I would like some guidance from someone who understands the vmx config file for usb devices. I have a situation where we have decided to convert one of our traveling servers who used to run Windows Server 2012 with VMware Workstation Pro into a bare metal ESXi host to take into the field and run demo environments for our potential clients. Please dont suggest going back to the Windows host and running a Type-2 Hypervisor. We have no interest in this. We use this machine for CAD also and need the direct use of the attached Quadro graphics card and display outputs. We have successfully passed the graphics card through. This functions great. We have also been succesful in passing our 3D space navigator through as a USB device. The last hurdle we face is the HID mouse and keyboard. I have played around with the config file and even passed through the PCIe adapter that controls the usb bus but no luck. I believe it is something in the ESXi host preventing the HID device from being recognized as it doesn't ever show up in the available devices list. I have tried connecting a ps2 mouse and keyboard then booting up the hypervisor. After Vsphere was up and recognized the PS2 devices maybe it would recognize the second USB devices and let me use them. No Go. Below is the config for the VM.
I understand the potential pitfall in releasing the keyboard and mouse from the hypervisor and tying them to a VM. There has to be a way to do this....