11.0

Table Of Contents
When you attach a smart card reader to your computer, the reader appears as two separate USB devices
in the Fusion interface. You can use smart cards in virtual mode or USB passthrough mode. These mode
are mutually exclusive. You must pick one or the other.
n Virtual mode (Recommended): The smart card reader device is available as Virtual model name of
your smart card reader USB Smart Card Reader. After the virtual reader is connected to the virtual
machine, it appears as Virtual the model name of your smart card reader USB Smart Card
Reader under the device list in the guest operating system. In virtual mode, the smart card reader
can be shared among applications on the host and among applications within different guests on the
host.
n USB passthrough mode: The smart card reader device is available as model name of your smart card
reader USB Smart Card Reader. When you connect the reader to the guest, it appears as model
name of the smart card reader USB Smart Card Reader under the device list in the guest
operating system. In USB passthrough mode, a single virtual machine directly controls the physical
smart card reader. A USB passthrough smart card reader cannot be used by applications on the host
or by applications within other virtual machines. Use USB passthrough mode only if connection in
virtual mode does not work well for your computing environment.
Note Disconnect your current mode before you switch to a different mode.
Procedure
u For virtual mode, select Virtual Machine > USB & Bluetooth > Connect the model name of your
smart card reader USB Smart Card Reader.
When you select the virtual mode device, the passthrough mode the model name of your smart
card reader Smart Card Reader device no longer appears, except in Linux virtual machines.
u For USB passthrough mode, select Virtual Machine > USB & Bluetooth > Connect the model
name of your smart card reader USB Smart Card Reader.
u To disconnect either mode, select Virtual Machine > USB & Bluetooth and the device to disconnect,
and click Disconnect.
USB Connection Dialog Box Disappears Before Connection Can Be Made
In rare cases, a USB device disconnects itself before Fusion can recognize it.
Problem
When you plug in a USB device, the Fusion EasyConnect dialog box appears, but disappears before you
have an opportunity to take an action. The USB device is then not visible to either your Mac or your virtual
machine.
Cause
Some USB devices disconnect very quickly if they do not receive an immediate response upon
connection. Occasionally, Fusion USB EasyConnect does not produce a response in the time required by
these USB devices.
Using VMware Fusion
VMware, Inc. 154