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Lamont77

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ESX 4 USB Passthrough - DL380 G5

I have 3 DL380 G5 hosts that do not support passthrough due to there being no VT-d directpath option in the BIOS (correct me if im wrong please).

Im wondering if there is another way to configure passthrough. I think ESX 5.0 has new passthrough features (client side etc).

Basically, I know my hosts dont support VT-d directpath but I would like to know if upgrading from 4.0 to 5.0 would enable some kind of passthrough or if there are any other ways bar upgrading to a DL380 G6.
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Do you mean that VT-d is not important with versions 4.1 and 5.0? it works regardless of motherboard capability ?
And VM Direct Path is needed to enable passthrough? ....

I know that 4.1 and 5.0 support passthrough. I also know that my server does not have VT-d. What i need clarification on is if I actually need to have VT-d to use 4.1 & 5.0 passthrough? It has been hinted at, I just need to stated in black and white ... You cant have USB passthrough AT ALL because you've no VT-d .... OR you dont need VT-d to use passthrough for 41. & 5.0 .... etc

thanks for the info so far.
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Thanks. However when I go to add the hardware I get "USB Controller (Unavialble). The information attached states: "This device cannot be added to this virtual machine becasue: The maximum number of devices of this type has been reached."

To my knowledge there are no other VM's that have a USB controller added.

Any ideas?
We are still on 4.0 if this has any bearing on why the USB Controller is Unavailable.
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