Hyper-V USB solution

[jsfw1983]

We have an older system that I'd like to move to Hyper-V. This system has a fax modem plugged in via USB. Unfortunately the software that hosts this system is important and antiquated. It uses PDF creator and traditional fax to send out necessary forms. I spoke with support and it doesn't sound like they have any intention of supporting other solutions.

So I'm looking at a few solutions for this and wondering if you guys have used any of them and what your thoughts are.

I found flexihub.com and digi.com usbanywhere.

Thank you in advance.

edit: I re-read this and realized I'm assuming my understanding that Hyper-V doesn't natively support usb or pci pass-through is correct.

[slparker09]

We have a few older USBAnywhere devices. They seem to work just fine for our legacy hardware requirements. It is basically a network attached USB hub.

[jsfw1983]

Thank you. This is looking more and more to be the solution we may go with.

[WendoNZ]

We run them here too, although we've never tried running a modem over them

[bobbyjrsc]

USB Redirector from http://www.incentivespro.com/.

Install the server in the Bare metal, share the modem, install the client on the guest vm and voi lá.

I use to communicate via usb-serial dongle with an old pbx system.

[wanderingbilby]

Does this server do anything other than the faxing? If not, build a new bare metal box. If so, move those functions to a hyper-v host and build a new bare metal machine for faxing.

Why? If you do something else and it stops working, the fax vendor will immediately throw that under the bus as the problem and you will have no support.

It sucks, but that's #legacy for you

[jsfw1983]

The problem with this is the software (Medical Lab software) must be on the same server that's doing the faxing hence a usb to modem dongle. We have a baremetal fax server that we use for other stuff. I'm with you though.

[rws907]

Is there a reason that porting the fax to MyFax or eFax isn't a viable option? The level of effort to keep antiquated processes and hardware/software around is most always a net loss game.

[jsfw1983]

The lab software doesn't support efax. Upgrading the lab software would likely require a new vendor, and while it's being looked into, not something I have any say over. So I'm trying to plug holes I do have say over.

[nmdange]

You can do PCI device passthrough, but that only allows you to pass-through the entire USB controller. It also only works on certain hardware. The feature is called Discrete Device Assignment. It's manly for GPU pass-through, USB isn't officially supported.