Using AnywhereUSB to Connect USB Devices
3
Features and Benefits of RealPort USB
Features of the RealPort USB technology support your remote USB solutions in a variety of ways.
RealPort USB comes standard with Digi's AnywhereUSB network-enabled hub.
Architecture of the Solution
AnywhereUSB supports USB at the level of the individual virtual machine. That is, each virtual
machine that requires USB device support has one or more AnywhereUSB concentrators
connected to that virtual machine. You install drivers for the concentrators in the guest
operating system running in the virtual machine, as illustrated in the diagram below.
You then connect USB devices to a concentrator. The AnywhereUSB driver installed in the guest
operating system manages the connection between the device and the guest.
Installing AnywhereUSB
The basic steps to set up an AnywhereUSB concentrator and connect it to virtual machines
running on ESX Server are outlined in this document. For additional detail, see the
AnywhereUSB
Remote I/O Concentrator Installation Guide
from Digi International.
Feature
Benefit
USB connections over any IP network
Extends USB cabling distance beyond 5 meters.
USB peripherals may be anywhere.
Transparent network connection
USB ports appear to be locally attached and provide
same Plug and Play user experience as onboard USB
ports.
Connections to multiple USB ports over a single TCP/IP
connection
Reduces overhead compared to other USB extenders.
Multiple AnywhereUSB hubs per virtual machine
Virtually unlimited numbers of extended USB ports.
Supports bulk or interrupt mode devices
Compatible with hundreds of different USB products.
Connection recovery
Provides fault tolerance for network failures.
Connections to back room server
Increases security.
Comprehensive OS support
Compatible with nearly any Windows program.
Application
Intel architecture
VMware virtualization layer
Operating
system
AnywhereUSB
driver
Application
Application
Application
Application
Operating
system
Operating
system
Operating
system
Service
console
AnywhereUSB
driver
AnywhereUSB
driver
AnywhereUSB
driver
