USB license key

eblum · ‎08-06-2007

We have a software program that we would like to run on a virtual machine but it uses a USB license key. Can a vm on ESX Server 3 be configured to read a physical key? If so, how?

Thank you.

glynnd1 · ‎08-06-2007

This question comes up every now and then, knowing what to search on helps.

USB and Digi returns plenty of reading

http://www.vmware.com/community/search.jspa?threadID=&q=usb+digi&objID=c90&dateRange=all&userID=&num...

Also, ask the vendor if they have any other solutions.

whynotq · ‎08-06-2007

yes, there are a number of ways to do this, if you only have a single ESX server it can be passed through, if you have a VI 3 Cluster you can use a USB over IP device. I have used the DIGI offering:

http://www.digi.com/products/usb/anywhereusb.jsp

and they work great, as they are via IP they aren't affected by Failover/VMotion operations.

eblum · ‎08-06-2007

Thanks for your reply. How could a single USB license key be passed through to an ESX server without using the USB over IP device?

mcwill · ‎08-06-2007

I'm fairly certain it can't I'm afraid. USB over IP is your only solution.

sbeaver · ‎08-07-2007

Depending on how big your company is and the relationship you have with this vender you can go to them and tell them what you are going with virtualization and you will need something other then a USB key to use their product.

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RDPetruska · ‎08-07-2007

Or, you can sign the petition in the Feature Request forum asking VMware to add USB support to ESX Server. This is idiotic - requiring the user to purchase additional hardware just to be able to use ESX, which is supposed to be all about consolidating hardware and reducing space required in the Server room - not \*adding* it!

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=65793&tstart=30

continuum · ‎08-07-2007

>>> This is idiotic ...

I believe the argument goes like this: USB, IDE and SATA is no enterprise class hardware and so ESX obviously does not need to support it.

Just upgrade your hardware to SCSI and all your problems will be solved.

________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

Texiwill · ‎08-07-2007

Hello,

IDE I can understand.... SATA I can also understand. SCSI is still faster and that is the key.

USB I hope changes, but there are so many devices to support that once you open that can of worms you have to support them all eventually. Even Workstation has lots of problems with USB devices and dongles are still an issue with Workstation. I used dongles on Workstation quite a bit and it did not always 'take' the first time or sometimes would just fail for no known reason. Disconnecting/reconnecting sometimes solved the problem. But I remember once that it clobbered the host as well. Had to reboot and that I do not like to do.

If they have issues with Workstation do you think it is wise to put that into ESX where not only could it affect the one VM but perhaps the HOST as well?

Best regards,

Edward

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vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
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eblum · ‎08-07-2007

Continuum. I'm not talking about my hardware. I have a USB license key from a vendor that I need to use and would like to make the server a vm. Personally I think the vendor needs to move away from the physical license key but I can't make that decision.

RDPetruska · ‎08-07-2007

>>> This is idiotic ...
I believe the argument goes like this: USB, IDE and
SATA is no enterprise class hardware and so ESX
obviously does not need to support it.
Just upgrade your hardware to SCSI and all your
problems will be solved.

Oh, I understand the argument. But at the same time, VMware is pushing this VDI for "Desktop Virtualization". And almost every Desktop computer system I've ever seen has USB, IDE, and SATA disks in it!! So, if they truly want people to adopt this new push, VMware MUST support the technology being used by them.

And, it's not like they don't already have the code they need, as the support for these virtual devices exists in all of the hosted products...

P.S. All 12 or so of my "Enterprise" class hardware computers which I use for my SCADA servers have USB ports, where I have USB security keys plugged in.

continuum · ‎08-07-2007

I should have marked my comment as ironical statement.

Of course I think that VMware ESX should support nowadays common hardware - which includes USB and SATA.

________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

kreischl · ‎08-07-2007

We've had an instance where a vendor will not recognize the VMware supplied MAC addresses.

The workaround was to use your own or borrow one from a $5 el-cheapo card. I'm not sure why they fight this.

Message was edited by:

kreischl for spelling

Texiwill · ‎08-07-2007

Hello,

I agree USB should be supported. I just think that VMware will have to severely limit the scope of supported devices when it finally does make it into ESX. There are 1000s if not 10000s different devices, like systems, and IO cards there will have to be a list of supported USB devices.

As for SATA, yes, and to get SATA devices most likely you have to support IDE as well. But can your data center handle the MTBF of IDE?

Best regards,

Edward

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill

RDPetruska · ‎08-07-2007

>But can your data center handle the MTBF of IDE?

Huh? It's a VIRTUAL FILE! It's not REAL!! There IS no MTBF on a file!!!

Texiwill · ‎08-07-2007

Hello,

Not virtual IDE, which would be nice, I am more concerned about the support for real IDE/SATA.

They can support virtual IDE now as workstation has that support as does Server. They just do not have it in ESX. Not sure it is really needed however except in rare cases.

Best regards,

Edward

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill

RDPetruska · ‎08-07-2007

I have never pushed to get ESX to support physical IDE devices, just virtual ones. As I've said, they already have the code in place in all of the hosted products to support virtual IDE disks.

Currently, one needs to use Converter or jump through hoops to P2V a system, or even use a virtual appliance which has been built using a virtual IDE disk, in order to run on ESX server. To me, this is pointless.

As far as I know, 100% of all known OS's out there support installation on IDE drives. However, not all support one of the 2 virtualized SCSI controllers. This prevents you from running those as virtual machines, at least on ESX.

continuum · ‎08-07-2007

MTBF on vmdks ?

I like the idea - it sure is lower than infinite

I am sure it is a function that directly relates to userskills X and hostOS-index Y and snapshot-depth Z - maybe

MTBF = X * Y / Z

________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...