Cannot access USB device on VMWare virtual machine

Did you check here ->USB support in ESXi/ESX 4.1 and ESXi 5.x to check the USB device passthrough requirements and limitations.

Regards

ESXI Version 5.0.0
How do I access the log files?  I cannot see that folder on the Datastores.
One thing worthy of note is that if you click Add on teh Hardware tab, you get the following error message -
Call "PropertyCollector.RetrieveContents" for object "ha-property-collector" on ESXi "ukharvm01" failed.

Note, my V5.5 server does not have the above problem.
Also note that the VM already has a USB Controller (not device) inherited from converting from a virtual box image.
Looks like I need to upgrade this to 5.5 first (back to your previous guide Andrew).

You have added a USB Controller Device to the VM?

what is the usb device?

See attachment.
VM-USB.docx

I can see the USB device on my other VH - so I am going to upgrade this one and see if that resolves the issue.

Andrew, I am trying to upgrade my host but keep getting the following error (I have tried in maintenance mode as well) Any ideas? -

 esxcli software profile update -d /vmfs/volumes/Datastore1/VMware-ESXi-5.5.0-1331820-depot.zip -p ESXi-5.5.0-1331820-standard
 [InstallationError]
 The transaction is not supported: VIB VMware_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.72.1.v50.1i-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-lpfc820_8.2.3.1-129vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_00.255.03.03-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_lpfc_10.0.100.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_5.0.621-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.4-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-17vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_elxnet_10.0.100.0v-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.72.52.v55.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-be2net_4.6.100.0v-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_5.34-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_lsi-mr3_0.255.03.01-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-igb_2.1.11.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_5.5.0-0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.2.3d.v55.2-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_5.5.0-44vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.01.31-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla2xxx_902.k1.1-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_1.1.2-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_14.00.00.00-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil24_1.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_2.72.11.v55.4-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-vmxnet3_1.1.3.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_3.7.13.7.14iov-11vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-core_1.9.7.0-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_rste_2.0.2.0088-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2x_1.72.56.v55.2-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-xlibs_5.5.0-0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_mtip32xx-native_3.3.4-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2fc_1.72.53.v55.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-enic_1.4.2.15a-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-tg3_3.123c.v55.5-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.5.0-0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_qlnativefc_1.0.12.0-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-en_1.9.7.0-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_4.32-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_5.0.0-17vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_1.9.1d.v50.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-igb_2.1.11.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_1.1.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla2xxx_901.k1.1-14vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_5.0.0-0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-be2net_4.0.88.0-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.0.0-0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_4.0.557-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-6vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_06.00.00.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-lpfc820_8.2.2.1-18vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-enic_1.4.2.15a-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.0.0-0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.10.2j.v50.7-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.01.07-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-tg3_3.110h.v50.4-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2x_1.61.15.v50.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.500.0.0.469512 cannot be removed live.
 Please refer to the log file for more details.

Upgrading host is a new question to maintain thread topic.

Right, well until I get help upgrading the host (new Q opened) I won't be able to close this one down.  I am going to attempt an upgrade on Monday.

Upgrading host did not resolve this so I moved the VM to another server which has a different issue of not allowing me to edit the VMs settings 0- I give up with VMWare - nothing but issues.

okay, back to square one...

1. what is the server, make and model ?

2. is in on the HCL ?

3. can you check the server logs

4. what is the USB device?

Right, back on this.  Here is where I am at.
Server I am currently concentrating on is a Dell Poweredge R510.  I moved the VM to this one because USB passthrough was not working on the other one but I knew it was working on this one because I had it working.  However, I have now upgraded this one to VSphere 5.5 - so they are now both running the latest version.
Now passthrough is not working on it.
When you go to edit the settings you get the message attached, about using the Web Client.
So, I dutifully download VCentre which, as a pre-requisite, I have to install Vcentre Single sign-on and get the error on the attached document.
I then read that you cannot install this on Windows 7!!  Not sure if that is true.  But I can install on Windows Server - so I tried this but it tells me that I cannot install it on a domain controller.

As you can see, this is becoming very frustrating and VMWare are refusing to help due to the type of licence I have (Essentials).

Thanks
vsphere-erros.docx

Correct, Windows 7 Desktop is not supported or a Domain Controller.

logs from the serve r?

/var/logs/vmkernel.log

I cannot see a VAR folder (see attached)
vsphere-browse.docx

you will need to login to the console or via SSH. you cannot browse the OS via the datastore browser, you can only browse the datastores.

Part 5: HOW TO: Enable SSH Remote Access on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)

you could also use Export Logs, File Export > Export System Logs

Thanks, please see log attached.
vmkernel.log

there are no usb references in that file, was this log taken, after the insertion or removal of the USB device ?

is there a usb.log ?

I've just plugged it in, please find log attached.  I note the file has not updated since 11th September.
usb.log

can you post me the vmkernel.log again....

type

 lsusb

at the console

there have also been some issues with ESXi 5.5 GA (original release) I would update to ESXi 5.5 Update 2 Build 2068190

and try this build.

lsusb attached.

Will this build allow me to edit my VMs?  This is all I am after doing, it will allow me to resolve this issue.
lsusb.docx

if you have created version 10 VMs, the older vSphere Client 5.5 there was a "bug", VMware claim a bug, personally I thought it was deliberate, but anyway, vSphere Client 5.5 Update 2 can now edit version 10 VMs!

I would not use version 10 VMs, unless you need the features, I would leave them at 8!

do those devices look like your missing USB device ?

there is Flash Drive connected ?

None of those appear to be the USB drive I plugged into the front of the server, however they all seem to be labelled by device id. I wonder if part of the problem is that at some point I passed USB through to my machine.  I can select my usb dock from the VM console but on plugging in a USB stick, it won't connect to it (USB Device 1 Connecting...)

I would try

1. all ports on the server

2. update to ESXi 5.5 Update 2.

if none of that works, escalate to Dell and VMware Support.

(or if your server supports VM Direct Path I/O pass the entire USB controller to the VM)

Thanks. I will try the update first.  Do you happen to have a link to the update or one of your brilliant articles?

it's here

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=ESXI55U2&productId=353&rPId=5720

I have forgotten how to apply this.  I downloaded the ISO, burned to DVD, put in server, rebooted and it didn't prompt to boot from DVD (I did this recently with the 5.5 upgrade) - what am I missing.
Also, how do I shutdown all my VMs without having to log into each of them and "sudo shutdown -h now" or Start, shutdown for Windows?  This takes a good twenty minutes to do each of them (more on the other server).

Thanks

These are really new questions now......but...

select them all in the GUI.....CTRL B I think Shutdown....

Make sure BOOT from CDROM is enabled, or use offline patch, and upload it to datastore, and apply.

OK. Updated.
Still cannot edit machine - Version 10 or higher, need web client....see comment above...
USB still pointing to my laptop and docking station - cannot change this without editing the machine.
Really at the point of chucking VMWare - given me nothing but problems all year.

Thanks, Andrew.  This new client allowed me to edit V10 VMs.  It seems my issue was two fold, the first was that the rear USB ports were not passing through (the front ones are) - the second was that this particular USB dongle is a software key and for some reason was not appearing as a device in My Computer so there was no way of knowing if it worked without running the licence manager from the software.  It appears this now works, so we can close of this issue.
Many thanks for your help.

No problems, glad you have a result. Accept the correct Solution Above, which Answered your issue!

Appreciate persistence of expert in getting this problem eventually resolved.