VMware View PCoIP and Local USB Printing

[adrianKeith]

Hi all,

We're currently experiencing an issue getting local USB printers to connect within the View application. At first, the devices would never install properly. In our small test environment, we've been able to install maybe one or two devices but when it comes to bridging the local printer to the virtual environment, the sharing fails. I am getting an error that, "the device may be in use by another application."

The printer in question: Dell 2335dn

Mobile thin client model: HP 6360t

According to HP technical support, the USB redirection should work properly in the VDI environment. I'm not sure what we're doing wrong here but we've been trying to troubleshoot this problem for a few months now. We're deploying these devices fairly quickly and local USB printing is a must. HP is offering little in the way of support so I'm hoping someone here maybe has the same problem, same model thin client or possibly a solution.

[gunnarb]

Are you sure you are using PCoIP.  I just have to double check I've seen a lot of people using HP and defaulting to RDP.

What OS does that thinclient use?

[adrianKeith]

Absolutely positive. Clients are forced to use PCoIP. We ran with RDP first but it was unusable in its state.

Thin client is running Windows Embedded Standard 7

[gunnarb]

Have you tried installing the printer drivers in the thin client itself.  As its windows embedded this could help... or hurt... you know, one of those two.

[adrianKeith]

Sorry Gunnarb, I should have been more detailed in my post.

I've tried installing all manner of drivers on the thin client itself. The device specific drivers, universal or open print drivers and the device does not get detected. I've literally tried everything I could think of to get this working but the devices fail to install and even when they do, as soon as I reboot the machine the printer goes back to being undetected or has problems being seen in the vdi session. This is regardless of whether or not the EWF (enhanced write filter) is on or off.

[chriswu11111]

I'm new to the vmware arena,

But i'm not sure if what i'm saying will help.

The thin client or client machine you are using must have the "thin print" drivers installed during the vmware view client agent install.

I guess you will need to check if the thin client already has that part installed as part of its view client agent install.

[tigerdeccan]

You can also redirect USB , there is a option on top , withing dropdown.

[adrianKeith]

Chris,

Thanks for your reply, any help I get is better than the lack of help. The 6360t comes standard with the thin print client. I can see the TP Output Gateway in the VDI session.

[adrianKeith]

Tiger,

Thanks for the response. I know of this option but the problem is, the local device is not able to completely install or properly install the driver for the printer. This essentially means that windows doesn't even know the device exists. We have over 100 users with these thin clients and only a small fraction are able to plug their printer in, have windows detect and install the proper drivers, and see it within the thin client.

[jftuga]

This is just a shot in the dark.

Since you can't get this to work and the 2335dn's have a network interface, your could try something like this:

RJ45 Cat-5E Modular Y-Cable Adapter

http://www.pctekonline.com/pccarjsninff.html

http://www.pcloft.com/moywiad.html

... if you don't have extra wall jacks and/or free network ports.

Since I have never used one before, I don't know how reliable they are.  At $5 each, it might be worth testing one.

-John

[adrianKeith]

Hey jftuga,

thanks for the response. Unfortunately this isn't really a viable option, even if it does work. It would only introduce another point of failure with the thin clients and the users on these devices aren't the most tech savvy folks. Thanks though, it's an interesting suggestion for a fix.

[EGarbuzov]

adrianKeith wrote:

I've tried installing all manner of drivers on the thin client itself. The device specific drivers, universal or open print drivers and the device does not get detected. I've literally tried everything I could think of to get this working but the devices fail to install and even when they do, as soon as I reboot the machine the printer goes back to being undetected or has problems being seen in the vdi session. This is regardless of whether or not the EWF (enhanced write filter) is on or off.

Sorry, for some stupid question, but is your printers work well with desktop PC with Win 7? Maybe you can ask MS support about about working Dell's printer with WES 7.

[chriswu11111]

Hi Me again the newbie. I'm also looking up best practises for WAN printing and came across this which may be of interest to you:

http://www.conetrix.com/Blog/post/Problems-with-HP-USB-Printers-and-VMware-View.aspx