Alright, I see you’re having trouble with USB devices on your VMware ESXi host. Mike34 gave you a solid rundown, but I’d add a couple of points that might help further:
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Check ESXi Compatibility: Sometimes the USB drive or even the USB controller might not be compatible with VMware ESXi. Make sure your hardware and the ESXi version support USB passthrough. You can find compatibility info on VMware’s HCL (Hardware Compatibility List).
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Reboot the Host Post-Configuration: After enabling USB passthrough, it might be necessary to reboot the host. This ensures the settings are correctly applied.
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Check USB Controller Settings: Ensure that your USB controller isn’t in EHCI mode, as ESXi has better support for xHCI.
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Permissions Issue: Sometimes, the permissions on the USB device can cause issues. Make sure your ESXi user has the right permissions to access USB devices. Also, ESXi has specific configurations for USB arbitrators. You might want to tweak them.
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ESXi Version Matters: Make sure your ESXi version is up to date. Older versions have bugs and limitations regarding USB passthrough.
Also, just to shed some light on another option. If you are continually struggling with hardware access, consider using tools that facilitate USB over network solutions. FlexiHub is an excellent option for this. With FlexiHub, you can access and manage USB devices over a network, making it straightforward even if your ESXi host doesn’t directly play nice with USB devices.
Hopefully, between Mike34’s steps and these additional tips, you’ll get your USB drive working for your backup needs!