kvm, and USB

[David Vincent]

Lorenzo Taylor wrote:
> I am trying to run Windows XP and Ubuntu virtual machines via kvm. I
> have tried this using Ubuntu Feisty and the tribe 2 Gutsy. The problem
> is that I can't connect my USB devices to the guest OS. I have tried
> running kvm with the -usb option and have also used qemuctl also with
> the -usb option and tried connecting the devices manually via the
> connect menu in the control panel with no luck. Can anyone give me any
> pointers on how to connect USB devices to the guest OS? I tried
> Googling, but I get more info about kvm hardware than I get about kvm
> virtualization.
>   

You're using Qemu?  Is that your only choice for VM software?  Attaching 
USB devices is a breeze in VMWare Player/Server - both of which are 
free.  ;)

(Workstation supports it too of course but that ain't a freebie...)

With VMWare you need to have your guest OS powered off (not just 
suspended!), then attach the USB device, then power on your VM, then you 
can use the VM --> Removeable Devices menu to attach the USB device.  If 
the VM is not powered off your USB device will not be detected by the 
guest OS.  Some quick googling leads me to believe this behaviour is 
different in VMWare Workstation but I don't know for sure as I have not 
used that software in ages.

-d