By Peter Brown, Senior R&D Manager, VMware, London, UK
We are all accustomed to using USB devices with desktop PCs and laptops in the form of mass storage devices, headsets, webcams, scanners, printers, and more. In the virtual world, where your actual desktop may be many miles away from your client device, physically plugging in a USB device is not possible. VMware Horizon with View supports using USB devices in the virtual desktop by using USB device remoting. View 5.1 and later introduced some complex configuration options for the usage and management of USB devices in a View virtual desktop session.
In order to assist users with these remoting options, I have published a white paper that gives a high-level overview of USB redirection, discusses the configuration options, and provides some practical worked examples to illustrate how these options can be used. USB Device Redirection, Configuration, and Usage in VMware Horizon with View is now available. I hope that this white paper will help you navigate some of the difficulties, options, and configurations to maximize the VDI end-user experience.
As a supplement to the paper, I have helped put together a video, Using Composite USB Devices in Horizon View Desktops, which talks viewers through USB-device splitting, and shows a worked example of how to configure splitting for a USB dictation audio-device.
Download the white paper: USB Device Redirection, Configuration, and Usage in VMware Horizon with View
View the USB device-splitting video: Using Composite USB Devices in Horizon View Desktops
If you have any USB-related questions for Horizon with View, please visit our forum to check out other discussions for help, or to post your own questions:
