Using a USB dongle on a VM in an HA cluster

[stuartpace]

I need to install some software on a VM in a ESX 4.0 cluster, that requires a USB dongle to be attached in order to run in non-evaluation mode. I have just come across a product called AnywhereUSB that seems to be supported by VMware. Can anyone advise if they have used this product, is it any good, and am I still going to be able to have this VM vMotioning as it is currently?

[AntonVZhbankov]

>am I still going to be able to have this VM vMotioning as it is currently?

Yes. You will be able to VMotion VM with USB-over-IP solution.

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MCSA, MCTS Hyper-V, VCP 3/4, VMware vExpert

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[mih]

something you should look at is whether the usb-over-ip solution you look at can connect to one guest or several.

When we last looked at anywhereusb, it could only connect all 4 of its ports to 1 guest, that was it.

So we went with a lantronix box instead, where we could connect a usb hub to each of the 4 ports, and then assign each port on a hub to a guest, giving us 16 ports to (up to) 16 different guets.

Just so you dont get disappointed about the box you buy. And yes as Anton writes, since it goes over the network, (storage) vmotion will function just fine.

[stuartpace]

thanks mih, which model of the lantronix did you get?

[mih]

its a lantronix ubox 4100

http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/ubox.html

[stuartpace]

Can anyone recommend a USB over IP solution where each USB port can be allocated to a different VM? The Lantronix box looks like it has gone end of production, and, as Mih says, it seems the Digi AnywhereUSB can only be pointed at one VM.

Cheers

[fgl]

stuartpace, did you ever find a solution for your USB over IP? I am currently looking into this as I have 3 USB dongles that I need to associate to 3 different VMs and I don't really want to but 3 separate USB over IP boxes if I can avoid it.

[Speedbmp]

we use the Digi AnywhereUSB for our USB dongles. we have been useing them for over two years in our network, and they work great. however it is one Digi AnywhereUSB per VM kind of a bummer there.

Stephen

[fgl]

The 1 VM to 1 Digi is the reason I've not consider them and also they are more expensive than others. I am looking at the SIIG USB over IP units but I wanted to see what others are doing.

Anyone tried this one?

http://www.silexamerica.com/products/usb_device_connectivity/sx-3000gb.html

[stuartpace]

I went for the Lantronix ubox 4100 as each USB port can be allocated to a different VM. Has worked without a problem for a few months now.

[peter_allen]

Anywhere USB now supports a switch that connects to multiple hosts.... AnywhereUSB/14 with Multi-Host Connections: AW-USB-14

[FredPeterson]

We just ordered the Anywhere USB/14 multi-host and I'm jazzed about getting it in.

Last I spoke with Anywhere they stated their 5 port version was going to be getting the multi-host connection too soon, probably Q1 2011.