USB3.0 no assignable to Windows 2008R2 machine

[birdieB]

Hi,

I have just updated to ESXi 6.0U3 and wanted to change the USB2.0 controller to a USB3.0 on one VM with a Win 2008R2 in it.

Anyhow, I can neither change the controller, nor can I remove it and then re-add it as USB3.0

The ESX Config Tool only allows me to add USB 2.0 to it.

I also have a Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 VM, here I can also Assign USB 3.0 controllers.

Why doesn't it work on the VM with 2008R2 in it?

All the VMs are on VM-Version 11 (ESXi6.0)

Any ideas?

Thanks

Stefan

[daphnissov]

It's probably because 2008 R2 doesn't natively support USB 3.0. It may not work in 6.0 or any 6.x version.

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

For Windows 2008 R2 guest, you need to install Intel xhci driver. The link is given in VM settings>USB Controller when you set USB compatibility to 3.0. Download that driver and install it in the guest.

ARomeo

[birdieB]

The problem is not installing a driver in the guest.

I cannot (for some reason) assign a USB3 to it in the VM's config, also when it is off.

I would think it wouldn't matter if a driver in a guest is present, if this guest if OFF anyhow when configuring this USB3 host adapter, right?

[Alex_Romeo]

exactly!

ARomeo

[birdieB]

Anyhow as I cannot assign the USB3 as a "device" to the VM, and therefor do not get the link displyed, I searched for the driver at Intel's Webpage and tried installing it on the Windows 2011 SBS (basically 2008R2) and it fails with "system does not meet requirements".

Any hints on this, or would this only install once the Device can be assigned to it?

Would it help, if I change the OS in the VM's config to 2012 or 2016 and try again? in 2012 VMs I can assign USB3 host adapters without problems.

[birdieB]

one more update.

I can assign a USB3 adapter using the vSphere CLient 6.0. only in the web client it is not possible.

Anyhow, can still not install any driver, also do not get a link displayed.

[Alex_Romeo]

for your info

However, consider an update of 2008R2 to at least 2012R2 because January 14, 2020 will come to an end of life

https://support.microsoft.com/it-it/help/4456235/end-of-support-for-windows-server-2008-and-windows-...

[birdieB]

thanks for an off topic answer...

You tell me how to "update" an SBS and I'll gladly go this way... unfortunately this product is discontinued...

Any idea on my issue on how to install this driver?

[Alex_Romeo]

Tomorrow morning I will answer you, I do some tests in my VMware laboratory.

[birdieB]

Great, thank you so much, looking forward for it.

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

I did some tests, but I don't like the solution I found. Basically I set in edit that the Server was a 2012 instead of a 2008R2. I removed the USB2 controller and added a USB3 controller. It made me add it without problems. Later or installed the Driver as I reported in the previous posts. But this solution is not good because other problems can take over.

Compatibly with my work, I will do other tests to find a better solution.

ARomeo

[birdieB]

Which Driver Package did you use to install on a Small Business Server 2011 (SBS2011)?

I cannot install the driver packages I found at Intel or eg Lenovo.

[birdieB]

Did you evtl. have some time to dig into the issue some more? I still am having this issue

No idea which driver package would install on the SBS

[Alex_Romeo]

yes!

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

I have done many tests, but I have not been able to install USB3 drivers on Windows Server 2008 R2, although many tutorials report that it is possible to do so.

What I managed to conclude is to create an ISO image of Windows Server 2008R2 with USB3 drivers inside.

I followed this tutorial:

https://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2011/01/add-drivers-to-windows-installation-iso/

Downloaded from Microsoft:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=5753

and I looked for USB3 drivers for the hardware type (Dell PowerEdge R740).

In the end I created the folders in "c: \ Temp" as the tutorial says and I ran the commands.

The end result was an ISO image with the drivers already present. With that I created a virtual machine and it works.

It does not solve the problem because you want to install USB3 drivers on an already installed server.

I just wanted to let you know.

ARomeo

[birdieB]

So you injected the drivers for this DELL Server into the image and that then worked in the VM?

[Alex_Romeo]

Yes, the only problem is that you have to find the exact driver, assuming that it was released by the manufacturer for your server model.
I did it after 2 failed attempts.

If I think about the time taken to find the correct driver, the correct procedure, it would take me less time to upgrade from 2008r2 to 2012r2.

ARomeo

[birdieB]

Most probably correct... unfortunately with SBS2011, upgrading is no option

So in my case I guess I will need the USB Driver for the Asus Z97-A motherboard for 2008R2