Arch Linux: USB Redirection with Virtual Machine Manager Not Working

Arch Linux: USB Redirection with Virtual Machine Manager Not Working

Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) is a popular virtualization solution for Arch Linux. USB redirection is a feature that allows you to connect physical USB devices to virtual machines (VMs). However, some users have reported issues with USB redirection not working in VMM version 4.1.0, even though it worked flawlessly in previous installations.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the troubleshooting steps, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

• Arch Linux installed and updated
• VirtualBox installed and updated
• Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) installed and updated (version 4.1.0 or later)

Troubleshooting USB Redirection

If USB redirection is not working in your VMM, follow these troubleshooting steps to diagnose and fix the issue:

Step 1: Check VirtualBox USB Settings

Make sure that VirtualBox USB settings are configured correctly. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Launch the VirtualBox application.
2. Select the VM that you want to configure USB redirection for.
3. Click on the "Settings" button.
4. Navigate to the "Ports" section and click on the "USB" tab.
5. Make sure that "Enable USB Controller" is checked and that the correct USB version is selected.
6. Add a USB filter for the device that you want to redirect. To do this, click on the "Add filter from device" button and select the device from the list.

Step 2: Check VMM USB Settings

Make sure that VMM USB settings are configured correctly. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Launch the VMM application.
2. Select the VM that you want to configure USB redirection for.
3. Click on the "Open" button to launch the VM.
4. Once the VM is running, click on the "Show virtual hardware details" button.
5. Navigate to the "USB Controller" section and make sure that "Enable USB Controller" is checked.
6. Add a USB device to the VM. To do this, click on the "Add Hardware" button, select "USB Redirector", and then select the device that you want to redirect.

Step 3: Check USB Device Permissions

Make sure that the USB device has the correct permissions. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Launch the terminal application.
2. Run the following command to list all USB devices:

This will display a list of all USB devices connected to your system. Look for the device that you want to redirect and note its vendor and product IDs.

3. Run the following command to add the USB device to the udev rules:

This will open the udev rules file in a text editor. Add the following line to the file, replacing vendor\_id and product\_id with the vendor and product IDs of the USB device:

Save the file and exit the text editor. Then, run the following command to reload the udev rules:

Step 4: Test USB Redirection

After completing the previous steps, test the USB redirection by connecting the USB device to your system and checking if it is recognized by the VM. If it is not, try restarting the VM and reconnecting the USB device.

In summary, USB redirection issues in VMM version 4.1.0 on Arch Linux can be caused by incorrect VirtualBox USB settings, incorrect VMM USB settings, or incorrect USB device permissions. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you can diagnose and fix the issue and enjoy seamless USB redirection in your VMs.

References

• VirtualBox - Arch Wiki
• VirtualBox modules - Arch Wiki
• VM virtualization - Arch Wiki
• QEMU USB Configuration
• QEMU USB Redirection - Red Hat