Overview of USB Over IP solutions......

Because Virtualization is increasingly part of my working weekdays (and indeed is growing rapidly and is becoming popular), it's time to think about what to do with a bunch of all kinds of security keys (usb), flash-drives, all sorts of devaysov with usb interface, and even such exotic things, such as controllers of access control systems that connect the RS-232 adapter to USB.If such devices are not a lot, then have the option to connect them to a server where hypervisor. In ESXi 4.1 is just such an opportunity ( KB 1022290 ). What about Hyper-V, XEN can not say anything. But this solution has one big "but." If you have configured vMotion, he not worked on the VM to which podtseplen USB device.Details on this and other limitations in the VM configuration is described on the site VMWare.

Bottom line: this is not an option.

Thus, nothing left but to come up with a USB prokidyvat Soup Network (USB over IP). Implementation of technology has two parts: hardware and software.

Judging by the reviews of those people who have tried hardware solutions, the most appropriate and workable is the product of Digi International ® - AnywhereUSB. In my case, there is more than 8 usb devices that have prokinut, ie my ideal AnywhereUSB / 14.

But the price for this machine just rolls over. There are several manufacturers of hardware solutions that are much cheaper, but to write about them do not see the point, because work very badly.

Have gone further. From extreme to another. Free product for Linux - USB / IP Project .That is what happens: there is a computer with a bunch of usb controller, it is Linux, and the above software.Due to being free, for me this version was more than acceptable. So I decided to try it. Put Linux, unfolded it USB / IP Project, then I have no problems - everything is put simply and clearly. As a test usb device, I took an ordinary flash drive and a dongle hasp. As the systems to which I intended to connect devices on the network, I took a Microsoft Windows Server 2008/2008 R2. And immediately ran into a problem - the device does not prokidyvaetsya not under any circumstances, is recognized as "unknown device". So much for the flash, and hasp-key is not in any way prokinulsya. Well, I went further: try prokinut devices on Microsoft Windows 7 - the same result. For all that should be noted that the developers claim to be compatible with all systems I've tried.Has become clear that such an option does not suit me, but curiosity got the better. All the same I did in the case where client systems are Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003. And to my surprise, all prokinulos without problems and in working condition lived for more than two days. Then I stopped the experiment.

One has only to note a not very good the fact that all usb devices installed on client machines from the command line, so that more will need to write a small and very simple bat'nik (or something similar) to all be mounted at boot time and do it's hands every time.

Further search engines led me to a site http://www.usb-over-network.com . Paid software, the price depends on the number of devices that will work. In my case the figure is about 20 TR, which is more realistic than a hardware solution for 50 kopecks. The essence of the product is absolutely the same as a USB / IP Project, ie, computer with a bunch of usb controllers.The program consists of servers and client parts. During the experiments, no problems arisen.

How to make the technical documentation beautiful.....

It's no secret that one of the fundamental parts of system administration is to write and maintain up to date technical documentation. It helps to be clear about that at all administration. Depending on the purpose and size of enterprise / technical documentation may look different: a small company this could be a description of stuffing a pair of servers / computers, planning a wired network, two or three Svicha and description org.technology. All this fits on a pair of A4 sheets. And when you need to quickly understand, for example, a client which port on a patch panel is connected, or as the trunk line, there are endless flipping of the most Talmud. Of course, what I would suggest further, does not cancel the existence of such documentation, in the good of its presence is mandatory. I only propose to optimize its performance, visualize, if you want. In large organizations, where a lot of servers / computers, large networks - is the Talmud.So what can we do?Combed the Internet, I stumbled on 2 projects : RackTables and RackSmith. Both products are web-based and fully managed out of it. Ie to deploy some of the products we need a server that has Apache, PHP and MySQL. I shall warn: if you think that this software will simplify your process of creating / writing documentation - it is not. Much easier (and logical) to work with such programs, when everything is on paper (or other media).

What do RackTables and RackSmith?

The whole point is that you create some kind of database of their inventory with the parameters of the equipment itself: where it is located (city, street, house, building, floor, room, unit in the rack / cabinet), why and how it is connected (including the ip addresses and MAC addresses) and what role performs. Agree, it is convenient to a couple of clicks to get comprehensive information about a particular device in your network.

How to install or RackTables RackSmith?

As I wrote above, all you need to program start, - a web-server with Apache, PHP and MySQL. On Web sites, developers have the installation instructions. But the site RackTables instruction is outdated and did not seem relevant to new versions. The files are copied to a directory of apache. Continue the installation process goes through a web-based interface, simple and understandable. In any case, if something goes wrong, you will write about it. I have no problems, everything went like clockwork, and with one product, and others.

What is the difference between RackTables and RackSmith?

By and large differences in the ideology of any products. In my opinion, the main difference in functionality is that RackSmith can not do reporting, and RackTables can. And, of course, the main difference is the interface.I thought, at RackSmith it is much friendlier + bribed a thing that you can paste into your workspace layouts, maps, etc. (Actually, any images PNG, GIF, JPG sizes up to 1000x1000). For example, to show all the buildings in the territory, I have copied from YandeksKarty shot from the satellite and already there primapil I needed objects.

Summary

Of course, to decide in the end - you need it or not - only you, but I think it is convenient. As for the food, I opted for RackSmith (still bribed interface)