Use USB Devices in a Remote Desktop or Published Application

With the USB redirection feature, you can use locally attached USB devices, such as thumb flash drives, in a remote desktop or published application.

When you use the USB redirection feature, most USB devices that are attached to the client device become available from a menu in Horizon Client. You use this menu to connect and disconnect the USB devices.

You can also automatically connect all USB devices to the remote desktop or publication application at startup using Auto-connect on startup. You can automatically connect a USB device inserted into an Android device using the Auto-connect on insert option.

The types of USB devices that you can redirect depend on how a Horizon administrator has configured the remote desktop or published application.

For information about USB device requirements and limitations for USB redirection, see "Using USB Devices with Remote Desktops and Applications" in the Horizon Remote Desktop Features and GPOs document.

Prerequisites

To redirect USB devices to a remote desktop or published application, a Horizon administrator must activate the USB redirection feature.
This task includes installing the USB Redirection component of Horizon Agent, and can include setting policies regarding USB redirection. For more information, see the Horizon Remote Desktop Features and GPOs document.
Verify that the USB over Session Enhancement SDK feature is activated on the remote desktop. For information, see "Deactivating the USB Over Session Enhancement SDK Feature" in the Horizon Remote Desktop Features and GPOs document.
Become familiar with USB Redirection Limitations.

Procedure

Connect to the server.
Tap the Switch Protocol icon in the upper-right corner of the desktop and application selector window and tap VMware Blast.
You must use the VMware Blast protocol to use the USB redirection feature.
Connect to the remote desktop or published application.
Open Settings and tap USB Redirect.
- If you are connected to the remote desktop or published application in full-screen mode, tap the Horizon Client Tools radial menu icon and tap the gear icon.
- If you are not using full-screen mode, tap Settings in the menu in the upper-right corner of the Horizon Client toolbar.

Select one of these options for USB redirection.

Option Description

Option	Description
USB Redirect	Redirects the USB device to remote desktop or published application. If selected, the available USB devices appear in the USB redirection list. If no USB devices are available, `No suitable devices available` appears. Select the check box next to the USB device that you want to redirect to the remote desktop or published application. A system dialog prompts you to give Horizon Client access to the USB device. Click OK. You can give Horizon Client access to the USB device by default by selecting the Use by default for this USB device check box. The permission to access the device remains valid only until the device is disconnected.
Auto-connect at startup	Automatically connects all USB devices to the remote desktop or published application at startup. All remote sessions will share this setting if turned on. Turn the toggle On. This setting is saved on the Android device after exiting the Horizon Android client and is valid at restart. Note: Mass storage devices are not automatically connected at startup if Local storage redirection/Enable auto redirect for mounted storages is checked.
Auto-connect on insert	Automatically connects a USB device to the activated session when the device is attached to the Android device. All remote sessions will share this setting if turned on. It is disabled by default. Turn the toggle On. Attach the USB device. Click OK to allow Horizon to access Token JC. This setting is saved on the Android device after exiting the Horizon Android client and is valid at restart. Note: Mass storage devices are not automatically connected on insert if Local storage redirection/Enable auto redirect for mounted storages is checked.

USB Redirect

Redirects the USB device to remote desktop or published application.

If selected, the available USB devices appear in the USB redirection list. If no USB devices are available, No suitable devices available appears.

Select the check box next to the USB device that you want to redirect to the remote desktop or published application.
A system dialog prompts you to give Horizon Client access to the USB device.
Click OK.

You can give Horizon Client access to the USB device by default by selecting the Use by default for this USB device check box. The permission to access the device remains valid only until the device is disconnected.

Auto-connect at startup

Automatically connects all USB devices to the remote desktop or published application at startup. All remote sessions will share this setting if turned on.

Turn the toggle On.

This setting is saved on the Android device after exiting the Horizon Android client and is valid at restart.

Note: Mass storage devices are not automatically connected at startup if Local storage redirection/Enable auto redirect for mounted storages is checked.

Auto-connect on insert

Automatically connects a USB device to the activated session when the device is attached to the Android device. All remote sessions will share this setting if turned on. It is disabled by default.

Turn the toggle On.
Attach the USB device.
Click OK to allow Horizon to access Token JC.

This setting is saved on the Android device after exiting the Horizon Android client and is valid at restart.

Note: Mass storage devices are not automatically connected on insert if Local storage redirection/Enable auto redirect for mounted storages is checked.

Results

The redirected USB device appears in the remote desktop or published application. A USB device might take up to 20 seconds to appear in a remote desktop or published application.

What to do next

To disconnect a USB device from the remote desktop or published application, repeat the steps in this procedure but deselect the check box for the USB device in the USB redirection list.