External USB devices not seen in ESXI VM

It's not on the Hardware Compatibility List for USB devices!

this is it...

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

IF YOU HAVE A DEVICE WHICH IS NOT ON THE ABOVE LIST DO NOT EXPECT IT TO WORK WITHIN VMWARE VSPHERE IN USB PASSTHROUGH MODE.

So if your device is not one of those 9 USB devices, it's not supported, and whether it works is another question...

Yes, you read that correctly, VMware has a HCL of Tested and Certified USB devices for ESXi.

I wrote and article many years ago here

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

and I wish VMware would remove the damn feature! it causes so many issues....

because just because there is a USB port on your server, and ESXi support USB passthrough it does not mean that ANY USB device you plug in will pass through to the VM.

Read all the comments in my Article...

I just added a 2.0 controller lets see if it works... I will keep you posted.  What a PITA! 

A workaround is to add a USB Controller using PCI Passthrough to the VM.

and please do not add external USB hard disks to a VM for backup it's very slow.....

USB passthrough was designed to add Security Devices e.g. Dongles.

I also discussed in the group here as well...

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

So you never actually added the USB Controller to the VM ? (as per my EE Article?)

The USB was added as a 3.0 it didnt show up until I added the 2.0