Trying to connect USB passhtrough to VM in ESXi shell

itnifl
itnifl used Ask the Experts™
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Through some trial and error I found that I can connect my USB drive via passhtrough on the ESXi host to my VM with id 1 this way:
lsusb
Bus 02 Device 04: ID 059f:106b Silicon, Ltd
vim-cmd vmsvc/device.connusbdev 1 "path:2/0/5 version:2"

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The first 2 here is the bus ID, the 0 I have no idea where is coming from and 5 was just a lucky guess.
How is the path built and how can I generate the correct path by script? I was thinking of reading the lsusb output and parse with grep, but I am not sure of all the numbers. I was hoping there was someone in here with experience on this already? At first glance the 5 might look like Device ID +1, but I would have to do some trial and error to be sure.
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VMware and Virtualization Consultant
Fellow 2018
Expert of the Year 2017
Commented:
You could get the correct path by passing it to a virtual machine.

Have you looked in the VMware Logs, dmesg output, as to how the USB device is mapped and registered.

Please also note, that *ANY* USB device which is not on this list, is NOT SUPPORTED, and may not function.

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1021345

If you have a USB device working in passthrough this is by chance and luck, and not supported.

This USB passthrough with VMware vSphere (ESXi), is a croc of shit!

see here for why.....

http://www.experts-exchange.com/discussions/209901/VMware-Support-Test-for-USB-Passthrough-issue.html

http://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/9349/HOW-TO-Add-and-Connect-a-USB-Device-to-a-Virtual-Machine-hosted-on-VMware-vSphere-Hypervisor-ESX-4-1-ESXi-4-1-ESXi-5-0.html
itniflProgrammer

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Commented:
I bet the information you are giving is the right way to go. Anyway, I decided that mapping up a USB key for USB passthrough was the wrong way to go in my dilemma for several reasons. Especially the information you are giving regarding VMWare only supporting a handfull of USB sticks.

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