities User Moderator
dwchan Expert
dwchan
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3. Jan 4, 2007 7:33 PM in response to: kix1979
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

so I presume I will attach the usb doogle key on this usb network server, and install the special usb software on the VM guest?  Has anyone try using a usb doogle key in this type of setup?

 

dwc

kix1979 Champion
kix1979
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4. Jan 4, 2007 8:07 PM in response to: dwchan
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

Works like a charm

Thomas H. Bryant III Director, Advanced Technology & Products [Vizioncore, Inc.|http://www.vizioncore.com] VMware Communities User Moderator
dwchan Expert
dwchan
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5. Jan 4, 2007 8:13 PM in response to: kix1979
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

so which of the usb solution did you use?

kix1979 Champion
kix1979
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6. Jan 4, 2007 8:50 PM in response to: dwchan
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

I've used the products from digi.  They work very well, but they only connect to one VM per device.  So don't spend a lot on the multiport units if you want multiple USB devices, go for the smaller 2 USB port units.

 

Kix

Thomas H. Bryant III Director, Advanced Technology & Products [Vizioncore, Inc.|http://www.vizioncore.com] VMware Communities User Moderator
dwchan Expert
dwchan
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7. Jan 4, 2007 9:35 PM in response to: kix1979
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

I am a bit confuse?  So the product you use from digi only connect to a single ESX host?  Is it a network USB server?  if so, i would presume it has usb on one end and ethernet on the others?

tom howarth Guru User Moderators vExpert
tom howarth
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8. Jan 5, 2007 12:10 AM in response to: dwchan
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

the link you are looking for is http://www.digi.com/products/usb/

 

this is for the digi products.  you are right in saying that there is a USB end and an Ethernet end.

 

and no the devices are not phyiscally attached to the host machines, but to a switch. and the guest devices are attached to the device via the network.

Please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points to those Answers you found useful or correct. Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert VMware Communities User Moderator Blog: http://www.planetvm.net Contributing author on VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment Contributing author on VCP VMware Certified Professional on VSphere 4 Study Guide: Exam VCP-410
Jasemccarty Champion vExpert
Jasemccarty
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9. Jan 5, 2007 4:46 AM in response to: dwchan
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

Actually, the USB device (dongle, etc), can only be utilized by one Guest at a time.

 

So if you had 2 guests that needed access to a dongle, you would connect 2 dongles to the USB "server" end of the equation.

 

The nice thing is, the Guests can easily be moved among ESX servers with Vmotion, DRS, or HA, because the USB device is being accessed via ethernet, and isn't tied to a single ESX Host.

 

So, you'll need as many USB dongles as you have guests, and enough USB "servers" to have capacity for the number of dongles you have.

Jase McCarty - http://www.jasemccarty.com/blog/
Rumple Master
Rumple
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10. Jan 5, 2007 5:02 AM in response to: Jasemccarty
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

We have the USB anywhere device and use it for our license server VM (flexlm and others).

 

Its working really well for us.

dwchan Expert
dwchan
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11. Jan 5, 2007 6:10 AM in response to: Rumple
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

Ok, just find out that our hardware dongle is a parallel solutions.  In matter of fact, we have 2 physical server, each with its own dongle, that we will to combine and bring into a single VM guest.  Here are my question

 

1. if i physically uses the VM host parallel port (knowing the fact that if I VMotion it, i will lose the dongle), can the parallel port be disconnected while the VM guest is line (much like a CD/DVD)

 

2.  Are they anything Network parallal port server that are decide for hardware dongle?  Much like the USB network servers we are talking about.  I presume your everything parallel print server IS NOT ENOUGH to do the trick

 

dwc

Jasemccarty Champion vExpert
Jasemccarty
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12. Jan 5, 2007 6:27 AM in response to: dwchan
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

1.  Yes you could disconnect the virtual Parallel Port

 

2.  Most LPT over IP devices you are going to find, act as print servers, and they may or may not work for you.

 

An alternative would be to use a USB to Parallel adapter (probably not supported by the software vendor).

Jase McCarty - http://www.jasemccarty.com/blog/
Sticky Enthusiast
Sticky
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Sep 30, 2005
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13. Jan 5, 2007 7:25 AM in response to: Jasemccarty
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

These guys might be able to help. Though I have only tries the USB over TCP/IP product.

 

http://www.fabulatech.com/

MorganCo Lurker
MorganCo
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Jan 5, 2007
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14. Jan 5, 2007 11:35 AM in response to: Sticky
Re: Can ESX VI3 server support either USB or Parallel hardware key

Be careful with the parallel port lock.

 

I bought a PCI parallel port card and found out the software calls the standard parrellel port interupts directly to check the dongle.  Because the interupts to the PCI bus are different, the dongle was not recognized.

 

-MorganCo

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