USB Controller Settings Panel

Choose: VM > Settings > Hardware > USB Controller

Workstation provides two USB controllers, so that you can connect to both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 devices:

•	For USB 1.1, a UHCI controller with a virtual hub now enables you to connect to more than two USB 1.1 devices.

•	For USB 2.0, an EHCI controller enables you to connect to up to six USB 2.0 devices. For USB 2.0 support, your host machine must support USB 2.0, and you must enable USB 2.0 support in Workstation, as described in this help topic.

If the guest operating system has appropriate drivers, you should be able to use PDAs, printers, storage (disk) devices, scanners, MP3 players, digital cameras, and memory card readers.

You can change the settings for the check boxes on the USB Controller panel when the virtual machine is powered on or off. If you want to add or remove a USB controller, however, you need to power off the virtual machine.

For Workstation 6 virtual machines, select the check box called Enable high-speed support for USB 2.0 devices if you want to connect isochronous USB devices such as Web cams, speakers, and microphones. This check box is not available for Workstation 4 and 5 virtual machines.

Use the check box called Automatically connect new USB devices to this virtual machine when it has focus to determine what happens when you plug a new USB device into your host computer. If you clear the check box, new USB devices are connected to the host computer.

Once the virtual machine is powered on, use the VM > Removable Devices menu to connect and disconnect USB devices. Before unplugging a USB device or using the VM > Removable Devices menu to disconnect it from a virtual machine, be sure it is in a safe state. Follow the procedures the device manufacturer specifies for unplugging the device from a physical computer.

 

Note The Workstation User’s Manual contains detailed information about which operating systems support USB, special considerations when using USB devices with a Linux host, synchronizing PDAs, and special considerations when disconnecting USB devices. Be sure to read the USB sections of the chapter on connecting devices.