njaber
Contributor
Contributor

How to use a single USB port on 5 machines at the same time?

Hi For all

I have a 1 usb port on my ESX Server but I have 5 virtual machines

I have a dongle that should be used with all 5 machines

i'm using vsphere web client to manage those machines

how can I assign multiple controllers for those machines so they can use the same usb port in the same time

i.e : How can I use one usb  port on those machines in the same time

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Linjo
Leadership
Leadership

That is not possible.

// Linjo

Best regards, Linjo Please follow me on twitter: @viewgeek If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".
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Praveenmna
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

HI,

If a USB device is connected to another virtual machine, you cannot add it until that machine releases it.. Please refer the below vmware link for more details.

VMware vSphere 5.1

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njaber
Contributor
Contributor

hi

thanks for your respond

but i think their should be a solution

assume that we have a single external USB Storage, and it is connected to a Single USB port that means i should discoonect it whenever i need to use it on a machine which is not useful

i think vmware team is smart enough to find a solution (if they dont already have it).

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Praveenmna
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi,

USB will not disconnect if its not in use and for that, you need to disconnect manually .

If USB device on the host is mounted to any of the VM, then its not possible to mount the same USB on other VMs until you disconnect it from VM where its mounted.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or Correct buttons to award points. Praveen P Senior Support Engineer
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JarryG
Expert
Expert

It is not problem to dis/connect it and use with other VM. But it is not possible to use it with more VMs at the same time.

USB does not support multi-hosting, so any usb-device may be at particular time attached only to single usb-host, be it physical or VM. The only way how to circumwent this limitation (for usb-dongles/sticks/disks) is to get usb-to-ethernet converter (or usb-to-sata & sata-to-ethernet) to create network-storage.

_____________________________________________ If you found my answer useful please do *not* mark it as "correct" or "helpful". It is hard to pretend being noob with all those points! :winking_face:
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njaber
Contributor
Contributor

Again Hi for all

the game is not with the usb port itself

each usb port has a usb controller

the problem can we make a virtual USB Controller that manage and deals with machines usb controllers through it

i.e: the usb controllers of those machines deals with a Virtual usb controller that acts as a link between the usb port and machines usb controolers

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kluken
Contributor
Contributor

You need to look at Digi's USB Anywhere devices that allow for network attached USB dongles.

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JarryG
Expert
Expert

Honestly, I think you should read something about USB, how it works. Because you are mixing things "a little".

"...the game is not with the usb port itself..."

No, it is with usb-device (or more exactly, with usb-specification).

"...each usb port has a usb controller..."

Each usb-port is attached to usb-controller. Very rarely each usb-port has its own controller.

"...the problem can we make a virtual USB Controller..."

Yes, we can, but it does not solve the problem, which is neither usb-controller, nor usb-port. It is USB-device, or better said, USB-specification itself. I do not want to go deep into details, but basically what happens when you attach usb-device to usb-port is device-enumeration. As a part of it, reset-signal is sent from usb-controller to usb-device, then speed is agreed upon, address is assigned to device, firmware is read, and usb-device is set to state "configured". If you even could make something like "usb-splitter", the other host would start its own usb-enumeration, reset device, assign new address, etc. Thus any configuration from the first host would be lost, and the other host could not communicate with usb-device.

You'd better face the fact: it is not possible to use single usb-device with multiple hosts (be it virtual or physical) using nothing but usb-bus at the same time. Period.

_____________________________________________ If you found my answer useful please do *not* mark it as "correct" or "helpful". It is hard to pretend being noob with all those points! :winking_face:
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Linjo
Leadership
Leadership

What is the USB dongle and what software application is using it?

Maybe there are other possible workarounds, but that depends on how its used.

// Linjo

Best regards, Linjo Please follow me on twitter: @viewgeek If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".
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njaber
Contributor
Contributor

Again thanks for your help

I know the USB Technique, but i'm trying to find a solution

however thanks a lot

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njaber
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks for your respond

the USB dongle is safe net Hasp

the software is asterm which is made by a company called Globalis

Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 06:22:08 -0700

From: communities-emailer@vmware.com

To: nabil-jaber@hotmail.com

Subject: New message: "How to use a single USB port on 5 machines at the same time?"

VMware Communities

How to use a single USB port on 5 machines at the same time?

created by Linjo in VMware ESXi 5 - View the full discussion

What is the USB dongle and what software application is using it?

Maybe there are other possible workarounds, but that depends on how its used.

// Linjo

Reply to this message by going to VMware Communities

Start a new discussion in VMware ESXi 5 at VMware Communities

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njaber
Contributor
Contributor

The dongle is a Hasp made by safe net

the App. is asterm made by a company called Globalis

Thanks for your help

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Linjo
Leadership
Leadership

You should contact the software vendor.

For me it sound like you are looking for a way to circumvent software licensing restrictions. Is that even legal in your region?

// Linjo

Best regards, Linjo Please follow me on twitter: @viewgeek If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".
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