SBS 2008 virtualized migration - USB device

[Mike]

Hi folks,

I'm asking this on the SBSmigration forum as well. I have set up my parent
partition and am creating my SBS child partition in Hyper-V. One of the
migraiton steps is to put my answer file on a usb key as part of the
migration and point to it at the proper place.
My searching has led me to ask, because I can't find out how to make a VM
"see" a USB key or device. It is possible isn't it? If so, how?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Chris Puckett [MSFT]]

Unless things have changed or you get creative, no there is no USB support.

Other options in no particular order:
1. Create a virtual floppy and put the answer file there.
2. Create another vhd connected to the vm and put the answer file there
(root of the vhd drive).
3. Add another virtual CD/DVD drive, put the answer file in an iso file
(root of the iso file) and load it into the virtual CD/DVD drive.

--
Chris Puckett

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.



"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

> Hi folks,
>
> I'm asking this on the SBSmigration forum as well. I have set up my
> parent
> partition and am creating my SBS child partition in Hyper-V. One of the
> migraiton steps is to put my answer file on a usb key as part of the
> migration and point to it at the proper place.
> My searching has led me to ask, because I can't find out how to make a VM
> "see" a USB key or device. It is possible isn't it? If so, how?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>

 

[Charlie Russel - MVP]

Instead of a USB device, use a virtual floppy disk. It works just as well in
this scenario.

You'll need to create the VFD first in the Hyper-V Manager (select New ->
Floppy Disk), then mount it in VM where you can format it and then run the
answer file creator in that VM. When you're done, unmount from the creation
VM and mount in the SBS VM and begin your install.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel


Hi folks,

I'm asking this on the SBSmigration forum as well. I have set up my parent
partition and am creating my SBS child partition in Hyper-V. One of the
migraiton steps is to put my answer file on a usb key as part of the
migration and point to it at the proper place.
My searching has led me to ask, because I can't find out how to make a VM
"see" a USB key or device. It is possible isn't it? If so, how?

Thanks,

 

[Mike]

Charlie,

Thanks, and I had found some of this info. One problem I might have with
your suggestion, is that Jeff recommends when doing a SBS migration to use
the SBS answerfile, and it runs on the orignal DC and I have to transfer it
in someway (USB, Floppy (not available), etc.

Mike


"Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:

> Instead of a USB device, use a virtual floppy disk. It works just as well in
> this scenario.
>
> You'll need to create the VFD first in the Hyper-V Manager (select New ->
> Floppy Disk), then mount it in VM where you can format it and then run the
> answer file creator in that VM. When you're done, unmount from the creation
> VM and mount in the SBS VM and begin your install.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>
>
> Hi folks,
>
> I'm asking this on the SBSmigration forum as well. I have set up my parent
> partition and am creating my SBS child partition in Hyper-V. One of the
> migraiton steps is to put my answer file on a usb key as part of the
> migration and point to it at the proper place.
> My searching has led me to ask, because I can't find out how to make a VM
> "see" a USB key or device. It is possible isn't it? If so, how?
>
> Thanks,
>
>

 

[Charlie Russel - MVP]

I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and then copy the
file over the network to a virtual machine that is a domain member. You can
use that virtual machine to create the VFD, format it, and then copy the
file onto the VFD.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel

 

[Daniel Jewel]

Charlie,

How about Citrix Zen Server (free)? I think it does support USB, doesn't it?
Dan

"Charlie Russel - MVP" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

> I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and then copy
> the file over the network to a virtual machine that is a domain member.
> You can use that virtual machine to create the VFD, format it, and then
> copy the file onto the VFD.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>
>
>
>

 

[Charlie Russel - MVP]

That really doesn't address the question, since the OP stated he was running
in Hyper-V. And, honestly, I don't know or care if Zen supports USB. I
prefer to stick to Hyper-V whenever possible to avoid any issues or finger
pointing.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel




"Daniel Jewel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]

> Charlie,
>
> How about Citrix Zen Server (free)? I think it does support USB, doesn't
> it?
> Dan
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]

>> I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and then copy
>> the file over the network to a virtual machine that is a domain member.
>> You can use that virtual machine to create the VFD, format it, and then
>> copy the file onto the VFD.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>
>>
>>
>>

 

[Mike]

Charlie,

Unfortunately I don't have another VM at this point, the SBS box will be my
first one.

Mike


"Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:

> I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and then copy the
> file over the network to a virtual machine that is a domain member. You can
> use that virtual machine to create the VFD, format it, and then copy the
> file onto the VFD.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>
>
>
>

 

[Mike]

I did consider Xenserver, a friend is running it on his Win 2008 Servers with
no problem, but they don't support SBS so I decided it was safer to go with
Hyper-V.

Mike

"Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:

> That really doesn't address the question, since the OP stated he was running
> in Hyper-V. And, honestly, I don't know or care if Zen supports USB. I
> prefer to stick to Hyper-V whenever possible to avoid any issues or finger
> pointing.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>
>
>
>
> "Daniel Jewel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]

> > Charlie,
> >
> > How about Citrix Zen Server (free)? I think it does support USB, doesn't
> > it?
> > Dan
> >
> > "Charlie Russel - MVP" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]

> >> I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and then copy
> >> the file over the network to a virtual machine that is a domain member.
> >> You can use that virtual machine to create the VFD, format it, and then
> >> copy the file onto the VFD.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Charlie.
> >> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>

>
> .
>

 

[Charlie Russel - MVP]

So, create a Windows VM on the Hyper-V server to do what you need to do. Any
version will do.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel




"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

> Charlie,
>
> Unfortunately I don't have another VM at this point, the SBS box will be
> my
> first one.
>
> Mike
>
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:
>

>> I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and then copy
>> the
>> file over the network to a virtual machine that is a domain member. You
>> can
>> use that virtual machine to create the VFD, format it, and then copy the
>> file onto the VFD.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>
>>
>>
>>

 

[Chris Puckett [MSFT]]

You can also "create vhd" and "attach vhd" in diskmgmt.msc in Windows 7.
You could put the answerfile there from a Win7 client and then move the vhd
over to the Hyper-V server.

--
Chris Puckett

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.



"Charlie Russel - MVP" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

> So, create a Windows VM on the Hyper-V server to do what you need to do.
> Any version will do.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>
>
>
>
> "Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]

>> Charlie,
>>
>> Unfortunately I don't have another VM at this point, the SBS box will be
>> my
>> first one.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:
>>

>>> I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and then copy
>>> the
>>> file over the network to a virtual machine that is a domain member. You
>>> can
>>> use that virtual machine to create the VFD, format it, and then copy the
>>> file onto the VFD.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Charlie.
>>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

>

 

[kj [SBS MVP]]

Have a look at this for a possible solution;

http://www.advisorbits.com/2009/10/answer_file_floppy_-_no_drive.html


Mike wrote:

> I did consider Xenserver, a friend is running it on his Win 2008
> Servers with no problem, but they don't support SBS so I decided it
> was safer to go with Hyper-V.
>
> Mike
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:
>

>> That really doesn't address the question, since the OP stated he was
>> running in Hyper-V. And, honestly, I don't know or care if Zen
>> supports USB. I prefer to stick to Hyper-V whenever possible to
>> avoid any issues or finger pointing.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Daniel Jewel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:%[email protected]

>>> Charlie,
>>>
>>> How about Citrix Zen Server (free)? I think it does support USB,
>>> doesn't it?
>>> Dan
>>>
>>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> message news:[email protected]
>>>> I don't see that as a problem. Run it on the existing SBS, and
>>>> then copy the file over the network to a virtual machine that is a
>>>> domain member. You can use that virtual machine to create the VFD,
>>>> format it, and then copy the file onto the VFD.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Charlie.
>>>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>

>>
>> .

--
/kj