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Michelle_Laveri
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Direct Parallel Port access from a VM...

I understand it IS possible to fit a parallel device to an ESX host... and then configure it in /etc/modules.conf... and then give a VM direct access to this device. I know this would then create VMotion problems, and it would be better to use a parallel hub, and redirect this across the network layer...

Does this work?

Anyone set it up on ESX 3.

I've done years ago as a test in ESX 2.x but never attempted in ESX 3.x.

I have a customer who is being told by a reseller - that such direct parallel port access is not support by VMware, and doesn't work...

Regards

mike

Regards
Michelle Laverick
@m_laverick
http://www.michellelaverick.com
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jlanders
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Mike,

Parallel port access should work fine in ESX 3.0.x,

although as you say, it will impact VMotion capability.

There's a posting about a third party parallel port card

here[/url].

Joe

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JMills
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I can't think of anything offhand which would have made it -less- likely to work, but I also don't have a box I can test with at the moment. IIRC there were some pretty thorough posts in the forums about it, and I most likely have an email or two archived away on how to do it, but they predate ESX Server 3.0.0.

jlanders
VMware Employee
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Mike,

Parallel port access should work fine in ESX 3.0.x,

although as you say, it will impact VMotion capability.

There's a posting about a third party parallel port card

here[/url].

Joe

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Jae_Ellers
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I have always wanted to test the usbanywhere type usb-ip hubs with a usb to parallel adapter.

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TheVDIguy
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If you want to avoid a USB to parallel adapter, and you want proper LPT port redirection you are much better off using VDIworks Parallel over Network redirector. You can visit this URL for more details:

http://www.vdiworks.com/products/parallel-over-network

Works with ESX, physical machines or any other Hypervisor. Hope it solves your problem.

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