Exporting an OVF template from the virtual machine with an attached USB device fails with the error: Failed to export Virtual Machine: Unknown device: 'USB 1'

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Cannot export an OVF template from an existing virtual machine with an attached USB controller and USB device
• Exporting an OVF template from the virtual machine fails
• You see the error:
  
  Failed to export Virtual Machine: Unknown device: 'USB 1'.
  
  
• You are able to export the template if source virtual machine has only a USB controller attached, and not a USB device

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Installable
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Embedded

Resolution

This is an expected behavior because, unlike the USB controllers, the virtual machine does not own the USB device. The USB device can be used by other virtual machines for back up purposes, whereas other virtual machines cannot use the same USB controller.

This issue is resolved in ESXi 5.5. In ESXi 5.5, the attached USB device is ignored during export. A warning is generated, but the OVF export continues.

To resolve this issue in earlier releases, edit the virtual machine settings and disconnect the USB device.