Parallel Port on Virtual Machine running ESXi 4.0

J

jenuster

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 8, 2011
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154
Does anyone know how to get a parallel port recognized by a Windows Server 2003 VM running on ESXi 4.0.

I've been reading about getting a parallel to USB converter and using that. Just want to get a product that someone has had success with in the past.

Thanks.
 
ESXi 4.0 doesn't support USB or Serial pass through.

ESXi 4.1 does. I don't know about using a parallel port. I've never tried that.

If you're doing this in a cluster with vMotion, I recommend you get away from using the host pass through (even though it can follow the VM after a vMotion), because restarting the VM could be more of a hassle. I'd use a digi USB anywhere (over the network), and then use the USB converter you mentioned.

EDIT: An after thought was HA and maintenance. If you had a host failure, especially on the one hosting the device, it is likely the VM would come up disconnected. Just another reason to use the over ip devices since they remove those issues. Although, I suppose the digi could die too. That is probably more unlikely, but possible. Also, if you needed to do maintenance on the host that had the device plugged in, then it would be unavailable during that period. Just food for thought.

It's always better if you can find references from others that have done what you're trying to do. I haven't googled too much on it. I have used the usb anywhere and their serial port servers, which are awesome. I've had great luck with them, although they aren't super cheap by any stretch. vMotion works, HA, etc.
 
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Unfortunately I cannot find too many people that were able to get this working. I might have the client buy the USB dongle (it will cost $350 though) as opposed to buy something that there's a potential that it might not work.
 
What do you need a parallel port for? A lot (all?) companies that use parallel port dongles for their software will exchange it for a USB one or a non-hardware key type of license so you can run it on VMs, if that's your concern.
 
That's exactly my concern. However, the vendor wants to charge $350 for the USB dongle. After doing some research, it might be more efficient to get the USB dongle since I have no certainty going after solutions which might not work.
 
jenuster said:
That's exactly my concern. However, the vendor wants to charge $350 for the USB dongle. After doing some research, it might be more efficient to get the USB dongle since I have no certainty going after solutions which might not work.
Click to expand...

I have quite a bit of experience with security devices that were serial based dongles, and I've had USB based dongles. I haven't yet run into one that was actually parallel -- perhaps it is actually a serial interface and you're calling it parallel. If the dongle is actually RS-232 (as I suspect it is) you can use a digi port server with the db25 cable (you order the cables too, they're pretty cheap) and it WILL work. Digi's realport is pretty damn spiffy.

In otherwords, you need to ask the vendor if it is serial, not parallel. The cable is the same for both (DB-25).
 
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It's actually Parallel. This is my first time seeing this as well (most of them are serial or usb)

Thanks for your help anyway.
 
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