I posted this as a question at http://vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/Hardware_support.php and am moving it here now...

Also a thread on VMware exists here: http://communities.vmware.com//thread/201068?tstart=0

How about USB HID devices. What would be the steps to get those going in the kernel?

Mar 23 16:01:03 vmkernel: 0:00:00:11.422 cpu0:1162)INFO: new USB device 03:01.2-2, assigned address 2

Mar 23 16:01:03 vmkernel: INFOhiddev00:00:00:11.506 cpu1:1162): USB HID v1.00 Pointer [TRIPP LITE TRIPP LITE SMART700 ] on usb4:2.0

lspci listing:

00:00.00 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks CNB20-HE Host Bridge

Class 0600: 1166:0014

00:00.01 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks CNB20-HE Host Bridge

Class 0600: 1166:0014

00:00.02 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks CNB20-HE Host Bridge

Class 0600: 1166:0014

00:03.00 VGA compatible controller Display controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage XL

Class 0300: 1002:4752

00:04.00 System peripheral Generic system peripheral: Compaq Computer Corporation

Class 0880: 0e11:b203

00:04.02 System peripheral Generic system peripheral: Compaq Computer Corporation

Class 0880: 0e11:b204

00:15.00 ISA bridge Bridge: ServerWorks CSB5 South Bridge

Class 0601: 1166:0201

00:15.01 IDE interface Mass storage controller: ServerWorks CSB5 IDE Controller [vmhba0]

Class 0101: 1166:0212

00:15.02 USB Controller Serial bus controller: ServerWorks OSB4/CSB5 OHCI USB Controller

Class 0c03: 1166:0220

00:15.03 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks GCLE Host Bridge

Class 0600: 1166:0225

00:16.00 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks

Class 0600: 1166:0101

00:16.02 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks

Class 0600: 1166:0101

00:17.00 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks

Class 0600: 1166:0101

00:17.02 Host bridge Bridge: ServerWorks

Class 0600: 1166:0101

02:01.00 Ethernet controller Network controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5703 Gigabit Ethernet [vmnic0]

Class 0200: 14e4:16a7

02:02.00 Ethernet controller Network controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5703 Gigabit Ethernet [vmnic1]

Class 0200: 14e4:16a7

03:01.00 USB Controller Serial bus controller: ALi Corporation USB 1.1 Controller

Class 0c03: 10b9:5237

03:01.01 USB Controller Serial bus controller: ALi Corporation USB 1.1 Controller

Class 0c03: 10b9:5237

03:01.02 USB Controller Serial bus controller: ALi Corporation USB 1.1 Controller

Class 0c03: 10b9:5237

03:01.03 USB Controller Serial bus controller: ALi Corporation USB 2.0 Controller

Class 0c03: 10b9:5239

06:02.00 RAID bus controller Mass storage controller: Compaq Computer Corporation Smart Array 64xx [vmhba1]

Class 0104: 0e11:0046

06:30.00 PCI Hot-plug controller Generic system peripheral: Compaq Computer Corporation PCI Hotplug Controller

Class 0804: 0e11:a0f7

Unfortunately, ESXi doesn't support USB or Serial devices for VMs. At this point you would need a USB over IP device to connect the VM to the USB port.

Dave, thanks for the reply.

I do not need USB in a VM. I only want to get USB/Serial ports at the Kernel level (ALT-F1).

What is involved?

I don't there is the ability to use a USB port within the console either.