virtualbox.org

When trying to connect an USB device to a virtual guest machine running on a Windows host with intalled Eltima USB Network Gate (software to forwarding USB device), it is not possible to access the USB device on this virtual machine. The virtual machine is running on VirtualBox.

VirtualBox tries to connect the USB device because the device is no longer shown on Windows, but this device does not appear on the virtual guest machine.

I tried to install other software to forwarding USB (i.e. NoMachine, FabulaTech USB over Network, USB Redirector), but if any of them is installed next to the VirtualBox on the same Windows host, forwarding USB by VirtualBox is not possible.

Forwarding USB device by Eltima USB Network Gate and others works properly even though VirtualBox is istalled.

When is none of them is not installed, forwarding by VirtualBox works properly instead.

I reproduced this issue with:

Host system: Windows 8, Windows 10.
Guest system: Ubuntu 13.04, Windows 10.
VirtualBox: version 4.3.32 and 5.0.8.

You can do anything in a VM that you can do on any other PC, hardware allowing. It sounds like your issue is just a matter of appropriate configuration (of guest software). It may also be dependent on network mode, e.g. it may not work with NAT mode.

I tested this issue on several PCs, and the effect is the same.
I reported this problem to Eltima Software, and they responded to me this way:

"We can confirm that the problem exists.
It probably has to do with the fact that our software adds a USB filter.
We suggest you to contact Oracle to see if they are aware of this behavior.
VMware used to have a similar problem, but after a while they fixed it."

I suggest raising a formal BugTracket ticket for this issue, linking to this topic. A ticket is the only way to ensure that the devs will (eventually) look at the issue.