Limit Access to a USB mapping

[robinlog]

We are trying to create a VM where it requires a hardware licence that is plugged into the server and a mapping is created to be able to use the software within the VM.
The issue is that if a second VM is started, with the same mapping, it will remove the USB from the first VM causing the software to error due to lack of licence.

Now we can potentially manage this through procedures to check for vms etc, but I'm looking to see if its possible to block a VM starting IF the usb mapping is in use.
The USB itself does not have any storage, it is purely a licence key and does not show up as a mapped drive on either the host or the VM.

Any ideas?

 

[dcsapak]

such checks are currently not built in. what you could do is to add a hookscript to the vms that check the other running vms in the prestart phase and abort if it detects it
requires a bit of scripting but shouldn't be too hard

 

[robinlog]

Thanks, I've looked at the hookscript example that's shown in the documentation.
So it looks like I could do a qm list command to find the running IDs, then use the qm config <id> -current to get the config and search for the mapping. My perl isn't great but I'm sure I can muddle my way through that.
If there's a more streamlined way, I'd be happy to hear it. If I get a working script, I'll post it here

 

[dcsapak]

Thanks, I've looked at the hookscript example that's shown in the documentation.
So it looks like I could do a qm list command to find the running IDs, then use the qm config <id> -current to get the config and search for the mapping. My perl isn't great but I'm sure I can muddle my way through that.
If there's a more streamlined way, I'd be happy to hear it. If I get a working script, I'll post it here

that's basically the approach i would take

maybe we introduce some feature in the future where usb devices are reserved for vms (like pci devices are) but it we did not need that in the past

 

[leesteken]

My perl isn't great but I'm sure I can muddle my way through that.

It does not have to be perl as any executable (script) format should work, but I have only used bash.

 

[robinlog]

that's basically the approach i would take

maybe we introduce some feature in the future where usb devices are reserved for vms (like pci devices are) but it we did not need that in the past

If we can work around it this way, I'm happy this is probably a fringe case. If more people request it then it might be useful.
I think I've managed to make a script, so I'll post after testing

 

[robinlog]

It does not have to be perl as any executable (script) format should work, but I have only used bash.

Good to know...I just learnt enough Perl to get this running! Python or Bash would have been better options in hindsight, but its done now