USB Client support

[RickT]

Hello:

I am setting up a "proof of concept" for a dentist office.  The final installation would be two virtual 2012 servers, one a file server and one for his Dexis/Dentrix software.  I was going to set up virtual Windows 7 64bit workstations.  The hygienists would connect into the virtual win7 workstation via a Dell/Wyse T10D thin client.

So what I have set up for testing is ESXi on a 64bit 8gig Dell Latitude Laptop.  Everything installed just great.  I then set up a Win7 virtual workstation and that went great as well.  The issue I am having is getting the USB camera working from the thin client to the virtual workstation.  The camera works on the thin client so I know the thin client is not the issue.  I CAN GET IT TO WORK on the Win7 virtual if I connect the camera to the ESXi host.  That is not a viable solution because each hygienist needs to plug the camera into their own Dell T10D client in their own room to take x-rays and pictures of the patient.  When I connect the camera to the thin client, then RDP into the Win7 virtual, the camera is not seen.  I have checked all the RDP boxes for allowing additional USB devices. 

What am I missing?  I have used both the Dell T10D and a "normal" Dell laptop as the connecting device, but nothing I do will allow the camera to work from the client to the Win7 virtual.  Any help would be great!

Thanks

Rick

[powermatt]

When you say "RDP" are you using Microsoft's RDP client? If so, I don't believe it supports USB pass-through via the method you want. Certain things like flash drives work via pseudo network drives, but that's about it. For true USB pass-through, you'd have to make use of something that supports PCoIP. Like VMware's View client.

[RickT]

Yes, RDP meaning Microsoft's RDP Client.  I was under the impression that the newest version of the RDP client did support USB pass-through but I am not married to it.  I will check into PCoIP to see how that works.  I have never heard of it before so I have some research to do...

I guess the first thing to ask is...is PCoIP supported to connect into a virtual Windows 7 workstation.  In windows, there is only a check box to connect via RDP.

Thanks for your help.  I will keep you posted.

[powermatt]

I'll admit I haven't tried it in a while. Knowing Microsoft, there may be some weird catch to it, like it has to connect to a gen 2 Hyper-V guest or something.

With VMWare View, there's an additional guest utility that has to be installed. This enables the PCoIP features. It does require the View Connection server (called "Horizon" now I think), which I believe is an additional license. There are other PCoIP solutions, though.

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I see the option you're talking about in RDP. I'll give it a try once I get ESXi 5.5 up and running again (ESXi 6 isn't quite ripe yet it seems). Stay tuned...

[powermatt]

So after a lot of nothing happening, I found this: Q. How do I enable RemoteFX USB redirection? | Virtualization content from Windows IT Pro

I edited my group policy, rebooted, and the option showed up. Still no action on the guest's side. If I had to guess at this point, it probably requires Hyper-V with a remote desktop services role. It doesn't seem to be supported otherwise. Microsoft doesn't say this, but it would hardly be the first time they've omitted important information like that.