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.