6.0.2

Overview of Setting Up USB Redirection
To set up your deployment so that end users can connect removable devices, such as USB flash drives,
cameras, and headsets, you must install certain components on both the remote desktop and the client
device, and you must verify that the global setting for USB devices is enabled in View Administrator.
This checklist includes both required and optional tasks for setting up USB redirection in your enterprise.
NOTE The USB redirection feature is available only on some types of clients, such as Windows, Mac OS X,
and partner-supplied Linux clients. To find out whether this feature is supported on a particular type of
client, see the feature support matrix included in the "Using VMware Horizon Client" document for the
specific type of client device. Go to
https://www.vmware.com/support/viewclients/doc/viewclients_pubs.html.
1 When you run the View Agent installation wizard on the remote desktop source, be sure to include the
USB Redirection component.
This component is included by default. VMware recommends always including this component. You
can use group policy settings to disable USB redirection for some remote desktops and users, or to
restrict which types of USB devices can be redirected.
2 When you run the VMware Horizon Client installation wizard on the client system, be sure to include
the USB Redirection component.
This component is included by default.
3 Verify that access to USB devices from a remote desktop is enabled in View Administrator.
In View Administrator, go to Policies > Global Policies and verify that USB access is set to Allow.
4 (Optional) Configure View Agent group policies to specify which types of devices are allowed to be
redirected.
See “Using Policies to Control USB Redirection,” on page 168.
5 (Optional) Configure similar settings on the client device.
You can also configure whether devices are automatically connected when Horizon Client connects to
the remote desktop or when the end user plugs in a USB device. The method of configuring USB
settings on the client device depends on the type of device. For example, for Windows client endpoints,
you can configure group policies, whereas for Mac OS X endpoints, you use a command-line command.
For instructions, see the "Using VMware Horizon Client" document for the specific type of client device.
6 Have end users connect to a remote desktop and plug their USB devices into the local client system.
If the driver for the USB device is not already installed in the remote desktop, the guest operating
system detects the USB device and searches for a suitable driver, just as it would on a physical
Windows computer.
Network Traffic and USB Redirection
USB redirection works independently of the display protocol (RDP or PCoIP) and USB traffic usually uses
TCP port 32111.
Network traffic between a client system and a remote desktop can travel various routes, depending on
whether the client system is inside the corporate network and how the administrator has chosen to set up
security.
1 If the client system is inside the corporate network, so that a direct connection can be made between the
client and desktop, USB traffic uses TCP port 32111.
Chapter 14 Using USB Devices with Remote Desktops
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