USB / External Drive can't see in esxi server terminal

[jb05]

Hello,

I'm try to add usb/external drive as datastore, and base on my research after turning off the usbarbirator the usb should see in the list below.
But in my scenario I can't see either one of them. I also added usb.log. I'm a newbie with ESXi so I'm not really sure where to look at.

Client Version: 1.25.0

ESXi Version: 6.7.0

usb.log

2020-02-17T15:20:01Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: new socket connection estibalished: socket 10

2020-02-17T15:20:01Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: new client F973D967D0 created, socket 10 added to poll queue

2020-02-17T15:20:01Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: Client 2099078 connected (version: 7)

2020-02-17T15:20:09Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: new socket connection estibalished: socket 11

2020-02-17T15:20:09Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: new client F973D96AF0 created, socket 11 added to poll queue

2020-02-17T15:20:09Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: Client 2099827 connected (version: 7)

2020-02-17T15:20:13Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: new socket connection estibalished: socket 12

2020-02-17T15:20:13Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: new client F973D96BF0 created, socket 12 added to poll queue

2020-02-17T15:20:13Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: Client 2099828 connected (version: 7)

2020-02-17T15:22:06Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: pipe 11 closed by client F9B4F989A0

2020-02-17T15:22:06Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: removing client F973D96AF0: pid=2099827, pipe=11

2020-02-17T15:22:06Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: Client 2099827 disconnected

2020-02-17T15:22:06Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: pipe 12 closed by client F9B4F989A0

2020-02-17T15:22:06Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: removing client F973D96BF0: pid=2099828, pipe=12

2020-02-17T15:22:06Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: Client 2099828 disconnected

2020-02-17T15:22:10Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: pipe 10 closed by client F9B4F989A0

2020-02-17T15:22:10Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: removing client F973D967D0: pid=2099078, pipe=10

2020-02-17T15:22:10Z usbarb[2101226]: USBArb: Client 2099078 disconnected

2020-02-17T15:26:05Z mark: storage-path-claim-completed

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: VTHREAD 484834657856 "usbArb" wid 2098893

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT --- GLOBAL SETTINGS /usr/lib/vmware/settings

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT --- NON PERSISTENT (null)

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT --- HOST DEFAULTS /etc/vmware/config

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT                    libdir = "/usr/lib/vmware"

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT           authd.proxy.nfc = "vmware-hostd:ha-nfc"

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT        authd.proxy.nfcssl = "vmware-hostd:ha-nfcssl"

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT   authd.proxy.vpxa-nfcssl = "vmware-vpxa:vpxa-nfcssl"

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT      authd.proxy.vpxa-nfc = "vmware-vpxa:vpxa-nfc"

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT            authd.fullpath = "/sbin/authd"

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: DICT --- SITE DEFAULTS /usr/lib/vmware/config

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: VMware USB Arbitration Service Version 17.2.1

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: USBGL: opened '/vmfs/devices/char/vmkdriver/usbdevices' (fd=8) for usb device enumeration

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: Attempting to connect to existing arbitrator on /var/run/vmware/usbarbitrator-socket.

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: SOCKET creating new socket, connecting to /var/run/vmware/usbarbitrator-socket

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: SOCKET connect failed, error 2: No such file or directory

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: Failed to connect to the existing arbitrator.

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: listening socket 9 created successfully

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: adding listening socket 9 to poll queue

2020-02-17T15:26:08Z usbarb[2098893]: USBGL: usb device change detected: start enumeration.

2020-02-17T15:26:24Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: new socket connection estibalished: socket 10

2020-02-17T15:26:24Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: new client 709FFFD7D0 created, socket 10 added to poll queue

2020-02-17T15:26:24Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: Client 2099147 connected (version: 7)

2020-02-17T15:26:31Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: new socket connection estibalished: socket 11

2020-02-17T15:26:31Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: new client 709FFFDAF0 created, socket 11 added to poll queue

2020-02-17T15:26:32Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: Client 2099907 connected (version: 7)

2020-02-17T15:26:38Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: new socket connection estibalished: socket 12

2020-02-17T15:26:38Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: new client 709FFFDBF0 created, socket 12 added to poll queue

2020-02-17T15:26:38Z usbarb[2098893]: USBArb: Client 2099906 connected (version: 7)

2020-02-17T15:40:21Z mark: storage-path-claim-completed

2020-02-17T17:06:02Z mark: storage-path-claim-completed

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: VTHREAD 1066572502592 "usbArb" wid 2101301

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT --- GLOBAL SETTINGS /usr/lib/vmware/settings

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT --- NON PERSISTENT (null)

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT --- HOST DEFAULTS /etc/vmware/config

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT                    libdir = "/usr/lib/vmware"

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT           authd.proxy.nfc = "vmware-hostd:ha-nfc"

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT        authd.proxy.nfcssl = "vmware-hostd:ha-nfcssl"

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT   authd.proxy.vpxa-nfcssl = "vmware-vpxa:vpxa-nfcssl"

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT      authd.proxy.vpxa-nfc = "vmware-vpxa:vpxa-nfc"

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT            authd.fullpath = "/sbin/authd"

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: DICT --- SITE DEFAULTS /usr/lib/vmware/config

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: VMware USB Arbitration Service Version 17.2.1

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: USBGL: opened '/vmfs/devices/char/vmkdriver/usbdevices' (fd=8) for usb device enumeration

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: USBArb: Attempting to connect to existing arbitrator on /var/run/vmware/usbarbitrator-socket.

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: SOCKET creating new socket, connecting to /var/run/vmware/usbarbitrator-socket

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: SOCKET connect failed, error 2: No such file or directory

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: USBArb: Failed to connect to the existing arbitrator.

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: USBArb: listening socket 9 created successfully

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: USBArb: adding listening socket 9 to poll queue

2020-02-17T17:13:52Z usbarb[2101301]: USBGL: usb device change detected: start enumeration.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[batuhandemirdal]

Hİ,

Have you tried other memory? 6.7 which version you are using exactly.

Thanks

[jb05]

Hi batuhandemlrdal,

What do you mean by other memory? I only see 6.7.0 base on the image below:

Thanks,

[Ardaneh]

Hi

We had an issue with our USB drives when we upgraded our environment to ESXi 6.7, so please check with another USB driver to be sure that the problem is not related to your USB drive or if it is possible, check your USB drive with ESXi 6.5

Check this link for more information

[continuum]

> I'm try to add usb/external drive as datastore ...

Using an external USB-disk as a datastore is an idea that appears to make sense for new users.

But the price for such a config is so high that in most cases it makes no sense at all.

If you need to add a disk rather use a free SATA port on the mainboard if you need additional storage on short notice.

[jb05]

Hi Ardaneh​,

We installed it as a fresh install using version 6.7.0. We actually use the command in your given link but no avail.

Hi continuum​,

Sorry for my bad english but what I mean is I've tried using a USB Stick and also 2x external drives just to be a temporary datastore.
The objective here is we wan't to clone/duplicate a VM where we do some test cases inside the cloned VM then remove it after.

But since the current datastore can't accommodate the size of the VM we need a temporary datastore to do this kind of objective but we encounter this issue.
In terms using a free sata port, we can check but still we need to work the usb as a temporary datastore, since this sata is not a convenient way when we need temporary datastore.

Thanks,

[continuum]

Once you have finished your research you will very likely agree ....

Adding a SATA disk is so much easier than using a USB-disk for an additional datastore.

Even setting up any spare Linux host as a NFS-server would be less work ...