CDROM access from 2 VMs at the same time

[marylandterp]

I have installed ESXi 4.1 and have 2 vms on a host. The vms can access the cdrom they are connected to at the host the same time. Is there anyway I can make it accessible to only vm and not the let the other vm see the contents or even connect to it when the other vm is connected to it.

My concern is that, I want to provide license for a software from my company via a USB key to one VM and dont want the other VM to access it. What is the scenario in case of a USB plugged in to the host?

[DSTAVERT]

It isn't a great idea to use a locally attached USB device since it would lock the Virtual machine to a specific host. Much of the benefits to virtualization are lost (High Availability, Fault Tolerance, etc) since depend on the ability of automation tools migrating a Virtual machine to other hosts.

[marylandterp]

so you mean, there is no way I can let only one VM access the contents of the USB? This way the client will be able to add free license to all the VMs by accessing the USB which is not what we want.

[Troy_Clavell]

maybe something like the below will work for you?

http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/archives/1551-What-about-vMotion-and-USB-Device-Pass-through.html

[DSTAVERT]

In vSphere 4.1 you can have an attached USB stick passed through to a single Guest OS (Virtual Machine).

My point here is that most VMware installation use more than one host servers and routinely move the Virtual machines from server to server. Requiring a USB stick attached to a single host server makes your software much less useful.

[DSTAVERT]

maybe something like the below will work for you?

http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/archives/1551-What-about-vMotion-and-USB-Device-Pass-through.html

I must give this a try. Troy have you used it and any comments?

[Troy_Clavell]

works as advertised. The only caviat is to ensure you keep the guest up and running. If you power off/suspend the guest you will lose the USB connection.

[DSTAVERT]

Interesting. Thanks.

[marylandterp]

I will try this and let you know.

[marylandterp]

Troy,

I saw the demo. However my concern is as mentioned in your statement on the blog:

"A USB device is available to only one virtual machine at a time. When a device is connected to a powered-on virtual machine, it is not available to connect to other virtual machines that run on the host. When you remove the active connection of a USB device from a virtual machine, it becomes available to connect to other virtual machines that run on the host. host."

If this is true, it solves my problem since as per your blog here even if two VMs are on the same host, only VM can access a USB at any point of time.

can you confirm if i got you right?

thanks!

[DSTAVERT]

The USB device is only available to one Virtual Machine at a time.

[marylandterp]

Thanks, I will try out.